Premium
A study of the mode of breakdown of some compounds containing PN bonds which have potential as high analysis multinutrient fertilisers
Author(s) -
Kimber Ronald W. L.,
Fergus Ian F.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740350202
Subject(s) - chemistry , phosphate , methylamine , decomposition , hydrolysis , aqueous solution , degradation (telecommunications) , chemical decomposition , radical , ammonium , organic chemistry , telecommunications , computer science
Three compounds containing high percentages of N, P (and S) were prepared, and their degradation studied in both aqueous and soil environments, with particular reference to the appearance of radicals containing these elements in forms normally used by plants. A model is proposed for the degradation of one of these compounds—hexamethyl‐hexaaza‐tetraphosphaadamantane (APA)—which eventually releases orthophosphate and methylamine, presumably a precursor of ammonium. The initial degradation reactions involve hydrolysis through amidophosphites, to phosphite, followed by oxidation to phosphate. The latter reaction appears to be dominantly biological, and should therefore proceed in soil systems. Hexamethyl‐hexaaza‐tetraphosphaadamantane tetrasulphide, a sulphur‐containing compound similar to APA, produced phosphite and phosphate on decomposition, and here the phosphate is probably produced directly by hydrolysis reactions. The third compound, hexamethylaminocyclotriphosphazatriene, has a planar structure in contrast to the cage structures of the other two compounds, and decomposed only very slowly in either aqueous medium or in soil.