Thermal analysis of mechanoactivated mixtures of tunisia phosphorite and ammonium sulfate

The thermal behavior of Tunisia phosphorite and ammonium sulfate mixtures are examined by non-isothermal thermogravimetry in air atmosphere. It has been shown that the thermal stability of mixtures have different behavior after mechano-chemical treatment due to phase changes in the mixtures. New solid phases are confirmed by the stages and rate of mass changes and also by the heat effects observed. New phases are also confirmed by using X-ray diffraction method. Based on the data obtained by the mechanism of chemical transformations is proposed. The kinetics of mechano-activated mixtures decomposition is significantly influenced by the time of treatment and proceeds in few stages. Stage I is attributed to the effect of partially ammonia releasing, when the next stages are associated with the decomposition of apatite structures. Because of the interfacial interactions during mechano-chemical treatment insoluble phosphorous forms from apatite structures are transformed to the soluble forms suitable for plants nutrition. The results have shown that the soluble form can be controlled by the initial components ratio and conditions of treatment on the way to obtain slow releasing nutrition products. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.