Extraction of humic acid from peat and lignite and the thermal behavior of their mixtures with ammonium nitrate

Due to the positive effect on soil structure and the influence on improving the efficiency of plant roots nutrient uptake, humic acids (HA) are widely considered for fertilizer production. Especially, it seems to be particularly promising to use them as additives in technologies of mineral fertilizer production. One of the common mineral fertilizer components, due to its good water solubility and the presence of nitrogen in two forms, is ammonium nitrate (AN). The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the humic acids extracted from peat and lignite on the thermal decomposition of HA and the thermal decomposition of ammonium nitrate and humic acids mixtures. For the quality assessment of HA, spectroscopic methods (FTIR/ATR and CP/MAS C-13 NMR) and analysis of elemental composition were used. The analysis of the spectra showed differences in the degree of humification of humic acids extracted from various raw materials. HA isolated from peat were distinguished by the presence of peptides, polysaccharides, and lignin residues. Elemental analysis showed the higher carbon and sulfur content in the extracted HA compared to the reference samples. The results of the TG-DTA-MS analysis confirmed the influence of differences in the molecular structure of humic acids, especially in the aliphatic and aromatic carbon content, on the thermal decomposition process. Total content of carboxylic and/or hydroxylic functional groups had a significant impact on the start of the decomposition temperature. Their increase visibly influenced the acceleration of the exothermic decomposition of AN.

Automated summary

Humic acids (HA) are widely considered for fertilizer production due to their positive effect on soil structure and the improvement of nutrient uptake efficiency in plant roots. This study aimed to investigate the influence of humic acids extracted from peat and lignite on the thermal decomposition of HA and mixtures of ammonium nitrate (AN) and humic acids. Spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis were used to assess the quality of HA. The results showed differences in the degree of humification and elemental composition of the extracted HA. The molecular structure and functional group content of HA significantly affected the thermal decomposition process.