Don’t Let Grass Grow Under Your Feet: Laser Diffraction for Characterization of Fertilizers
The laser diffraction measurement with the Litesizer DIF enables reliable droplet size analysis of liquid fertilizers in toluene, supporting formulation optimization and consistent product performance.
In liquid fertilizers, droplet (or particle) size is a critical parameter that influences both product efficacy and manufacturing efficiency. The size and distribution of droplets affect how uniformly nutrients are delivered to plants, how the formulation behaves during spraying, and how stable it remains over time. [1]
The most common sources of nutrients in mineral fertilizers are nitrogen, potassium and phosphate. They usually consist of the following main components with varying composition [2]:
- Macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium
- Secondary macronutrients: calcium, magnesium, sulfur
- Micronutrients: copper, iron, manganese, zinc, boron
It is important for manufacturers to control the droplet size of the emulsion because of a few key reasons. Smaller droplets increase the surface area-to-volume ratio, promoting faster and more uniform absorption of nutrients through. Larger droplets may penetrate the canopy more effectively for soil applications but can lead to runoff or uneven coverage on foliage. However, a very small droplet size might also lead to loss of effectiveness due to the droplet drift with the wind if the fertilizer is applied aerially. This is also a concern for the environment and can lead to legal and regulatory non-compliance in sensitive zones.
The composition of fertilizers, including the type and concentration of nutrients, can significantly influence droplet size. For example, high concentrations of salts or the presence of suspended solids can lead to broader size distributions or agglomeration, complicating formulation stability and application precision. Understanding and controlling droplet size is therefore essential for designing fertilizers that are both effective and easy to apply.
This application report focuses on the droplet size characterization of two liquid fertilizer samples using laser diffraction. Measurements were performed in toluene to ensure consistent dispersion and prevent unwanted interactions during analysis.
The Litesizer DIF, combined with the Liquid Flow Chemical (LFC) dispersion unit, was used for this purpose. The instrument’s excellent chemical compatibility with organic solvents like toluene ensures accurate, reproducible measurements, even in complex chemical environments. This setup provides an ideal solution for evaluating and optimizing fertilizer formulations based on droplet size characteristics.
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