Multiparameter analysis in fertilizers by thermometric titration

Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient for photosynthesis and optimal crop growth. It provides plants with the energy to extract other nutrients from the soil. Historically, total phosphorus content is determined by gravimetric analysis. Alternatively, spectrophotometric analysis or ICP-OES may be used for the determination. These methods all require time-consuming sample preparation steps or regular calibrations.

The thermometric titration of phosphorus is based on the gravimetric determination, but eliminates long drying times to achieve constant weight. An appropriate aliquot of sample is delivered to the titration vessel and 5 mL of pH 10 buffer (ammonium chloride / ammonia) as well as 5 mL of an oxalate solution (to precipitate any interfering calcium) are added. The solution is then made up to 30 mL with deionized water and titrated with a magnesium nitrate titrant until after the exothermic endpoint (Figure 1).

The macronutrient nitrogen is essential as it is a component of amino acids (protein building blocks) and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). In inorganic fertilizers, nitrogen is typically present as ammonium, nitrate, or urea. Ammonia is usually determined after alkaline distillation by acid-base back-titration. Other nitrogen species are often first converted to ammonia via digestion prior to analysis.

With thermometric titration, a different approach is used. Ammonium ions as well as urea react exothermically with hypochlorite in a redox reaction. This reaction is further catalyzed in the presence of bromide ions in a slightly alkaline solution.

To analyze ammoniacal nitrogen and urea with TET, an appropriate aliquot of sample is delivered to the titration vessel and then 10 mL of a bromide/bicarbonate solution is added. The solution is then made up to 50 mL with deionized water and titrated with hypochlorite until after the exothermic endpoint (Figure 2).

Potassium is an essential macronutrient for crops. It regulates their water and makes them more drought-resistant. Historically, potassium content is determined by gravimetric analysis. More recently, ICP-OES is used for this determination, but the instrumentation is very expensive.

The thermometric titration of potassium is based on the precipitation of potassium with sodium tetraphenyl borate (STPB). It is a quick titration, and for this reason it has already been integrated in various Chinese standards on fertilizers (HG/T 2321 for potassium dihydrogen phosphate, GB/T 20784 for potassium nitrate, and GB/T 37918 for potassium chloride).

An appropriate aliquot of sample is added to the titration vessel. The solution is then made up to 30 mL with deionized water and titrated with STPB until after the exothermic endpoint is reached (Figure 3).

Sulfur is a secondary macronutrient for crops. It plays an important role in chloroplast growth as well as acting as a catalyst for nitrogen uptake. Sulfur is usually provided in the form of sulfate. Sulfuric acid also influences the wet phosphoric acid production process, and therefore knowledge of its content is crucial.

Conventionally, sulfur is determined by gravimetry. The same precipitation reaction with barium is also used for the thermometric titration, without time-consuming drying to weight.

For the analysis, an appropriate aliquot of sample is added to the titration vessel and acidified (if necessary). The solution is then made up to 30 mL with deionized water and titrated with barium chloride until after the exothermic endpoint (Figure 4). For improved method sensitivity, the samples can be spiked with a standard sulfuric acid solution.