https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2008-00505-6
Detection of ammonia released from zeolite by the quantum cascade laser based photoacoustic set-up
1
LCFIS, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, 28013-602 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
2
Embrapa Solos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
3
LCQUI, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, 28013-602 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
4
Centro de Tecnologia Mineral, CETEM, Ilha da Cidade Universitaria, 21941-590 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
5
Instituto de Fsica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CP 68528, 21941-590 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Corresponding author: mgs@uenf.br
We report the first results obtained with a Brazilian sedimentary zeolite (hereafter called the zeolite concentrate, ZC) to reduce ammonia volatilization – loss of the nitrogen nutrient – in tropical farms. Preliminary laboratory tests were made with both ammonium sulfate and urea into ZC. The reported field tests – obtained in rose cultivations – show a significant effect of the use of urea mixed with ZC on the stem growth of the rose buds. In the laboratory tests, the observations of the retention of ammonia by ZC were done using the photoacoustic set-up described in this work. The report data were obtained at temperatures of 25 and 60°C, simulating typical tropical weather temperatures.
© EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag, 2008
