PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POTASH FROM MAIZE STOVERS ASH BY NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS AND X-RAY DIFFRACTION

Abstract

The production of potash from maize Stover’s ash via the traditional simple technology and its characteristic analysis using Neutron Activated Analysis (NAA) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis have been studied. Thermal combustion of maize stover on the farm land has created much pollution in the environment couple with destruction on soil nutrients on the farm land. So many problems have also emerged from potash mining, like reduction in farm land, flooding and huge cost of beneficiation, leading to high cost of potash. Production of potash from maize stover ash is another source of wealth generation and waste management disposal system, providing environmental cleanliness. In light of the global high demand for potash usage, potash from maize stover (MSAP) can close-up the gap since maize crop is produced annually all over the world more than any other grain to the tune of about 785 million tons, which determines the total amount of wastes generated by the crop after the grains have been harvested. The analysis of MSAP conducted showed the qualitative and quantitative value of potash as an eutectic mixture of potassium and other elements, with potassium accounting for 50.75%, chloride 29.10%, calcium 0.6%, sodium 0.03% and manganese 9.04%, while the XRD showed that the MSAP has unique compositions such as Ca, Cl, Na, and Mn that formed the eutectic mixtures of Sylvite syn (KCl.Ca), Sodium Potassium Chloride (Na.K.Cl), Calcium Chloride (CaCl2), and Hydrophilte, syn (CaCl2). This study has shown that the NAA and XRD analyses of MSAP salt produced from the ash of maize plant in a controlled atmosphere of 550oC results to potassium salt with chlorides of K, Na and Ca as a double salt for various applications.