Chelating agents – Iron chelates

The iron is one of the most important microelements necessary to the life and development of plants because it intervenes in a chlorophyll formation and participates as catalyst in some fundamentals metabolic reactions. The bioavailability of iron is related to its oxidation state and several factors which favor or impede the iron availability in the soil (pH, soil type, waterlogging, presence of iron antagonist microelements, etc.). The iron deficiency causes a very important and widespread disease called iron chlorosis which affects the plant growth and reduces the yields of crops.

Many therapies have been developed to nurse the iron chlorosis but the most efficient has been the fertilization with synthetic chelating agents, organic macromolecules which permit the metalic ion stabilization and prolonged release, ensuring the necessary bioavailability in the soil.
Among the chelating agents authorized from the European Regulation, the most efficient is the EDDHA and in particular its ortho-ortho isomeric form which ensures the highest stability level of ion.

Considering the production volumes of EDDHA and the syntheses processes dated ’70, the research of innovative and optimized processes is therefore necessary to guarantee a production more cheap and sustainable. TPP Group works at the research in collaboration with Fertenia Srl, to know more, read here (in Italian).

Do you want to know more? Read this

Research lines

The TPP group deals with the study of EDDHA production process analyzing the issues influencing the reaction yields and quality characteristics of products, in order to innovate and optimize the existing processes towards the reduction of hazardous and polluting substances use and the reduction of costs. Our research can be summarized as:

Rating of syntheses processes

• Analysis of reaction kinetic
• Analysis of reaction yields
• Analysis of chelated iron and soluble iron fraction in the syntheses products
• Testing of obtained products to evaluate the efficacy

Design of industrial plants

Related publications:

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2016

Apicella, Pietro; Cascone, Sara; Santis, Felice De; Lamberti, Gaetano Iron Chelates: Production Processes and Reaction Evolution Analysis Journal Article Chemical Engineering Communications, 2016. Abstract | Links | BibTeX @article{Apicella2016, title = {Iron Chelates: Production Processes and Reaction Evolution Analysis}, author = {Pietro Apicella and Sara Cascone and Felice De Santis and Gaetano Lamberti }, url = {http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00986445.2015.1114476?journalCode=gcec20}, doi = {10.1080/00986445.2015.1114476}, year = {2016}, date = {2016-01-16}, journal = {Chemical Engineering Communications}, abstract = {Nowadays, fertilization using synthetic chelates is the most common technique to solve the iron chlorosis, a disease which affects the plants growth. The ethylenediamine-N,N’-bis(o-hydroxyphenyl) acetic acid (EDDHA) is among the most efficient iron chelating agents. To produce EDDHA, a reaction has been performed using as reactants: phenol, ethylenediamine, glyoxylic acid, and sodium hydroxide. To study the reaction kinetics, samples have been withdrawn from the reactor during the reaction and the kinetics has been quantified, evaluating the yield evolution during the reaction phase. This study has been useful to optimize the reaction time. Then, a catalyst has been added to the reaction mixture, to analyze its effect on the reaction evolution. Comparing the reaction evolution of the non-catalyzed and the catalyzed reaction protocols, two main results have to be highlighted: the time to reach the final yield is lower than the one proposed in literature and the used catalyst has a minimum effect on the reaction rate.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close Nowadays, fertilization using synthetic chelates is the most common technique to solve the iron chlorosis, a disease which affects the plants growth. The ethylenediamine-N,N’-bis(o-hydroxyphenyl) acetic acid (EDDHA) is among the most efficient iron chelating agents. To produce EDDHA, a reaction has been performed using as reactants: phenol, ethylenediamine, glyoxylic acid, and sodium hydroxide. To study the reaction kinetics, samples have been withdrawn from the reactor during the reaction and the kinetics has been quantified, evaluating the yield evolution during the reaction phase. This study has been useful to optimize the reaction time. Then, a catalyst has been added to the reaction mixture, to analyze its effect on the reaction evolution. Comparing the reaction evolution of the non-catalyzed and the catalyzed reaction protocols, two main results have to be highlighted: the time to reach the final yield is lower than the one proposed in literature and the used catalyst has a minimum effect on the reaction rate. Close http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00986445.2015.1114476?journalCode=gce[...] doi:10.1080/00986445.2015.1114476 Close

2015

Cascone, Sara; Apicella, Pietro; Caccavo, Diego; Lamberti, Gaetano; Barba, Anna Angela Optimization of Chelates Production Process for Agricultural Administration of Inorganic Micronutrients Journal Article Chemical Engineering Transaction, 44 , pp. 217–222, 2015. Abstract | Links | BibTeX @article{Cascone2015, title = {Optimization of Chelates Production Process for Agricultural Administration of Inorganic Micronutrients}, author = { Sara Cascone and Pietro Apicella and Diego Caccavo and Gaetano Lamberti and Anna Angela Barba}, url = {http://www.aidic.it/cet/15/44/037.pdf}, doi = {10.3303/CET1544037}, year = {2015}, date = {2015-01-01}, journal = {Chemical Engineering Transaction}, volume = {44}, pages = {217--222}, abstract = {The iron chlorosis is one of the most diffused plant disease, which affects their growth and reduces the yield of harvests. This disease is caused by the iron deficiency and it is highlighted by the progressive yellowing of plants due to the reduction of chlorophyll production. The most efficient and diffused therapy against the iron chlorosis is the use of chelating agents and, among them, the o,o-EDDHA/Fe3+, the most stable isomer of EDDHA, is the most used due to its capacity to guarantee a prolonged treatment. The aim of this work is to develop a production process environment friendly, based on the recovering and recycling of organic solvents to minimize the waste produced. The feed organic solvents ratio has been varied evaluating the synthesis yield and the percentage of o,o-EDDHA/Fe3+ produced to identify the best feeding conditions. Several products have been then tested on lettuce plants to determine their usability.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close The iron chlorosis is one of the most diffused plant disease, which affects their growth and reduces the yield of harvests. This disease is caused by the iron deficiency and it is highlighted by the progressive yellowing of plants due to the reduction of chlorophyll production. The most efficient and diffused therapy against the iron chlorosis is the use of chelating agents and, among them, the o,o-EDDHA/Fe3+, the most stable isomer of EDDHA, is the most used due to its capacity to guarantee a prolonged treatment. The aim of this work is to develop a production process environment friendly, based on the recovering and recycling of organic solvents to minimize the waste produced. The feed organic solvents ratio has been varied evaluating the synthesis yield and the percentage of o,o-EDDHA/Fe3+ produced to identify the best feeding conditions. Several products have been then tested on lettuce plants to determine their usability. Close http://www.aidic.it/cet/15/44/037.pdf doi:10.3303/CET1544037 Close

2014

Apicella, Pietro; Cascone, Sara; Lamberti, Gaetano Optimization of chelating agents production process for agricultural administration of inorganic micronutrients Inproceedings Proceedings of CHISA 2014, pp. 3–3, CHISA 2014, Prague, Czech Republic, 2014. BibTeX @inproceedings{p.2014, title = {Optimization of chelating agents production process for agricultural administration of inorganic micronutrients}, author = { Pietro Apicella and Sara Cascone and Gaetano Lamberti}, year = {2014}, date = {2014-08-01}, booktitle = {Proceedings of CHISA 2014}, pages = {3--3}, publisher = {CHISA 2014}, address = {Prague, Czech Republic}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {inproceedings} } Close