@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 To study the reaction kinetics, samples have been withdrawn from the reactor during the reaction and the kinetics has been quantified, evaluating the yield evolution during the reaction phase.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 = {Chelating Agents},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

@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 = {Chelating Agents, Tecnagri},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}