Leachability Of Iron Ions From Binary And Ternary Phosphate Glasses

With a view to using glasses as a source of iron, which is one of the micronutrients required by plants, a systematic study on leachability of iron ions from binary and ternary phosphate glasses having molar composition (40+X)FeO.(60-X)P205 and (55-X)Fe0.XR20.45P205 (where X=0.9 mol% and R=Li, Na, K) was carried out. Leaching of iron ions has been studied as a function of pH and the results show that leaching increases with increasing pH of the solutions. The concentration of iron ions in the leachate decreases with increasing bond strength between non-bridging oxygen ions and the citations in glasses.