SAIP2026

Comparative Elemental Analysis of Organic and Inorganic fertilizers Using the Nuclear Analytical Techniques: PIXE and RBS.

8 Jul 2026, 15:50

20m

Lecture Hall DL3 (University of the Western Cape)

Oral Presentation Track F - Applied Physics Applied Physics

Speaker

BUSISIWE PERTUNIA MBATHA (University of Zululand)

Description

This study examines the presence of trace elements in fertilizers and their potential implications for food contamination and public health risks. Both organic fertilizers (including chicken droppings, cow dung processed by earthworms, goat manure, sheep manure, and raw cow dung) and inorganic fertilizers (NH₄NO₃, 28% N, and NPK containing 0.5% Zn) were collected from the Zululand region of South Africa. Elemental analysis was conducted using Proton-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS). A silicon lithium [Si(Li)] X-ray detector was employed in the PIXE technique to identify trace elements with atomic numbers greater than Z > 10. The analysis revealed the presence of the following elements: ²⁷Al, ²⁸Si, ³⁰P, ³²S, ³⁵Cl, ³⁹K, ⁴⁰Ca, ⁴⁸Ti, ⁵³Cr, ⁵⁴Mn, ⁵⁵Fe, ⁵⁶Zn, ⁷⁹Br, ⁸⁷Sr, ⁹¹Zr, and ⁸⁵Rb. Their average concentrations were found to be 33, 12, 4, 17, 13, 50, 36, 2.1, 0.13, 0.69, 29.3, 1.2, 0.28, 0.13, 0.073, and 0.12 ppm × 10³, respectively. In addition, proton backscattering spectrometry within the RBS technique was used to determine nitrogen concentrations in organic fertilizers, which ranged from 0.9 to 1.2 atomic percent (at.%). Spectral analysis was carried out using GeoPIXE II software. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of nuclear analytical techniques in assessing fertilizer quality. Importantly, the detection of potentially toxic elements underscores the need for stringent regulatory monitoring and the adoption of safer, more sustainable agricultural practices.