Characterization of slow release of sulphur nutrient – a zeolite based nano-fertilizer

An attempt was made to synthesis a Nano-zeolite based slow release sulphur nutrients and to characterize them using high resolution instruments as a confirmation note of the effort. Zeolite is a natural super porous mineral (part of group of hydrated alumino silicates) carrying a negative charge balanced by freely moving cations with positive charges. This provides an ideal trap for positive cations which are then released that commensurate with crop nutrient requirement. Naturally occurring mesoporous material (zeolite) was reduced to a desirable nanosize (50-60nm). The nano-sized zeolite was fortified with anionic (SO4-) nutrients. The zeolite loaded with or without nutrients was characterized using particle size analyzer, SEM, XRD, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The data have clearly demonstrated that fortification of nutrients had been successfully done as a long lasting nano-fertilizer.