English 
Spanish 
4 min read
Researchers from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) managed to create an unprecedented fertilizer aimed at reusing eggshells, usually discarded
Again, the Brazilian research stands out! The Laboratory of Chemistry of Advanced Materials (Laqma), at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), announced that its research to create a new fertilizer had achieved excellent results using eggshells. In addition to being more sustainable, the fertilizer promises to be more economical and nutritious for plants, such as corn and soybeans, offering no risk of toxicity to humans, and promises to help agribusiness by keeping crops healthy.
It is estimated that around 6 million eggshells are discarded each year in the world, which is a huge waste. The researchers carried out a series of tests and studies and proved that the new fertilizer is as effective as and even superior to brands that are already used in crops today. Learn more about this national invention!
Understand how eggshell can help plants grow with the video below
Fertilizer from UFPR uses an unprecedented mechanochemical milling technique to reuse eggshells
The technique for producing the fertilizer is an unprecedented, and uses a mechanochemical grinding process, in which the materials are ground and promote a reaction among themselves from the compounds generated through friction and movement energy. The mills are composed of high energy spheres, with potassium phosphates that will promote the chemical reactions with the movement to produce the fertilizer.
- Brazilian highways (BRs) are slowed down by the colossal transportation of 86-METERS of equipment! Watch the video
- Get ready! Important Brazilian highway (BR) will have NEW radars that affect average speed starting this Monday
- An important highway in São Paulo will have a new Free Flow radar, doing away with traditional toll booths and barriers.
- A 52-year-old man worked 90 hours a week at an oil refinery to save money and start his business — now he's worth a staggering $9,5 billion
The breakdown of calcium phosphate with eggshell components can provide phosphorus, potassium and calcium to the soil, stimulating plant growth in a sustainable and cost-effective way. This can benefit corn, soy and other agribusiness crops in a way never seen before.
“The main constituent of asbestos is calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which in turn is also the main constituent of egg shells. So, we thought that, due to their similar chemical composition, eggshells could also be used for the production of intelligent ecological fertilizers. That is, fertilizers that are produced from residues or rejects and have greater agronomic efficiency when compared to conventional fertilizers”.
Roger Borges, researcher at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and author of the project
Process created by the researcher eliminates the use of steps to create the fertilizer, saving water and avoiding undesirable waste
The researcher responsible for the study points out that the method used is sustainable not only because of the use of eggshells for reuse, but also because the process saves water and avoids the formation of undesirable residues at the end of the process. He explains that the differentiated milling process does not use water, making production faster and more economical.
Furthermore, everything produced during the chemical reaction is natural and non-toxic to humans or plants, thus avoiding the need for purification. In this way, a cycle of reuse is closed, using discarded by-products from large companies, to produce a new compound applied in crops and in agribusiness. All this without harming the environment in production, making it more sustainable.
The new product is less soluble in water, which makes it even more efficient.
In addition to all the advantages we have already mentioned, the product is also less soluble in water. This is because, during the rains, the fertilizer does not tend to dissolve and be carried away by the water, remaining in the place of action. In this way, the release is controlled and constant, avoiding replacement for long periods.
Conventional fertilizers, when washed away by rain, can end up in rivers and encourage excessive algae growth, creating a condition known as eutrophication, in which the water becomes cloudy. This new model of fertilizer does not have this drainage capacity and avoids this secondary damage to nature.
To learn more, read the full article. by clicking here.
