Structural and spectroscopic studies of mechanochemically activated nanosized apatite from Syria

Phosphorite sample from Syria is subjected to mechanochemical treatment in planetary mill equipped with 20 mm steel milling bodies. A complex of chemical and physical methods was applied, namely chemical analysis, powder XRD, IR spectroscopy, and SEM in order to prove changes in the structure of the minerals in the modified samples. These changes are manifested mainly in transformations of a considerable part of apatite into a nanosized phase, breakage of the coordination complex CaO6F, and localization of OH− groups in the position of F− and CO32− in the position of PO43− of the apatite structure. As a result of these transformations the assimilable content of P2O5ass. in the activated samples is increased and this gives opportunity to suppose that the activated phosphorite could be used as a phosphorous fertilizer.