Avaliação experimental da estabilidade físico-química de formulações de fertilizantes líquidos multicomponentes

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical stability of multicomponent liquid fertilizer formulations, investigating the influence of the order of addition of components, thickening systems, pH, and storage temperature on the behavior of the suspensions. This research is justified by the need to develop more stable formulations capable of maintaining their characteristics during storage and transportation, reducing problems related to phase separation, crystallization, and physical changes that may compromise product quality. To achieve this, formulations of three liquid fertilizers were evaluated after modifications in composition and stored under refrigerated, ambient, and accelerated aging conditions. The results demonstrated that the proposed modifications produced distinct responses for each formulation, indicating that stability is directly dependent on the interactions among the components present in the system. Acidification of the Cittric fertilizer showed the best stability performance, while replacing the thickening system in the Completo fertilizer eliminated phase separation but promoted crystal formation and container swelling. For the Full Alamos fertilizer, none of the evaluated modifications was able to completely eliminate formulation instability. The study also demonstrated that high temperatures accelerate phase separation processes, whereas refrigeration contributes to delaying suspension destabilization. Therefore, the stability of multicomponent liquid fertilizers should be evaluated through an integrated approach, considering formulation composition, storage conditions, and the physical characteristics observed throughout the storage period.