BOHR International Journal of Material Sciences and Engineering 2023, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 1–6 https://doi.org/10.54646/bijmse.001 www.bohrpub.com Environment-Friendly Synthesis of Feldspar-KH 2 PO 4 Complexes by Mechanochemical Reaction Mohammad Alrbaihat 1,2,∗ , Ehab AlShamaileh 2 and Aiman E. Al-Rawajfeh 3 1 Teacher Training Institute, Emirates School Establishment, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 2 Department of Chemistry, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan 3 Department of Chemical Engineering, Tafila Technical University, Tafila, Jordan ∗ Corresponding author: moh.irbeihat83@hotmail.com Abstract. Novel materials from Feldspar as clay material and KH 2 PO 4 (KHP) are prepared by grinding in a planetary ball mill in a mechanochemical process, one of the most effective ways to synthesize slow-release fertilizers. In two paths, tests were carried out with (3) weight ratio of Feldspar: KH 2 PO 4 contents, at mill The incorporation of KH 2 PO 4 and the liberation of K+ and PO 4 3 − ions into solution were assessed at rotating speeds ranging from 200 to 700 rpm for two hours, and at milling periods ranging from 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ion chromatography (IC) were employed to analyze the produced materials. The results confirmed that the mechanochemistry process is a sustainable chemistry method to produce amorphous Feldspars containing KH 2 PO 4 . After dispersing Feldspar and KH 2 PO 4 in water for 24 h, K + and PO 4 3 − ions were measured. Based on these studies, it has been demonstrated that intercalated Feldspar could function as a carrier of K + ions and release PO 3− 4 ions as a slow fertilizer. Keywords: Mechanochemical, Intelligent Fertilizers, Efficiency, Nutrients, Ball milling, Slow-release, Feldspar. INTRODUCTION As global food consumption continues to rise in the coming years. Global food demand will increase approximately 60% by 2050 compared to 2005, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization [19]. Crop production has to be increased in agriculture to fulfill global food demand. One of the most efficient ways to spur plant growth is fertilizer, which can play a significant role in increasing crop productivity [5]. Environmental pollution is caused by fertilizer use, which results in health problems. Several factors contribute to environmental pol- lution, including the high solubility of nutrients and their leaching followed by soil mobility [12]. Plants can only use a small number of chemical fertilizers because they are highly soluble in water. Several processes affect the rest of them when they are applied to a field, such as adsorption, degradation, runoff, and leaching. In other words, soluble chemical fertilizers are quite ineffec- tive. Because fertilizers are derived from inorganic anions such as nitrate and phosphate, excessive application of fertilizers can cause contamination of surface water and soil [13]. There have been several types of slow-release fertilizers made from different materials, including various miner- als [3, 8, 9, 23]. Slow-release mineral fertilizers have gained a lot of attention for their environment-friendly properties and ability to maintain soil fertility. Minerals are usually charged to protect nutrients from rapid degradation as well as having a crystal structure [1, 6, 14, 18, 21, 23]. The mineral feldspar is the most common one found in rocks. A group of minerals that are known collectively as feldspar is a mineral with the chemical formula x Al (Al, Si) 3 O 8 , where x might be calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), or potassium (K). Because of their high alumina and alkali contents, feldspars are predominantly utilized in industrial applications [4]. Feldspar is used to describe a wide range of materials. We use feldspar in a substantial number of everyday products, including drinking glasses, windshields, fiberglass for insulation, bathroom floor tiles, shower basins, and even the dishes on our tables. Feldspar is ubiquitous. An infinite number of tetrahedral SiO 2 1