Alteration of Sulfur-Bearing Silicate–Phosphate (Agri)Glasses in Soil Environment: Chemical Interactions and Biological Response

Glasses exposed to soil environments are of interest across various scientific fields, from nuclear waste containment to archaeological preservation and nutrient-delivery systems for plants. While immersion experiments provide valuable insights into the ion release kinetics in root- and microbe-exud...

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Main Authors: Anna Berezicka, Agnieszka Wojteczko, Justyna Sułowska, Magdalena Szumera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1790
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author Anna Berezicka
Agnieszka Wojteczko
Justyna Sułowska
Magdalena Szumera
author_facet Anna Berezicka
Agnieszka Wojteczko
Justyna Sułowska
Magdalena Szumera
author_sort Anna Berezicka
collection DOAJ
description Glasses exposed to soil environments are of interest across various scientific fields, from nuclear waste containment to archaeological preservation and nutrient-delivery systems for plants. While immersion experiments provide valuable insights into the ion release kinetics in root- and microbe-exuded solutions, they fail to replicate the complexities of nutrient leaching in real soil conditions. To address this, the degradation behavior of nutrient-bearing glasses (41SiO<sub>2</sub>·6(10)P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>·20K<sub>2</sub>O·33(29)MgO/CaO/MgO + CaO) with increasing sulfate contents was investigated through a soil incubation experiment simulating Central European weather variability. A comprehensive approach, combining SEM observations and EDS semi-quantitative analysis, revealed that acidic peat strongly promoted ion exchange, where protons from the medium replaced network cations. The glass composition played a crucial role in the fracture behavior: sulfate incorporation increased the network rigidity, making the glasses more prone to mechanical degradation and accelerating the reaction front advancement. The P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> content was also a key factor in modulating the reactivity, with higher concentrations intensifying interactions with the soil medium. Limited water availability accelerated the solution saturation, leading to secondary phase precipitation and temporary nutrient immobilization. These findings demonstrate that glass reactivity can be fine-tuned through composition adjustments and highlight the dynamic nature of glass–soil interactions, including seasonal variations in nutrient release under acidic conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-f095b14d0e044fb296d5468d7fa33c302025-08-20T03:13:48ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-04-01308179010.3390/molecules30081790Alteration of Sulfur-Bearing Silicate–Phosphate (Agri)Glasses in Soil Environment: Chemical Interactions and Biological ResponseAnna Berezicka0Agnieszka Wojteczko1Justyna Sułowska2Magdalena Szumera3Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Krakow, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, PolandFaculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Krakow, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, PolandFaculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Krakow, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, PolandFaculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Krakow, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, PolandGlasses exposed to soil environments are of interest across various scientific fields, from nuclear waste containment to archaeological preservation and nutrient-delivery systems for plants. While immersion experiments provide valuable insights into the ion release kinetics in root- and microbe-exuded solutions, they fail to replicate the complexities of nutrient leaching in real soil conditions. To address this, the degradation behavior of nutrient-bearing glasses (41SiO<sub>2</sub>·6(10)P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>·20K<sub>2</sub>O·33(29)MgO/CaO/MgO + CaO) with increasing sulfate contents was investigated through a soil incubation experiment simulating Central European weather variability. A comprehensive approach, combining SEM observations and EDS semi-quantitative analysis, revealed that acidic peat strongly promoted ion exchange, where protons from the medium replaced network cations. The glass composition played a crucial role in the fracture behavior: sulfate incorporation increased the network rigidity, making the glasses more prone to mechanical degradation and accelerating the reaction front advancement. The P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> content was also a key factor in modulating the reactivity, with higher concentrations intensifying interactions with the soil medium. Limited water availability accelerated the solution saturation, leading to secondary phase precipitation and temporary nutrient immobilization. These findings demonstrate that glass reactivity can be fine-tuned through composition adjustments and highlight the dynamic nature of glass–soil interactions, including seasonal variations in nutrient release under acidic conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1790glass–soil interactionsnutrient-bearing glassesion exchangesulfate incorporationfertilizersoil incubation experiment
spellingShingle Anna Berezicka
Agnieszka Wojteczko
Justyna Sułowska
Magdalena Szumera
Alteration of Sulfur-Bearing Silicate–Phosphate (Agri)Glasses in Soil Environment: Chemical Interactions and Biological Response
Molecules
glass–soil interactions
nutrient-bearing glasses
ion exchange
sulfate incorporation
fertilizer
soil incubation experiment
title Alteration of Sulfur-Bearing Silicate–Phosphate (Agri)Glasses in Soil Environment: Chemical Interactions and Biological Response
title_full Alteration of Sulfur-Bearing Silicate–Phosphate (Agri)Glasses in Soil Environment: Chemical Interactions and Biological Response
title_fullStr Alteration of Sulfur-Bearing Silicate–Phosphate (Agri)Glasses in Soil Environment: Chemical Interactions and Biological Response
title_full_unstemmed Alteration of Sulfur-Bearing Silicate–Phosphate (Agri)Glasses in Soil Environment: Chemical Interactions and Biological Response
title_short Alteration of Sulfur-Bearing Silicate–Phosphate (Agri)Glasses in Soil Environment: Chemical Interactions and Biological Response
title_sort alteration of sulfur bearing silicate phosphate agri glasses in soil environment chemical interactions and biological response
topic glass–soil interactions
nutrient-bearing glasses
ion exchange
sulfate incorporation
fertilizer
soil incubation experiment
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1790
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AT justynasułowska alterationofsulfurbearingsilicatephosphateagriglassesinsoilenvironmentchemicalinteractionsandbiologicalresponse
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