Development of technological processes for obtaining of ecological materials based on nonmetallic minerals

The objective of the proposed research is the development of the technological processes for obtaining of ecological materials based on non metallic mineral raw materials. Thus, to obtain materials based on limestone and phosphates which may be applied for neutralization of acidic soils, improvement of the qualities of soils and animal feed, investigations will include the novel mineral processing methods micronization, communition, classification, agglomeration, concentration and/or separation. Furthermore, mineral processing methods as well as specific modifications of zeolite will be done to obtain materials suitable for removal of toxic metals from contaminated waters and decontamination of animal feed contaminated with mycotoxins and radionuclides. For investigations, non metallic raw materials from deposits in Serbia (limestone – deposit “Dobrilovići”, zeolite – deposit “Zlatokop” or “Igroš” and phosphate – deposit “Lisina”), will be used. Raw materials, as well as the obtained modified materials will be characterized with the following methods: mineralogical, XRPD thermal and chemical analyses, FTIR spectroscopy, etc. On limestone pellets, crush resistance, pressure resistance, abrasion resistance, etc. will be determined. Sorption of pollutants will be studied using atomic absorption spectroscopy, HPLC analysis, gamma-ray spectroscopy, etc. Proposed investigations may be the basis for potential industrial production of the obtained ecological materials.