PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM SUNFLOWER HUSK COMBUSTION FOR POTENTIAL GREEN APPLICATIONS

Authors

  • Katerina Mihaylova Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, “Acad. I. Kostov“ Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  • Gergana Velyanova Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, “Acad. I. Kostov“ Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  • Ekaterina Serafimova University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy
  • Sofia Panova Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, “Acad. I. Kostov“ Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  • Liliya Tsvetanova Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, “Acad. I. Kostov“ Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  • Vilma Petkova „Acad. I. Kostov“ Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  • Rositsa Titorenkova Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, “Acad. I. Kostov“ Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  • Christina Vassileva Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, “Acad. I. Kostov“ Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  • Stanislav Vassilev Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, “Acad. I. Kostov“ Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59957/jctm.v61.i3.2026.13

Keywords:

sunflower husk, biomass ash, ecology, circular economy

Abstract

The industrial ash used in this study is a residue from the combustion of plant biomass - sunflower husks. The increasing generation of this type of waste and the need for implementation of sustainable practices warrant the investigation of its possible green applications.
The study presents the results on the chemical and phase composition of two series of fly ash samples obtained from the industrial combustion of sunflower husks using wavelength-dispersive X - ray fluorescence analysis, powder X - ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The chemical data of the samples show high contents of biogenic and nutritional oxides such as K (34 - 39 % wt.), S (5 - 11 % wt.), and Са (3 - 8 % wt.), with no detectable contamination with toxic or radioactive elements. The phase composition of the samples includes synthetic analogues of arcanite, K2CO3, sylvite, calcite, spurrite, and gypsum. The data obtained demonstrate that this waste material has high potential for use in the production of fertilizer components, activators, or improvers for soils and soil fertility.

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Published

2026-05-01

Issue

Vol. 61 No. 3 (2026)

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Articles

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