Analysis of selected fertilizers imported to Libya for major, minor, traceand toxic elements using ICP-OES and INAA

The concentration of 35 elements (Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cl, Cr, Cu , Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, N, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Sc, Si, Sr, Tb, Th, Ti, U , V, Yb, Zn and Zr) in six different imported, NPK, NP and K fertilizers we re determined by ICP-OES in two different laboratories and by INAA. The fer tilizers were labeled as 24/12 (Belgium), 46/18 (Morocco), 50% ammonium sul fate 50% K2O (Belgium), New 24/12 (Belgium), 16.8.24 (France) and 17.17.17 (France). It is clear that these fertilizers vary widely in their heavy met als and uranium content, and the accumulation of certain elements in vitall y important media such as water, soil and food is undesirable from the medi cal point of view. The results obtained were acceptable and intercomparison between various methods was carried out.