Mineralogical Characterization of Premix Used in the Manufacture of Feed for Poultry and Livestock

One of the basic requirements that must be met in the production of livestock and poultry is a good food for their diet. Premix is an integral part in the food production for poultry and livestock. It is a mixture of organic and inorganic components. Our study has been conducted with a goal to identify minerals in foreign premix for the production of domestic premix and substitution of premix imported. Food with foreign premix has shown good results while raising poultry and livestock. Production of domestic premix with minerals from our area would enable better utilization of domestic resources. Using different methods (DTA, IR, XRD, SEM and EDS) mineralogical characterization of foreign premix has been made. Based on results of mineralogical characterization, minerals in mineral part of foreign producers’ premix have been clearly identified. They are Clinoptilolite (Ca, K,) 2-3Al3 (Al, Si) 2Si13O36 12 (H2O), as primary and minerals Quartz (SiO2) and Calcite (CaCO3) as secondary. The Clinoptilolite is mineral from zeolite group.


Introduction
Premixes are very important factors in the production of poultry and livestock (Zlatić, 1983).Besides the organic part of premix, inorganic part plays also an important role in premix composition.Qualitative and quantitative content of both parts of premix affect the quality of the food.Domestic and foreign premix, depending on the composition have different effects in feeding hogs (Zivković et al., 2010a;Zivković et al., 2010b).Inorganic part is mineral supplement.Minerals as ingredients in the premix are usually bentonite -montmorilloniet, glauconite, minerals of the zeolite group, limestone and others (Stojiljković et al., 2002).Minerals are biostimulators of growth in poultry and livestock (Vakanjac, 1992).Bentonite, montmorillonit, glauconite and minerals from the group of zeolites have similar structure and ability of absorption.They adsorb and release the water, exchange cations, without destroying the crystal lattice.Cation exchange capacity is the major characteristic of mineral absorbent.Value of Cation exchange capacity "CEC" determines the usage.This feature allows them to be used for removal of mycotoxins as absorbents and to have function of immunostimulator.Mycotoxins are harmful to the health of livestock and poultry.Immunostimulator minerals reinforce the development of cells of the immune system in poultry and livestock.Immune system cells destroy bacteria and viruses (Adamović et al., 2003).
The material examined this paper is a foreign premix.The composition of the organic part premix was known.The organic part consists of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast), vitamin E and related components.The composition of the inorganic part of the premix was unknown.Minerals of inorganic part premix are identified by mineralogical characterization.

Materials and Methods
Foreign producers' premix is material tested for identification of minerals in mineral addition.Modern methods were used for testing premix.For DTA analysis was used electric furnace -type Adamel (thermocouple Platinum/Platinum-Rhodium).IR Spectrophotometer type Perkin Elmer 597 was used for IR spectrophotometric analysis.Sample 1 represents starting premix that has been tested by DTA analysis and IR analysis.The premix has been annealed at 400°C, 600°C and 800°C with two hours of retention.Process has been repeated four times with constant weight.Samples 2, 3 and 4 represent annealed premixes.Sample 1 (initial premix), sample 2 (premix annealed at 400°C), sample 3 (premix annealed at 600°C) and sample 4 (premix annealed at 800°C) have been tested by X-ray diffraction method.The X-ray diffractogram (XRD) were obtained on Rendgen diffractograf type Philips PW 1710, anticathode copper, wavelength of CuKα = 1.54178Å.The same samples are tested with electronic microscopy (SEM-EDS analysis).For this analysis, was used electronic microscope JEOL JSM-6610 LV with INCA Energy 350.

Results and Discussion
Sample 1 differential thermal analysis curve (initial premix) is represented by Figure 1.Curve registers endothermic effect at 100°C.This effect is consequence of humidity loss in Sample 1. Second registered exothermic effect at interval of 200°C to 600°C is the consequence of combustion of organic portion of premix.The third endothermic effect on the curve has been registered at 840°C.This effect has derived from decarbonization of Calcite (CaCO 3 ), when it transfers to free CaO and loses CO 2.
Endothermic effect is characteristic for Calcite deriving during heating at interval from 800°C to 1000°C, (Ristić & Kovačević, 1983;Kulikov et al., 1985;Frye, 1981).Infrared (IR) curve of the sample 1 (Figure 3) showed the characteristics of the group minerals hydrosilicate.XRD diffractograms of premix 1, 2 and 3 showed the presence of the same mineral phases, but the content of these minerals is different (Figures 4, 5 and 6).In all three samples the dominant mineral was Clinoptilolite (Ca, K,) 2-3 Al 3 (Al, Si) 2 Si 13 O 36 12 (H 2 O), that belongs to the group of zeolite.Clinoptilolite is leafy zeolite (Ilic & Karamata, 1978).Calcite, Quartz and Cristobalite appear next to Clinoptilolite.These minerals are often found with Clinoptilolite (Kerr, 1959).However, Sample 4 was characterized by the presence of amorphous solids, minerals quartz and cristobalite.Calcite was not found in this sample.Calcite has lost CO 2 through decarbonization and has been transferred into free CaO.  1 and 2.   1) and Spectrum of Point 1 (Figure 9b) clearly point the clinoptilolite mineral.Chemical analysis of Point 1 in selected part of the Sample 2 (Table 2) and Spectrum of Point 1 (Figure 10b) clearly point the Calcite mineral.

Conclusions
Identification of minerals in foreign premix gives the possibility for better selection of minerals for domestic premix.
Mineral characterization of foreign premix identifies minerals in mineral part of premix.Those are Clinoptilolite (primary mineral), Quartz, Calcite and Cristobalite as secondary minerals.
Clinoptilolite belongs to zeolite group.Due to its' structure and good characteristics zeolites have wide application in different industries.Their usage in agriculture has shown huge benefits.Identification of Clinoptilolite as primary mineral in high quality foreign premix confirms necessity of better and comprehensive usage of mineral resources.
There are a few deposits of zeolite tuffs in Serbia.Modified clinoptilolite from one of our deposits is already being successfully utilized as an additive in livestock and poultry food.It is an imperative to utilize to its fullest extent zeolites from other deposits that are insufficiently exploited.Improvement of zeolite preparation will enable production of domestic premix.

Table 1 .
Chemical composition of point 1 on selected forms of sample 1

Table 2 .
Chemical composition of point 1 on selected forms of sample 2 Figure8, 9a and 10a) showed a dominant presence of Clinoptilolite mineral premix sample.Clinoptilolite appears in forms of small plates.This mineral together with Calcite, Quartz and Cristobalite is part of large granular aggregate.In addition to granular plate aggregates there were other forms of different size and morphology.