Traditionally, the DMG presents the Paul Ramdohr Award at its Annual Meeting for the best student contributions. The 2023 award was presented to Rebecca Volkmann for her presentation, “Tracking Transformation Processes in the Mg-Phosphate Mineral System – A Mineralogical Study for Environmental Applications.”

In this study, she investigated the transformation and decomposition of struvite, (NH₄)Mg[PO₄]·6H₂O, at different temperatures in both open and closed systems over a period of nearly one year. Under ambient conditions in an open system, struvite gradually transformed into newberyite, Mg[PO₃OH]·3H₂O, whereas at elevated temperatures of up to 60°C, dittmarite, NH₄Mg[PO₄]·H₂O, was formed. In contrast, struvite remained stable in closed systems.

These findings are of considerable practical importance, demonstrating that struvite fertilizer stored under open conditions at room temperature can lose up to 15% of its ammonia content within ten months. Based on these results, Ms. Volkmann recommends storing struvite fertilizers exclusively in closed containers. Her work provides valuable guidance for improving resource efficiency and promoting the sustainable use of recycled phosphorus fertilizers.