Granular fertilizer caking: A research on the performance evaluation of coating agents

Caking formation in fertilizer products during handling and storage is a frequently encountered problem. Caked fertilizers become together as lumps, lose their free- flowing properties, and create inefficient applications. Several parameters such as relative humidity and temperature of the environment, pressure by pile height, and physicochemical properties of fertilizer product such as moisture content, presence of fines and chemical composition, etc. cause or accelerate caking mechanism. Internal or external anticaking products have been proved to be effective in preventing the caking of fertilizer particles. Liquid or wax anticaking agents are applied externally as coatings on the fertilizer surface. This study focuses on the performance evaluation of commercially available liquid- wax anticaking agents coated on NP 20-20-0 fertilizer, classified as three main groups: petroleum-derived, alkyl amine-fatty acid containing mixtures and bio- based composition. Caking performance of coating products are evaluated via small-bag storage test in 4 sets, according to the results, petroleum derived and alkyl amine- fatty acid containing anticaking products show similar performance, whereas bio-based products’ performance is moderate. This study focuses on a practical approach that will help fertilizer industry about which type of coating product will be effective on the anticaking properties of nitrogenous fertilizers and gives brief results of the effect of commercially available products with various ranges of chemical composition on the caking process

Understanding Caking Phenomena in Industrial Fertilizers

One of the most important problems of the fertilizer industry is that fertilizers show caking tendency during transportation and storage. Caking occurs as a result of interaction at the contact points formed between solid fertilizer particles. These interactions, also called contact mechanisms, are activated by a number of properties that fertilizers have and by environmental conditions. Prevention of caking mechanism is a substantial research subject that directly affects the quality and financial value of the final product and ensures its applicability. Fertilizer in good quality can provide ease in agricultural applications, and directly affect plant nutrition and crop productivity. At this point, there are various promoter practices for obtaining the free-flowing property in fertilizers that can be maintained or suggested during or after production, both in industry and in R&amp;amp;D studies. In order to develop new process control points in the industry, it is important to understand the factors that cause caking and the mechanism of physicochemical interactions that progress depending on these factors. In addition, it is essential to improve the storage conditions of the fertilizer, as well as to maintain its quality until end-use. This paper focuses on the caking behavior of fertilizers in detail, giving brief information about the prevention of caking and various types of anticaking agents.</jats:p

Granular fertilizer caking: A research on the performance evaluation of coating agents

Caking formation in fertilizer products during handling and storage is a frequently encountered problem. Caked fertilizers become together as lumps, lose their free- flowing properties, and create inefficient applications. Several parameters such as relative humidity and temperature of the environment, pressure by pile height, and physicochemical properties of fertilizer product such as moisture content, presence of fines and chemical composition, etc. cause or accelerate caking mechanism. Internal or external anticaking products have been proved to be effective in preventing the caking of fertilizer particles. Liquid or wax anticaking agents are applied externally as coatings on the fertilizer surface. This study focuses on the performance evaluation of commercially available liquid- wax anticaking agents coated on NP 20-20-0 fertilizer, classified as three main groups: petroleum-derived, alkyl amine-fatty acid containing mixtures and bio- based composition. Caking performance of coating products are evaluated via small-bag storage test in 4 sets, according to the results, petroleum derived and alkyl amine- fatty acid containing anticaking products show similar performance, whereas bio-based products’ performance is moderate. This study focuses on a practical approach that will help fertilizer industry about which type of coating product will be effective on the anticaking properties of nitrogenous fertilizers and gives brief results of the effect of commercially available products with various ranges of chemical composition on the caking process.</jats:p

Process Modeling and Simulation of Ammonia Production from Natural Gas: Control and Response Analysis

Optimal production of ammonia (NH3) using natural gas is necessary in order to make it available for wide range of applications including the manufacture of fertilizers, fuel for transportation and during synthesis of some chemicals. Achieving this would require strategic implementation of a control scheme to simulated ammonia production, capable of ensuring adequate realization of production targets. The work involves ASPEN Plus modeling, simulation, sensitivity analysis and control of NH3 production process. Steam/carbon ratio, conversion of CH4, removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen/nitrogen ratio and heat exchanger and separator temperatures were identified as requiring control in units any of these specifically impacts. As a result, approximately 176 tons of NH3 was realized daily based on the simulation results and can be scaled-up using a calculated factor equivalent to 1.1375 to 200 tons/day capacity, in this design. Sensitivity analysis resulting in control of certain unit parameters is effective in ensuring process safety, maximum yield of important end-products and reduction in the cost of operation</jats:p