Compound fertilizers blending

Economic Aspects and Uses. Total world production of potassium products is 29,000,000 tons per year (65). Potassium chloride is removed from brine at Moab, and Wendover, Utah, and at Seades Lake, California. Potassium sulfate is made from Great Salt Lake brine by Great Salt Lake Minerals Corp., which is the largest producer of solar potassium sulfate in the wodd. Combined, these U.S. faciUties stiU produce a relatively small percentage of potash fertilizers in the wodd. Production from the Dead Sea, for example, is 10 times greater than production of potassium from brines in the United States. More than 95% of all the potassium produced is used in fertilizer blends. The remainder is converted to other potassium chemicals for industdal use (see Potassium compounds). 

Compound Fertilizer - A fertilizer that has a declarable content of at least two of the plant nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, obtained chemically or by blending, or both QSO). 

In the United States, bulk-blended fertilizer is generally defined as a compound fertilizer produced by mixing two or more fertilizers whose granules are similar in size. These fertilizers are also called blended fertilizers or bulk blends. 

TSP may be prepared in either granular or nongianular form. The nongranular form is preferred for use as an intermediate for production of compound fertilizer by granulation processes, whereas the granular form is preferred for direct application or for blending. The basic chemical reaction involved in production of TSP is as follows ... 

The European Council Directive 76 / 116 / EZC indicates that single superphosphate must contain at least 16% of P2O5 soluble in neutral ammonium citrate of which at least 93% is water soluble. SSP may be either powder form for use as a raw material in the manufacture of compound fertilizers or for application by the farmer, or granular (2-4 mm) for use as a raw material in a bulk blending operation or for application. SSP may be shipped in bulk and in bags, provided it is protected from moisture. 

IFDC surveys conducted in 1990 and 1995 indicated that compound fertilizer production (exclusive of dry mixed blends) occurred in at least 50 countries, and the total production during the 1990-94 period amounted to about 45-50 million tonnes of product annually. These results are generally corroborated by other surveys conducted by various producers and industry associations [2]. 

Based on the IFDC surveys, it is estimated that dry mixed compound fertilizers (bulk blends) account for an additional 40-50 million tonnes of product annually to bring the total production of all types of compound fertilizers to about 100 million tonnes annually (Figure 16.1). 

The economics of the four basic compound fertilizer production processes (bulk blending, compaction granulation, steam/water granulation, and chemical granulation) are compared in terms of (1) required fixed captal investment, (2) conversion cost (not including raw materials), and (3) production cost (conversion cost plus raw material cost). The premises and assumptions used in this evaluation and a discussion of the main economic characteristics of the processes follow. 

The estimated unit consumptions (not including raw materials) for the four compound fertilizer production processes are summarized in Table 16.9. Using these unit consumptions and typical mid-1995 U.S. costs, the conversion cost, based on a production of 120,000 tpy, including bags and bagging but not raw materials, varies from about US 26/tonne for bulk blending to about US 63/tonne for chemical granulation. In all cases fixed... 

Abstract This chapter explains the importance of feeding crops and ensuring that soil fertility is maintained. It discusses the main elements required by crops, both major and trace. It explains why liming is so important for crop nutrition. It deals with the calculations and sources of information needed to accurately decide on fertiliser application rates, and cost them. It describes the materials used on-farm as fertilisers and explains the differences between straights, compounds and blends, as well as dealing with liquids and solid fertilisers. There is a section on the use of oiganic manures and slurries and how to make best use of them. Finally, the chapter deals with the effect of fertilisers on the environment, during both their manufacture and application. 

When 20% of the phosphoms was polyphosphate, the compounds ia the product were ia the ratio of 3.5 mole MAP per mole of the pyrophosphate. The principal use of the material was ia the production of suspension fertilizers. In this appHcation the polyphosphate content imparted improved storage properties to the suspensions. The granular soHd APP, however, also had excellent storage properties and was a good material for use ia bulk blends and for direct appHcation. 

Two principal applications of ammonium thiosulfate are (i) as a fertdizer blend, and (ii) in photography. It is blended with other nitrogenous fertdizers to provide sulfur to the sod. Also, the compound itself is a fertilizer however, such applications are limited. In photography it dissolves undeveloped sdver hahdes from negatives and prints. It is also used as a desiccant and defohant in cotton, rice, soybean and other plants in flue-gas desulfurization and in... 

Fertilizers - [AMMONIA] (Vol2) -in bioremediation piOREMEDIATION] (Supplement) -blended [POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS] (Vol 19) -boron in [BORON COMPOUNDS - BORON OXIDES, BORIC ACID AND BORATES] (Vol 4) -cyanamidein [CYANAMIDES] (Vol 7) -lecithin in [LECITHIN] (Vol 15) -molybdenum compounds m [MOLYBDENUM AND COMPOUNDS] (Vol 16) -nitric acid m mfg [NITRIC ACID] (Vol 17) -potassium hydroxide mmfg of [POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS] (Vol 19) -radioactive tracers for [RADIOACTIVE TRACERS] (Vol 20) -role of H2 m production of [HYDROGEN] (Vol 13) -specialty liquid [POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS] (Vol 19) -tanks for [TANKS AND PRESSURE VESSELS] (Vol 23) -use of diatomite m [DIATOMITE] (Vol 8) -use of sulfur for [SULFUR] (Vol 23)... 

Fig. 6.6-25 Flow diagram of a plant combining fertilizer bulk blending (2-7) and compaction/ granulation (8-27). 1, front-end loader input of components 2, 8, 18, bucket elevators 3, distributor 4, silos for components 5, compounding scale 6, blender 7, bulk blend receiving hopper (courtesy Sackett, Baltimore, USA). 9, mill for feed homogenization 10, feed bin 11, 27, screw conveyors 12, belt mixer 13, metal separators 14, 25,...

In Australia, bulk blends are considered to be mixtures of two or more compounds or compounds and straight fertilizers, preferably in a pelletized (granular) form. 

As can be seen from Figure 11.18, this system, since 1960, has taken a considerable share of the U.S. mixed-fertilizer market away from the compound granulation plants. As of 1990, bulk blending was furnishing about 62 percent of the mixed fertilizer used in the United States, as compared to about 15... 

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