Transcript Chapter 6: Fertilizer Formulation, Storage, and handling

Chapter 6: Fertilizer Formulation,
Storage, and handling
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Three systems available:
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Bulk Blend or Prescription mix nutrients.
Direct application of homogeneous product.
Fluid fertilizer (from clear liquid solutions to
suspensions
Bulk Blend or Prescription mix
nutrients
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May use homogeneous products as part of the
blend, along with other granular, prilled, or
crystalline fertilizer materials to meet desired
nutrient requirements.
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Should use uniformly sized products to
minimize segregation in storage & handling.
Direct application of homogeneous
product.
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Benefit is that each pellet has the same
chemical make up.
Can be in bulk form or ordered in bagged form.
Fluid fertilizer
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Its main benefits are the ease of handling,
uniform composition, and compatibility with
crop protection chemicals.
Suspension can have a twice the nutrient
content than clear.
Large amounts of secondary nutrients and
micronutrients can be used in suspensions.
Formulations
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Bulk/Bagged Blends
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Are physical mixes of two or more dry products.
Examples of products used are: ammonium nitrate,
ammonium sulfate, urea, diammonium phosphate,
monoammonium phosphate, potassium materials,
and elemental sulfur.
Bulk/Bagged Blends Problems
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Segregation or separation of one component or
raw material from another.
Segregation may happen when storing finished
products in cone shape piles or when loading
in a truck or trailor.
Homogeneous product problems
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One problem is that specific grades are not
produced to meet every soil or plant condition.
Fluid fertilizer problems (Clear)
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Although high N-P grades can be produced,
the addition of other fertilizer material raises
the salting-out temperature, thus limiting the
nutrient content.
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As the salting-out temperature is raised. The
solution becomes unstable.
Fluid fertilizer problems
(Suspension)
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Applications can be hampered by the clogging
of the nozzles
Failure to agitate the tank
Storage and Handling
Refer to Table 6-3 for humidity and temperature
data on each fertilizer.
Storage and Handling
Ammonium nitrate
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Keep it away from open flames
Avoid contaminating it with foreign matter.
Sweep up & dispose of all contaminated
material.
Do not store it in close proximity to steam pipes
or radiators.
Keep it separate from other materials stored in
the same warehouse, especially combustible
organic materials and urea.
Urea
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Keep it away from open flames
Avoid contaminating it with foreign matter.
Sweep up & dispose of all contaminated
material.
Do not store it in close proximity to steam pipes
or radiators.
Keep it separate from other materials stored in
the same warehouse, especially combustible
organic materials and ammonium nitrate.
Why keep the two apart?
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Urea is less hygroscopic than ammonium
nitrate. It will absorb moisture at 18% relative
humidity if stored with ammonium nitrate.
Ammonium sulfate
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Easy to store due to its high critical relative
humidity of 79% at 860F
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It is corrosive, so store in concrete or wood
structures.
Phosphorus and potassium
materials
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By the most part they require no specialized
storage.
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Use common sense.
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It is corrosive, so store in concrete or wood
structures.
Fluid Materials
Anhydrous ammonia
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Potentially hazardous due to the high
pressures that it is stored under.
Aqua ammonia
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Since ammonia vapor is constantly leaving the
solution a pressure-vacuum relief value must
be installed on storage tanks.
Urea-ammonium nitrate solutions
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Store in mild steel or poly tanks with
appropriate secondary containment.
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Brass, copper, or galvanized materials should
not be used for handling systems.
Ammonium nitrate solution
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Store in mild steel or poly tanks with
appropriate secondary containment.
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***NOTE that this is more corrosive to mild
steel.
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Brass, copper, or galvanized materials should
not be used for handling systems.
Urea solutions
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Store in mild steel or poly tanks with
appropriate secondary containment.
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Brass, copper, or galvanized materials should
not be used for handling systems.
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Have a higher salt-out temperatures.
Phosphoric & superphosphoric
acids
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Corrosive acids that require rubber or plastic
lined stainless steel or plastic tanks and
plumbing are required.
A silica-gel breather should be installed to
prevent moisture from entering the tank due to
superphosphoric when it absorbs moisture
produces a more corrosive acid.
Cont.
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External jacketing or steam tracing will prevent
freezing in long lines.
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Prevent contact with skin and eyes due to the
fact that it is a strong dehydrating agent that
can cause blistering.
Clear liquid & fluid suspensions
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If neutral solutions – mild steel or poly storage
can be used.
Sulfuric Acid
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Storage tanks must be vented to maintain the
tanks atmospheric pressure.
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When added to water it becomes more
corrosive and the use of non-reactive liners are
suggested.
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Should not be stored near other organic
materials. It may cause ignition.
Urea-acid combinations
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Storage tanks must be vented to maintain the
tanks atmospheric pressure.
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When added to water it becomes more
corrosive and the use of non-reactive liners are
suggested.
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Should not be stored near other organic
materials. It may cause ignition.
Sulfur materials for formulation of
liquids
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These types of fertilizers are corrosive. Thus
one should use storage facilities that are not
degraded when they come in contact with
these substances.