Fertilizers Industry

Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

Why Fertilize?
Supply plant nutrients
Improve
I
plant
l t health
h lth
Enhance appearance
Improve pest tolerance
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

Basic Plant Needs

Oxygen
Water
Light
Nutrients
N i
Growing
medium
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

Nutrients
Macronutrients (primary)
Macronutrients (secondary)
Micronutrients (minor)
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

Macronutrients (primary)
Nitrogen (growth, color)
Phosphorus (root development)
Potassium (stress tolerance)
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

Macronutrients (secondary)
Calcium (cell wall structure)
Magnesium (photosynthesis)
Sulfur (growth, color)
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

Micronutrients (minor)

Iron (chlorophyll)
Zinc (chlorophyll)
M
Manganese
( hl
(chlorophyll)
h ll)
Copper
pp (enzyme
(
y
activator))
Boron (water balance)
Molybdenum (nitrogen utilization)
Chlorine (photosynthesis)
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

Primary Nutrients
Nitrogen (N)
Key
K element
l
t in
i tturfgrass
f
nutrition
t iti
Promotes leaf and stem growth
Essential component off chlorophyll molecule
Involved in regulating the uptake of other key
nutrients
ti t

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

Primary Nutrients
Phosphorus (P)
Used
U d iin th
the fformation
ti and
d ttransfer
f off energy
within the plant
Influences early root development and growth
Encourages plant establishment

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

Primary Nutrients
Potassium (K)
Used by plant in large quantities
quantities, second only
to nitrogen
Keyy component
p
in the formation of
carbohydrates
Encourages rooting and wear tolerance
Enhances drought and cold tolerance
Key component in cell wall development
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

10

Secondary Nutrients
Calcium (Ca)
Strongly
St
l influences
i fl
proper soilil pH
H
Essential to strong cell wall structure and cell
division
Can improve soil structure, water retention
and infiltration

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

11

Secondary Nutrients
Magnesium (Mg)
Plays
Pl
an iimportant
t t role
l iin photosynthesis
h t
th i and
d
chlorophyll production
A necessary component in many essential
enzyme systems within the plant
Important in aiding the translocation of
phosphorus
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

12

Secondary Nutrients
Sulfur (S)
Works
W k with
ith nitrogen
it
tto produce
d
new protein
t i
for plant growth
Plays an important role in the utilization of
oxygen by the plant
Influences the level of activity of soil
microorganisms
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

13

Micronutrients
Iron (Fe)
Necessary for the formation of chlorophyll
Deficiencies are most common in wet, cold or high
g p
pH
soils
Aids in the activation of a number of biochemical
processes within the plant

Manganese (Mn)
Important in the formation of chlorophyll and the
activation of initial growth process
Generally available in sufficient quantities in the soil
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

14

Micronutrients
Boron (B)
Necessary for plant reproduction
Helps maintain optimum water balance in
plants

Molybdenum (Mo)
Essential to the p
process of nitrogen
g utilization
Is less available under acidic (low pH) soil
conditions
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

15

Micronutrients
Zinc (Zn)
( )
Necessary for the production of chlorophyll

Copper (Cu)
Important in the synthesis of certain plant growth
substances
Serves as an activator for several essential enzymes
Needed onlyy in small q
quantities; large
g amounts can
be toxic to turfgrass plants
Deficiencies are usually only found in highly alkaline
soils (high pH) organic soils or heavily leeched soils
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

16

What is Fertilizer?
Supplies basic plant nutrients
N Nitrogen
P Phosphorus
K Potassium
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

17

Fertilizer Analysis
(N-P-K)

Percentage
g by
y weight
g of
nutrients
Elemental
Elemental nitrogen
Available p
phosphorus
p
Soluble potash
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

(N)
((P2O5)
(K2O)
18

Element
Nit
Nitrogen
(N)

Key Raw
Materials

Key Products

Hydrocarbons,
H
d
b
U
Urea,
ammonium
i
principally Natural nitrate, CAN, UAN,
Gas
ammonium
sulphate

Phosphorus
(P)

Phosphate Rock
(+ Ammonia)

DAP, MAP, TSP,

SSP

Potassium
(K)

Potash (potassium
chloride or KCl)

Potash,
potassium
sulphate,
potassium nitrate

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

19

Nitrogenous Fertilizer Products

Ammonia liquor
Ammonium nitrate
Ammonium sulfate
Anhydrous ammonia
Aqua ammonia
Fertilizers, mixed, produced in nitrogenous fertilizer
plants
Fertilizers, natural
Nitric acid
Nit
Nitrogen
ffertilizer
tili
solutions
l ti
Plant foods, mixed in nitrogenous fertilizer plants
Urea
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

20

Nitrogen Fertilizer Production

Nitrogenous
g
Fertilizers p
production is based on Ammonia,
produced from some kind of hydrocarbon as feedstock
Ammonia Production :
Ammonia is produced mainly through processing of
hydrocarbons by Steam Reforming.
This is an endothermic process and requires huge energy for
p
processing.
g
The hydrogen from natural gas is reacted with nitrogen from the
air to produce anhydrous ammonia.
Hydrogen is obtained from either the catalytic steam reforming of
natural gas (methane) or naptha, or as the byproduct from the
electrolysis of brine at chlorine plants.
Ammonia is used directly as a fertilizer or used to produce other
forms of fertilizers.
fertilizers
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

21

Products
Ammonia
O2

Natural
Gas

Anhydrous
Ammonia

Nitric
Acid

Liquid
Am Nitrate

UAN
Blending

Am

Nitrate
UAN

Solutions

Urea

Air
CO2

Granulation

Ammoniated
Ph
Phosphates
h t

Urea

Ammoniated
Ph
Phosphates
h t

Phos Acid

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

22

Ammonia Production

Following steps are required to produce

synthetic ammonia using the catalytic steam
reforming method:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5
5.
6.
7
7.

natural gas desulfurization

catalytic steam reforming
carbon monoxide shift
carbon dioxide removal
methanation
ammonia synthesis
storage and transport
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

23

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

24

1 natural gas desulfurization

1.
In the natural gas desulfurization step
step, the
sulfur content (primarily as H2S) in natural
gas feedstock is reduced to below 280
micrograms per cubic meter to prevent
poisoning of the catalyst used in the
catalytic steam reforming step.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

25

 Sulfur removal requires catalytic

h d
hydrogenation
ti tto convertt sulfur
lf
compounds in the natural gas to gaseous
h d
hydrogen
sulfide:
lfid
H2 + RSH RH + H2S(gas)
The gaseous hydrogen sulfide is then
yp
passing
g it
absorbed and removed by
through beds of zinc oxide where it is
converted to solid zinc sulfide:
H2S + ZnO ZnS + H2O
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

26

2 catalytic steam reforming

2.
Next, the desulfurized natural gas is preheated
by mixing with superheated steam. The mixture
of steam and gas enters the primary reformer
tubes which are filled with a nickel-based
reforming catalyst, and the tubes are heated by
natural
t l gas or oil-fired
il fi d b
burners. A
Approximately
i t l
70 percent of the methane(CH4) is converted to
hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2),
)
according to the following reaction:
0.88CH4 + 1.26air + 1.24 H2O 0.88CO2 +N2 + 3H2
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

27

 The remainder of the CH4 is converted to H2 and

CO This process gas is then sent to the
CO.
secondary reformer, where it is mixed with
compressed
p
hot air at 540C ((1004F).
)
Sufficient air is added to produce a final
synthesis gas having a hydrogen-to-nitrogen
mole ratio of three to one.
The gas leaving the secondary reformer
(primarily hydrogen, nitrogen, CO, CO2, and
H2O) is then cooled to 360C (680F) in a waste
heat boiler before being sent to the carbon
monoxide shift.
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

28

3 carbon monoxide shift

3.
After cooling, the secondary reformer effluent
gas enters a high temperature (350-400C) CO
shift converter which converts the CO to CO2,
followed by a low temperature (200-250C) shift
converter which continues to convert CO to CO2.
Th high
The
hi h temperature
t
t
CO shift
hift converter
t is
i filled
fill d
with chromium oxide initiator and iron oxide
catalyst The following reaction takes place:
catalyst.
CO + H2O CO2 + H2
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

29

 The exit gas is then cooled in a heat exchanger

before being
g sent to a low temperature
p
shift
converter for ammonia, amines, and methanol
where CO continues to be converted to CO2 by
a copper oxide/zinc oxide catalyst.
In some plants, the gas is first passed through a
bed of zinc oxide to remove any residual sulfur
contaminants that would poison the low
temperature shift catalyst.
In other p
plants, excess low temperature
p
shift
catalyst is added to ensure that the unit will
operate as expected. Final shift gas from this
converter is cooled from 210 to 110C ((410 to
230F) and unreacted steam is condensed and
separated from the gas in a knockout drum.
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

30

 The final shift gas then enters the bottom of the

carbon dioxide absorption system
system. The
condensed steam (process condensate)
contains ammonium carbonate ([(NH4)2CO3
H2O]) from
f
the
th high
hi h temperature
t
t
shift
hift converter,
t
methanol (CH3OH) from the low temperature
shift converter, and small amounts of sodium,
iron, copper, zinc, aluminum and calcium.
Process condensate is sent to the stripper to
remove volatile
l til gases such
h as ammonia,
i
methanol, and carbon dioxide.
Trace metals remaining in the process
condensate are typically removed in an ion
exchange unit
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

31

4 carbon dioxide removal

4.
In this step,
p CO2 in the final shift g
gas is removed.
CO2 removal can be done by using one of two
methods:
monoethanolamine (C2H4NH2OH) scrubbing or
hot potassium scrubbing.

Approximately 80 percent of the ammonia plants

use monoethanolamine (MEA) for removing
CO2. In this process, the CO2 gas is passed
upward through an adsorption tower
countercurrent
t
t to
t a 15 percentt to
t 30 percentt
solution of MEA in water fortified with corrosion
inhibitors.
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

32

 After absorbing the CO2, the amine-CO2 solution

is preheated and regenerated in a reactivating
tower. The reacting tower removes CO2 by
steam stripping and then by heating. The CO2
gas (98.5 percent CO2) is either vented to the
atmosphere or used for chemical feedstock in
other parts of the plant complex.
The regenerated MEA is pumped back to the
absorber tower after being cooled in a heat
exchanger and solution cooler.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

33

5 methanation
5.
Carbon dioxide absorption is not 100 percent
effective in removing CO2 from the gas stream,
and CO2 can poison the synthesis converter.
Therefore, residual CO2 in the synthesis gas
must be removed by catalytic methanation.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

34

 In a reactor containing a nickel catalyst and at

temperatures of 400 to 600C
600 C (752 to 1112
1112F)
F)
and pressures up to 3,000 kPa (435 psia)
methanation follows the following reaction steps:
CO2 + H2 CO + H2O
CO + 3H2 CH4 + H2O
CH4 + 2H2O 6CO2 + 4H2
Exit gas from the methanator is almost a pure
three to one mole ratio of hydrogen to nitrogen

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

35

6 ammonia synthesis
6.
synthesis.
In the synthesis
y
step,
p the hydrogen
y g and nitrogen
g
synthesis gas from themethanator is converted
to ammonia.
N2 +3H2 2NH3
First, the gas is compressed to pressures
ranging from 13,800 to 34,500 kPa (2000 to
5000 psia),
i ) mixed
i d with
ith recycled
l d synthesis
th i gas,
and cooled to 0C (32F). This results in a
portion of the gas being converted to ammonia
which
hi h iis condensed
d
d and
d separated
d ffrom the
h
unconverted synthesis gas in a liquid-vapor
separator
p
and sent to a let-down separator.
p
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

36

 The unconverted synthesis gas is further

compressed
p
and heated to 180C ((356F))
before entering a synthesis converter containing
an iron oxide catalyst.
Ammonia gas exiting the synthesis converter is
condensed and separated, then sent to the letdown separator. A small portion of the over head
gas is purged to prevent the build up of inert
gases such as argon in the circulating gas
system.
Ammonia in the let-down separator is flashed to
atmospheric pressure (100 kPa (14.5 psia)) at 33C ((-27F)) to remove impurities
p
from the
make-up gas. The flash vapor is condensed in a
let-down chiller where anhydrous ammonia is
drawn off and stored at low temperature.
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

37

7 storage and transport

7.
Ammonia is typically stored at ambient pressure
and -33C (-28F) in large 20,000 ton tanks.
Some tanks are built with a double wall to
minimize leakage and insulate. If heat leaks into
the tank and ammonia is vaporized, the vapors
are typically
t i ll captured,
t d condensed,
d
d and
d returned
t
d
to the tank. Ammonia is mostly transported by
barge to key agricultural areas
areas, but there is also
a small system of interstate ammonia pipelines.
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

38

Urea Production

The manufacture steps for urea (CO(NH2)2)

involve following unit operations:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6
6.
7.

solution formation
solids concentration
solids formation
solids cooling
solids screening
solids
lid coating
ti
product bagging and/or bulk shipping.
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

39

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

40

1 solution formation
1.
In the urea solution synthesis
y
operation,
p
,
ammonia (NH3) and carbon dioxide(CO2) are
reacted to form ammonium carbamate
(NH2CO2NH4) as follows:
2NH3 + CO2 NH2CO2NH4
Typical operating conditions include
temperatures from180 to 200C (356 to 392F),
pressures from14,000 to 25,000 kPa (140 to 250
psia), molar ratios of NH3 to CO2 from 3:1 to
4:1, and a retention time of twenty to thirty
minutes
minutes.
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

41

 The ammonium carbamate is then dehydrated to

yield 70 to 77 percent aqueous urea solution
solution.
This reaction follows:
NH2CO2NH4 NH2CONH2 + H2O
Urea solution can be used as an ingredient of
nitrogen
g solution fertilizers,, or it can be
concentrated further to produce solid urea.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

42

2 solids concentration
2.
The three methods of concentrating
g the urea
solution are
vacuum concentration,
crystallization,
crystallization and
atmospheric evaporation.

The method chosen depends upon the level of

bi t (NH2CONHCONH2) iimpurity
biuret
it allowable
ll
bl iin
the end product.
Aqueous
q
urea solution begins
g
to decompose
p
at
60C (140F) to biuret and ammonia. The most
common method of solution concentration is
evaporation.
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

43

3 solids formation
3.
The concentration p
process furnishes urea "melt"
for solids formation. Urea solids are produced
from the urea melt by two basic methods:
prilling
illi and
d
granulation.

Prilling is a process by which solid particles are

produced from molten urea. Molten urea is
sprayed from the top of a prill tower. As the
d l t ffallll th
droplets
through
h a countercurrent
t
t air
i fl
flow,
they cool and solidify into nearly spherical
particles
particles.
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

44

 There are two types of prill towers, fluidized bed and

nonfluidized bed. The major
j difference is that a separate
p
solids cooling operation may be required to produce
agricultural grade prills in a nonfluidized bed prill tower.
Granulation is used more frequently than prilling in
producing solid urea for fertilizer. Granular urea is
generally stronger than prilled urea, both in crushing
strength and abrasion resistance
resistance.
There are two granulation methods, drum granulation
and pan granulation.
In
I drum
d
granulation,
l ti
solids
lid are b
built
ilt up iin llayers on seed
d
granules placed in a rotating drum granulator/cooler
approximately 4.3 meters (14 feet) in diameter.
Pan granulators also form the product in a layering
process, but different equipment is used.
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

45

4 solids cooling
4.
The temperature
p
of the nitrogenous
g
p
product
exiting the solids formation process is
approximately 66 to 124C (150 to 255F). To
prevent deterioration and agglomeration,
p
gg
, the
product must be cooled before storage and
shipping.
Typically,
Typically rotary drums or fluidized beds are
used to cool granules and prills leaving the
solids formation process.
Because
B
low
l
d
density
i prills
ill h
have a hi
high
h moisture
i
content, they require drying in rotary drums or
fluidized beds before cooling.
g
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

46

5 solids screening
5.
Since the solids are p
produced in a wide variety
y
of sizes, they must be screened for consistently
sized prills or granules.
After
Af cooling,
li
off
ff size
i prills
ill are di
dissolved
l d and
d
recycled back to the solution concentration
process Granules are screened before cooling
process.
cooling.
Undersize particles are returned directly to the
granulator and oversize granules may be either
crushed and returned to the granulator or sent to
the solution concentration process.
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

47

6 solids coating
6.
Clayy coatings
g are used in the urea industry
y to
reduce product caking and urea dust formation.
The coating also reduces the nitrogen content of
the product.
product The use of clay coating has
diminished considerably, being replaced by
injection of formaldehyde additives into the liquid
or molten urea before solids formation
formation.
Formaldehyde reacts with urea to
methylenediurea, which is the conditioning
agent. Additives
Addi i
reduce
d
solids
lid caking
ki d
during
i
storage and urea dust formation during transport
and handling.
g
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48

7. product bagging and/or bulk

shipping.
hi i
The majority of solid urea product is bulk
shipped in trucks
trucks, enclosed railroad cars
cars,
or barges, but approximately 10 percent is
bagged.
bagged

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

49

Phosphatic Fertilizer Products

Ammonium phosphates
p
p
Calcium meta-phosphates
Defluorinated phosphates
Di
Diammonium
i
phosphates
h
h
Fertilizers, mixed, produced in phosphatic
fertilizer plants
Phosphoric acid
Plant foods, mixed in phosphatic fertilizer plants
Superphosphates, ammoniated and not
ammoniated
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

50

Phosphatic Fertilizers
The primary products of the phosphatic fertilizers
i d t are phosphoric
industry
h
h i acid,
id ammonium
i
phosphate,
h
h t
normal superphosphate, and triple superphosphate.
Phosphoric acid is sold as is or is used as an intermediate in
producing other phosphatic fertilizers.
fertilizers
Monoammonium phosphate (MAP) is favored for its high
phosphorous content,
Diammonium phosphate (DAP) is favored for its high nitrogen
content.
Normal superphosphate [(single superphosphate) (SSP)] has
a relatively low concentration of phosphorous, however it is
used in mixtures because of its low cost
cost.
Triple superphosphate (TSP) provides a high concentration of
phosphorous, more than 40% phosphorous pentoxide.
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51

Normal Superphosphate
P d i
Production
Normal superphosphates are prepared by
reacting ground phosphate rock with 65 to 75
percent sulfuric
lf i acid.
id
An important factor in the production of normal
superphosphates is the amount of iron and
aluminium in the phosphate rock. Aluminium (as
Al2O3) and iron (as Fe2O3) above five percent
imparts an extreme stickiness to the
superphosphate and makes it difficult to handle.
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53

 The two general types of sulfuric acid used in

superphosphate manufacture are virgin and
spent acid.
g acid is p
produced from elemental sulfur,
Virgin
pyrites, as well as industrial gases and is
relatively pure.
Spent
S
t acid
id is
i a recycled
l d waste
t product
d t ffrom
various industries, such as copper, zinc, and
nickel smelters,, which use large
g quantities
q
of
sulfuric acid. Problems encountered with using
spent acid include color, unfamiliar odor, and
toxicity.
toxicity

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

54

 Ground phosphate rock and acid are mixed in a

reaction vessel
vessel, held in an enclosed area for
about 30 minutes until the reaction is partially
completed. The reaction is
Ca10(PO4)6F2CaCO3 + 11H2SO4
6H3PO4 + 11CaSO4*nH2O + 2HF + CO2 + H2O

Then transferred,
transferred using an enclosed conveyor
known as the den, to a storage pile for curing
((the completion of the reaction).
)
Following curing, the product is most often used
as a high-phosphate additive in the production of
granular fertilizers
fertilizers. It can also be granulated for
sale as granulated superphosphate or granular
mixed fertilizer.
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55

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56

 To produce granulated superphosphate, cured

superphosphate is fed through a clod breaker
and sent to a rotary drum granulator where
steam, water, and acid mayy be added to aid in
granulation. Material is processed through a
rotary drum granulator, a rotary dryer, and a
rotary
t
cooler,
l and
d iis th
then screened
d to
t
specification.
Finally,
Fi ll it iis stored
t d iin bagged
b
d or bulk
b lk fform prior
i tto
being sold.

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58

Triple Superphosphate
Production
Triple superphosphate provides a high
concentration of phosphorous.
Two p
processes have been used to p
produce triple
p
superphosphate:
run-of-the-pile (ROP-TSP) and
granular (GTSP).

GTSP yields larger, more uniform particles with

improved storage and handling properties than
ROP-TSP.
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61

 Most GTSP material is made with the Dorr-Oliver slurry

granulation p
g
process. This p
process is similar to that for
normal superphosphates with the major exception being
that phosphoric acid is used instead of sulfuric acid. In
process,, g
ground p
phosphate
p
rock or limestone is
this p
reacted with phosphoric acid in one or two reactors in
series. The reaction is:
Ca5F(PO4)3+ 7H3PO4 + 5H2O
5Ca(H2PO4)2H2O +HF
The phosphoric acid used in this process has a relatively
low concentration (40% P2O5).
) The lower strength acid
maintains the slurry in a fluid state during a mixing period
of one to two hours. A small sidestream of slurry is
continuously removed and distributed onto dried
dried,
recycled fines in a granulator, where it coats the granule
surfaces and builds up its size.
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62

 Granules are then dried in a rotary dryer,

elevated and p
passed through
g screens to
eliminate oversize and undersize granules.
Oversize granules are crushed and sent back to
the first screen
screen, while undersize ones are sent
into the emission control systems.
The granules within the size range of the
product
d t are then
th cooled
l d and
d stored
t d iin a curing
i
pile where the reaction is completed.
Particulates from the rock handling, drying,
screening, cooling, and storing processes are
typically controlled with cyclones and bag
houses and off-gases
off gases from the reactor
reactor,
granulator, and cyclones and bag houses are
typically treated with wet scrubbers.
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

63

Potassium Fertilizer Products

Potassium chloride (muriate)

Potassium sulfate
P t
Potassium
i
magnesium
i
sulfate
lf t
Potassium hydroxide
Potassium nitrate

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

64

 Potassium Chloride (60 to 62% K2O),

also referred to as muriate of potash

potash. Nearly two
twothirds is used for direct application, and the remainder
is used in granulating processes or bulk blending of
mixed fertilizers
fertilizers.
It is available in four particle sizes: fine, standard,
coarse and granular. The fine-size material is used
primarily for liquid suspensions
suspensions. Standard,
Standard coarse and
granular sizes are used for granulating processes,
bulk blending and direct application.
Potash varies in color from pink or red to white
depending on the mining and recovery process used.
White potash, sometimes referred to as soluble
potash, is usually higher in analysis and is used
primarily for making liquid starter fertilizers.

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65

 Potassium sulfate (50% K2O),

also referred to as sulfate of potash, is used to a
limited extent on crops such as tobacco, potatoes and
a few vegetable
g
crops
p where chloride from p
potassium
chloride might be undesirable. Potassium sulfate may
also be source of sulfur when sulfur is required.

Potassium magnesium sulfate (22% K2O),

also known as sulfate of potash magnesia, is used for
both direct application and in bulk blending,
blending
particularly where magnesium is needed. If may also
be used as a source of sulfur.

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66

 Potassium hydroxide,
also
l kknown as caustic
ti potash,
t h is
i used
d tto a lilimited
it d
extent in the production of liquid mixed fertilizers. The
present cost of producing potassium hydroxide has
limited its use in the fertilizer industry, even though it
is a very desirable product due to high solubility and
low salt index
index.

Potassium nitrate (44% K2O),

also known as nitrate of potash, is being used on high
value crops such as celery, tomatoes, potatoes, leafy
vegetables and a few fruit crops. It has a low salt
index and provides nitrate N which may be desirable
for these specialty crops. Production costs have
limited general use for most agronomic field crops.
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67

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

68

Production Process
NH4Cl

HCl
C
Co-product
d

Ammonium chloride

Hydrochloric acid

H2 SO4
Raw materials

K Cl

Sulfuric acid

Potassium Chloride

Mannheim Chemical Process

Specialty Fertilizers

NH4 NO3
Ammonium Nitrate

Double Decomposition Process

K2SO4

KNO3

Potassium Sulphate
p

Potassium Nitrate

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69