AP42 Section: 3.2.1 Back roundCh 2 1- 1- 19 J. M. Potts, ed., Fluid Fertilizers, Tennessee Valley Authority, Muscle Shoals, AL, Bulletin X-185, September 1984. -hid iertilizers J. M. Potts, Editor Tennessee Valley Authority National Fertilizer Development Center CONTENTS WChapter 1.History. Growth. and Status ....... 5 0 Chapter 7-Suspension Fertilizers-Production Status of Fluid Fertilizers (Early 1980s) ....... ... 10 anduse ............................. 86 Basic Studies ............................ 87 J Chapter 2-Agronomic Aspects ....... 14 Production of Suspensions ................... 89 Storage of Suspensions ..................... 97 Chapter 3-Physical Properties Evaluation 16 Transportation of Suspensions ................ 99 Chapter 4-Chemical Properties ............. ... 25 0 Chapter 8-Specialty Grades of Fluid Phosphate Sources for Fluid Production ....... ... 26 Fertilizers ............................ 103 Solubility Diagram for Macronutrients ........ 27 Influence of Production Methods ............ 29 8 Chapter 9-Application of Liquids and Characteristics of Solid Precipitates .......... 33 Suspensions ........................... 110 Micronutrients in Fluids .................. 39 Stabilizing Fluids by Fluorine Chapter 10-Materials of Construction for Sequestration ....................... ... 40 the Fluid Fertilizer Industry ................120 Hydrolysis of Polyphosphates in Fluid Fertilizers ..................... 42 Complex Formations .................... 44 Summary ........................... 46 Goals for Future Research ................ 46 Chapter 5-Production. Handling. and Use of Anhydrous Ammonia ............. ... 49 Production Processes .................... ... 49 History ........................... ... 49 Chemistry ......................... ... 50 Raw Materials for Hydrogen Production ..... ... 51 Process and Design Details .............. ... 52 Frank P. Achorn .... 76.86. 120 Ammonia Production Economics .......... 60 Gary W . Akin ............ 14 Waste Disposal Problems ............... 60 H . L. 8alay ............. 16 Annual Production of Anhydrous G . M . Blouin ............ 49 Ammonia ....................... 62 Michael F . Broder .........110 Anhydrous Ammonia Handling ............. 63 Lawrence C. Faulkner ...... 76 Anhydrous Ammonia Retail Operation ...... 63 A . W . Frazier ............ 25 Use of Anhydrous Ammonia in Agriculture ..... ... 65 J . G. Getsinger ........... 86 History and Evolution ................. 65 Norman L . Hargett ........ 5 Role of Ammonia as Fertilizer ........... 66 George Hoffmeister ........ 86 Applying Ammonia ................... 68 H . R . Horsman ...........120 Ammonia Retention and Adsorption T . M . Jones ............. 16 in Soils ......................... 72 H. L. Kimbrough ......... 49 Eugene C . Sample ......... 14 Chapter 6-Liquid (Solution) Fertilizers ....... ... 76 W . J . Sharratt. ........... 49 Aqua Ammonia ....................... ... 77 Eugene 8 .Wright. Jr .......103 Liquid Solution Fertilizers ................... 77 Ronald D . Young ......... 5 FIGURES Poge Page 1 Growth in production of fluid mixed 27 Liquid fertilizer mix plant ................ 81 fertilizers. U.S......................... 6 28 Basic parts of TVA gelometer .............. 87 2 Diagram showing structural formation 29 Production of 13-38-0 ammonium of polyphosphates ..................... 8 orthophosphate suspension fertilizer ......... 89 3 Viscosity measuring device ................ 19 30 Production of 9-32.0 ammonium polyphosphate 4 Mix of MAP and DAP crystals .............. 20 suspension fertilizer from merchant-grade 5 Effect of NH, :H3PO4 mole ratio on wet-process phosphoric acid ............... 90 solubility of ammonium phosphate .......... 22 31 Production of urea.ammonium nitrate 6 Effect of pH and polyphosphate level on >uspension fertilizer (31% N) .............. 91 N.P, OS weight ratio of ammoniated ortho 32 Production of urea-ammonium nitrate and superphosphoric acid soiutions .......... 23 susper~sio,I Iri tiiizei {36% N) .............. 92 7 Relation between aluminum and residual 33 Production of urea-ammonium sulfate fluorine contents of ammoniated superphosphoric suspension ('29-0-0.5s) ................... 93 acids prepared from wet-process acids ......... 28 34 Mix plant for fluid limestone .............. 95 8 System: ammonia-superphosphoric acid-urea- 35 Micronutrient and clay injector for fluids ...... 98 ammonium nitrate-potassium chloride-water 36 Pipe sparging system for suspensions ......... 99 at32'F ............................. 28 37 Cone bottom suspension storage tank 9 System: ammonia-superphosphoric acid-urea- with air sparger system .................. 99 potassium chloride-water at 32°F ........... 28 38 Transport truck with pipe sparger for 10 The system NH3.Ki0.HaPz0,. HzOat 25°C suspension fertilizers .................... 100 projected on the (NH,),O.K, O.(PzOs + H, 0) 39 Cone bottom transport .................. 100 face ................................ 29 40 Spherical transport tank .................. 101 11 Solubility in the system MgO.NH,.H,PO,. 41 Tilting-type transport for suspensions ......... 101 H4P,0,.H,0at25'C .................... 34 42 Solubility in the system KzO-PzOs-HzO 12 MgO saturation levels vs polyphosphate content at32'F ............................. 103 and pH in liquid fertilizers ................ 34 43 High flotation applicator ................. 111 13 Solid phases in ammonium ortho-pyrophosphate 44 Flow diagram for fluid fertilizer applicator liquid fertilizers saturated with ZnO .......... 35 that uses pump bypass to control pressure 14 Coal-gasification and gas-purification unit and at nozzle ............................ 111 gas reforming ammonia piant .............. 53 45 Nozzles used to broadcast and apply 15 TVA ammonia from coal project ............ 54 fluid fertilizers ........................ 112 16 This photo shows how anhydrous ammonia was 46 Spray patterns ........................ 112 first used at the Mississippi Delta Branch 47 Liquid fertilizer-piston type metering pump .... 113 Experiment Station ..................... 67 48 Squeeze pump with round hoses and back plate . 114 17 Nitrogen fertilizer consumption ............. 69 49 Squeeze pump with flat hoses and hydraulic 18 Consumption of nitrogen fertilizer materials .... 69 drive .............................. 114 19 Front swept knife for ammonia application ..... 69 50 Anti-pollution device on fertigation system .....114 20 Various type knives for ammonia application .... 69 57 Nozzles used for dribble or surface band 21 Tractor drawn ammonia applisation equipment . 70 application .......................... 115 22 Effect of soil moisture content and applicator 52 Flow divider for suspension injection .. ......116 spacing on ammonia retention in the soil ....... 71 53 John Blue flow divider for row application 23 V-blade ammonia applicator ............... 71 of liquids ........................... 116 24 Effect of polyphosphate level and N:P205 54 Constant-head gravityflow fluid fertilizer weight ratio on solubility of ammoniated applicator and orifice plates ...............117 phosphoric acids at 32°F ................. 76 55 V-blade equipped with ammonia sparger 25 TVA continuous urea-ammonium nitrate and liquid phosphate injection assembly .......118 solution plant ........................ 78 56 Dual application knife with ammonia 26 Typical pipe-reactor plants for production and phosphate tubes separated ............. 118 of ammonium polyphosphate solution ........ 80 57 Ammonia knives equipped for dual application . 119 Page Page 58 Support for PVC plastic pipe ...............123 62 PVC lined storage pit with floating PVC 59 Neoprene-lined nylon bag (capacity: 500,000 plastic cover ......................... 129 gallons) ............................. 124 63 Evaporative-type cooler (from refrigeration 60 Transport trucks equipped with plastic tanks ....124 plant) ............................. ,129 61 PVC lined earthen phosphoric acid storage pit ...128 64 Evaporative cooler (with plastic packing) ......129 . TABLES Page Page 1 Chronology of fluid fertilizers .............. 8 19 Summary of micronutrient content of various 2 Selected data on U.S. fertilizer use ........... 11 inorganic micronutrient sources ............. 82 3 Typical physical properties of various 20 Micronutrient content of some organic solution fertilizers ...................... 23 micronutrient sources ...................83 4 Typical properties of various suspension 21 Solubility of micronutrients, 24-hour agitation ... 84 fertilizers ........................... 24 22 Viscosities of 5-15-30-XZn mixtures .......... 97 5 Stable compounds in the ammonium potassium 23 Addition of mixture of micronutrients to polyphosphate systems .................. 30 15.15-15 suspension .................... 97 6 Impurities in 11-33-0 prepared from 24 Concentration of plant nutrients in the system wet-acid MAP ........................ 32 K,0-P,0s-H20at O°C ..................104 7 Significant components affecting the chemical 25 Low-chlorine fertilizers made from and physical properties of ammonium superphosphoric acid and potassium hydroxide . 105 polyphosphate fluid fertilizers. ............. 33 26 Effect of source of potash on maximum grades . 8 Reaction products of iron with ammonium of liquid fertilizer made with superphosphoric phosphate fluid fertilizers ................. 36 acid ............................... 107 9 Reaction products of aluminum with ammonium 27 Production of 0.26-25 potassium polyphosphate phosphate