INFLUENCE OF POTASSIUM RAW MATERIALS ON THE BULK FERTILIZER MAKING PROCESS AND ON THE PRODUCT PROPERTIES

In this work, different sources of potassium materials were used for 10-20-20 + S + Mg fertilizer granulation. It was found that both the raw material KCl and magnesium from carnallite production by-products (KE) can be used for fertilizer making. With both potassium raw materials, upon selecting certain granulation process parameters, it is possible to make a high-quality product. To produce a high quality 10-20-20 + S + Mg NPK fertilizer which would be a marketable fraction, using KE requires less moisture than granulation using KCl. If the water content with KCl is 10.1 %, with a sufficient KE it is 8.8 %. However, the drying of fertilizers requires higher energy costs, as maintaining the same drying temperature and the same drying time, the fertilizer produced with KE, the remaining moisture content is 1–3 %, and this is a too high moisture for a fertilizer. The marketable fraction produced using KE is less dependent on raw material mixture granulometric composition than with KCl. The origin potassium raw materials has no significant influence on the static strength of granules.  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ct.64.2.6099