WO2000020356A1 - Method of making a fertilizer composition - Google Patents

Method of making a fertilizer composition Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000020356A1
WO2000020356A1 PCT/IB1999/001627 IB9901627W WO0020356A1 WO 2000020356 A1 WO2000020356 A1 WO 2000020356A1 IB 9901627 W IB9901627 W IB 9901627W WO 0020356 A1 WO0020356 A1 WO 0020356A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
mixture
magnesium
source
calcium
nitric acid
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB1999/001627
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
John Arthur Bewsey
Original Assignee
Blue Crane Technologies (Proprietary) Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Blue Crane Technologies (Proprietary) Limited filed Critical Blue Crane Technologies (Proprietary) Limited
Priority to AU58790/99A priority Critical patent/AU5879099A/en
Publication of WO2000020356A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000020356A1/en

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
    • C05F—ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE
    • C05F7/00—Fertilisers from waste water, sewage sludge, sea slime, ooze or similar masses
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
    • C05C—NITROGENOUS FERTILISERS
    • C05C5/00—Fertilisers containing other nitrates
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
    • Y02A40/10—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in agriculture
    • Y02A40/20—Fertilizers of biological origin, e.g. guano or fertilizers made from animal corpses

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method of making a fertilizer composition.
  • GB 1 603 645 discloses a process for preparing an animal manure-supplemented artificial chemical fertilizer which is ammonia, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, urea, superphosphate, triple superphosphate or ammonium phosphate in the form of a pellet, granule or agglomerate.
  • the process comprises mixing a finely ground animal manure with the artificial chemical fertilizer, which mixture is optionally moisturised, then plasticised and pelletised or granulated or formed into agglomerates and dried.
  • SA 91/2431 discloses an animal manure/inorganic fertilizer wherein the inorganic component includes magnesium nitrate, calcium nitrate and boron.
  • the fertilizer is produced by first admixing each of the inorganic components with a portion of the manure to prevent interaction of the inorganic components and thereafter mixing the various mixed portions.
  • a problem with this method is that it is extremely cumbersome to operate.
  • South African Patent No. 97/1068 discloses an apparatus and method for treating an organic waste sludge such as sewage sludge wherein the sludge is firstly de-watered, moved to a dry hopper for storage and then successively passed through first and second reactors.
  • the sludge As the sludge is passed through the first reactor, in a continuous fashion, the sludge is subjected to a high shearing mixing action and has the pH thereof substantially reduced due to the addition of acid to the first reactor.
  • the sludge is then moved through the second reactor where the sludge is subjected to a base material to raise the pH thereof.
  • the treated sludge is pumped from the second reactor to a pulse combustion drier which dries the material.
  • the dried material is suitable for use as a fertilizer.
  • a method of producing a fertilizer composition comprising a mixture of an organic component and calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate or a mixture thereof includes the steps of treating an organic waste material with nitric acid, contacting the thus treated material with a source of basic calcium, magnesium or a mixture thereof, and allowing the source to react with the nitric acid in the treated material to form calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate or a mixture thereof.
  • the first step in the process is to treat the organic waste material with nitric acid.
  • the treatment has the effect of sterilising the organic waste material.
  • the concentration of the nitric acid will typically be in the range 50 to 60 percent.
  • the treatment will generally be such as to reduce the pH of the organic waste material to about 1.
  • the organic waste material is preferably a de-watered sludge such as a de- watered sewage sludge.
  • the de-watering of the sludge may take place by methods known in the art.
  • the de-watered sludge will typically have a solids content of 15 to 25 percent by mass, e.g. about 20 percent by mass.
  • the nitric acid present in the treated material is allowed or caused to react with the source of basic calcium, magnesium or mixture thereof forming one or more nitrates.
  • a suitable source of calcium is calcite and a suitable source of magnesium is magnesite.
  • the source is preferably dolomite. The formation of the nitrates results in neutralisation of the treated material without any extra neutralisation agents being required. Thus, sufficient, e.g. a slight excess, of the source of basic calcium, magnesium or mixture thereof will be used to ensure that neutralisation of the treated material occurs.
  • the method of the invention results in a material of low water content and comprising a mixture of an organic component and calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate or a mixture thereof being produced.
  • the water content of the material will be less than 10 percent.
  • the urea may be added to the material or fertilizer composition containing the organic component and calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate or a mixture thereof.
  • the urea may also be added or included in the method after the neutralisation of the nitric acid has occurred.
  • the ratio of organic component to nitrate in the material produced by the method of the invention will typically be in a ratio of 1:4 to 4:1 on a mass basis and preferably 1 : 1 on a mass basis.
  • the amount of urea or chemical equivalent thereof will preferably be in the range 20 to 60 percent by mass of the organic component.
  • an organic waste sludge is de-watered to a solids content of about 20 percent solids.
  • De- watering can, for example, take place on a belt with the sludge being pressed or squeezed to expel water.
  • the de- watered sludge is treated with nitric acid having a concentration of 58 percent to sterilise the sludge. After treatment with the acid, the pH of the sludge is about 1.
  • the sterilised sludge is then mixed with dolomite and the nitric acid present in the sterilised sludge allowed to react with the dolomite to form a mixture of calcium and magnesium nitrates.
  • urea is added to the product.
  • the urea may be added before or after the water evaporation step.
  • the granulated product comprises a mixture of an organic component from the organic waste sludge, calcium and magnesium nitrates and urea. These nitrates are intimately associated with the organic component such that on physical handling, as required for applying fertilizer compositions to soil, the nitrates do not separate from the organic component. Further, the intimate association gives enhanced agricultural properties associated with the humic acid present in the organics and reduced leaching.
  • the granulated product contains urea. This, it has been found, minimises the risk of the product igniting.
  • a typical mixture of the granulated product is:

Abstract

A method of producing a fertilizer composition from an organic waste material such as a de-watered sludge is provided. The fertilizer composition comprises a mixture of an organic component and calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate or a mixture thereof. The method includes the steps of treating the organic waste material with nitric acid, contacting the thus treated material with a source of basic calcium, magnesium or a mixture thereof, and allowing the source to react with the nitric acid in the treated material to form calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate or a mixture thereof.

Description

METHOD OF MAKING A FERTILIZER COMPOSITION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method of making a fertilizer composition.
GB 1 603 645 discloses a process for preparing an animal manure-supplemented artificial chemical fertilizer which is ammonia, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, urea, superphosphate, triple superphosphate or ammonium phosphate in the form of a pellet, granule or agglomerate. The process comprises mixing a finely ground animal manure with the artificial chemical fertilizer, which mixture is optionally moisturised, then plasticised and pelletised or granulated or formed into agglomerates and dried.
SA 91/2431 discloses an animal manure/inorganic fertilizer wherein the inorganic component includes magnesium nitrate, calcium nitrate and boron. The fertilizer is produced by first admixing each of the inorganic components with a portion of the manure to prevent interaction of the inorganic components and thereafter mixing the various mixed portions. A problem with this method is that it is extremely cumbersome to operate. South African Patent No. 97/1068 discloses an apparatus and method for treating an organic waste sludge such as sewage sludge wherein the sludge is firstly de-watered, moved to a dry hopper for storage and then successively passed through first and second reactors. As the sludge is passed through the first reactor, in a continuous fashion, the sludge is subjected to a high shearing mixing action and has the pH thereof substantially reduced due to the addition of acid to the first reactor. The sludge is then moved through the second reactor where the sludge is subjected to a base material to raise the pH thereof. The treated sludge is pumped from the second reactor to a pulse combustion drier which dries the material. The dried material is suitable for use as a fertilizer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a method of producing a fertilizer composition comprising a mixture of an organic component and calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate or a mixture thereof includes the steps of treating an organic waste material with nitric acid, contacting the thus treated material with a source of basic calcium, magnesium or a mixture thereof, and allowing the source to react with the nitric acid in the treated material to form calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate or a mixture thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
The first step in the process is to treat the organic waste material with nitric acid. The treatment has the effect of sterilising the organic waste material. The concentration of the nitric acid will typically be in the range 50 to 60 percent. The treatment will generally be such as to reduce the pH of the organic waste material to about 1.
The organic waste material is preferably a de-watered sludge such as a de- watered sewage sludge. The de-watering of the sludge may take place by methods known in the art. The de-watered sludge will typically have a solids content of 15 to 25 percent by mass, e.g. about 20 percent by mass.
In the second step, the nitric acid present in the treated material is allowed or caused to react with the source of basic calcium, magnesium or mixture thereof forming one or more nitrates. A suitable source of calcium is calcite and a suitable source of magnesium is magnesite. When a mixture of calcium and magnesium is used, the source is preferably dolomite. The formation of the nitrates results in neutralisation of the treated material without any extra neutralisation agents being required. Thus, sufficient, e.g. a slight excess, of the source of basic calcium, magnesium or mixture thereof will be used to ensure that neutralisation of the treated material occurs.
The method of the invention results in a material of low water content and comprising a mixture of an organic component and calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate or a mixture thereof being produced. Generally the water content of the material will be less than 10 percent. Such a material, particularly when a mixture of nitrates is present, has been found to be prone to igniting. This problem can be minimised by the use of an effective amount of urea or chemical equivalent thereof. The urea may be added to the material or fertilizer composition containing the organic component and calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate or a mixture thereof. The urea may also be added or included in the method after the neutralisation of the nitric acid has occurred.
The ratio of organic component to nitrate in the material produced by the method of the invention will typically be in a ratio of 1:4 to 4:1 on a mass basis and preferably 1 : 1 on a mass basis. The amount of urea or chemical equivalent thereof will preferably be in the range 20 to 60 percent by mass of the organic component.
In one preferred form of the invention, an organic waste sludge is de-watered to a solids content of about 20 percent solids. De- watering can, for example, take place on a belt with the sludge being pressed or squeezed to expel water. The de- watered sludge is treated with nitric acid having a concentration of 58 percent to sterilise the sludge. After treatment with the acid, the pH of the sludge is about 1. The sterilised sludge is then mixed with dolomite and the nitric acid present in the sterilised sludge allowed to react with the dolomite to form a mixture of calcium and magnesium nitrates. Sufficient dolomite is added to ensure that the resulting product is essentially neutral. Water is removed from the product by evaporation and the dried product containing less than 1 percent by mass water passed to a granulator. Prior to granulation, urea is added to the product. The urea may be added before or after the water evaporation step. The granulated product comprises a mixture of an organic component from the organic waste sludge, calcium and magnesium nitrates and urea. These nitrates are intimately associated with the organic component such that on physical handling, as required for applying fertilizer compositions to soil, the nitrates do not separate from the organic component. Further, the intimate association gives enhanced agricultural properties associated with the humic acid present in the organics and reduced leaching.
The granulated product contains urea. This, it has been found, minimises the risk of the product igniting. A typical mixture of the granulated product is:
Component Percent by Mass
Calcium nitrate and/or magnesium nitrate, optionally with other nitrates 60
Urea 10
Organics 30

Claims

1. A method of producing a fertilizer composition comprising a mixture of an organic component and calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate or a mixture thereof includes the steps of treating an organic waste material with nitric acid, contacting the thus treated material with a source of basic calcium, magnesium or a mixture thereof, and allowing the source to react with the nitric acid in the treated material to form calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate or a mixture thereof.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the treatment with nitric acid is such as to reduce the pH of the organic waste material to about 1.
3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the concentration of nitric acid is in the range 50 to 60 percent.
4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the organic waste material is a de-watered sludge.
5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the de-watered sludge has a solids content of 15 to 25 percent by mass.
6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the source of calcium is calcite.
7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the source of magnesium is magnesite.
8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the source of calcium and magnesium is dolomite.
9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein urea is added to the treated material.
10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the amount of urea is in the range 20 to 60 percent by mass of the organic component.
11. A method according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described.
PCT/IB1999/001627 1998-10-06 1999-10-05 Method of making a fertilizer composition WO2000020356A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU58790/99A AU5879099A (en) 1998-10-06 1999-10-05 Method of making a fertilizer composition

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA98/9093 1998-10-06
ZA989093 1998-10-06
ZA993440 1999-05-20
ZA99/3440 1999-05-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000020356A1 true WO2000020356A1 (en) 2000-04-13

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB1999/001627 WO2000020356A1 (en) 1998-10-06 1999-10-05 Method of making a fertilizer composition

Country Status (2)

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AU (1) AU5879099A (en)
WO (1) WO2000020356A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101781126A (en) * 2010-02-04 2010-07-21 苏州群瑞环保科技有限公司 Method for producing special phosphate fertilizer for tower from industrial sludge

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5385673A (en) * 1992-09-08 1995-01-31 Hazen And Sawyer, P.C. Method of treating wastewater biosolids
DE4409594A1 (en) * 1993-12-15 1995-06-22 Thiele Heinrich Recovering fertiliser, free from heavy metals, from sewage sludge
EP0716892A1 (en) * 1994-12-14 1996-06-19 ÖKOZENT Gesellschaft für Ökologieberatung Gesellschaft m.b.H. Process for the treatment of waste material

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5385673A (en) * 1992-09-08 1995-01-31 Hazen And Sawyer, P.C. Method of treating wastewater biosolids
DE4409594A1 (en) * 1993-12-15 1995-06-22 Thiele Heinrich Recovering fertiliser, free from heavy metals, from sewage sludge
EP0716892A1 (en) * 1994-12-14 1996-06-19 ÖKOZENT Gesellschaft für Ökologieberatung Gesellschaft m.b.H. Process for the treatment of waste material

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101781126A (en) * 2010-02-04 2010-07-21 苏州群瑞环保科技有限公司 Method for producing special phosphate fertilizer for tower from industrial sludge

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5879099A (en) 2000-04-26

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