Fertilizer Industry Research Articles

Neem Oil: Classification and Environmental Risk Analysis for Application in the Fertiliser Industry and Agriculture

Neem Oil: Classification and Environmental Risk Analysis for Application in the Fertiliser Industry and Agriculture

Fertilizer Industry Innovations Supporting Climate Mitigation

AbstractFertilizers, particularly nitrogen, comprise a large part of the carbon footprint of crop production. The industry is exploring and applying innovations toward reducing emissions of greenhouse gases arising from the manufacture and use of fertilizers. Earn 1 CEU in Nutrient Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.

Sulfuric Acid Leaching Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Wizów’s Phosphogypsum in Poland

Rare earth elements (REEs) are considered vital raw materials for the economy and are on the European Union’s list of critical raw materials (CRMs). Europe is mainly dependent on REE imports. This dependence could be reduced if locally available primary or secondary resources would be processed. In Poland, there are, for instance, over 5 million metric tons of phosphogypsum (PG), a fine powdery byproduct from the fertilizer industry, available near the former Wizów Chemical Plant near Bolesławiec. This material that is considered a waste in Poland contains significant amounts of REEs that could theoretically be recovered and contribute to Europe’s economy. This work is the first systematic analysis of REE leaching studies with sulfuric acid and PG from Wizów. Process parameters such as temperature, particle size, concentration of the leaching solution, and the addition of oxidant and reductant agents were tested to determine the most efficient process. Ultimately, a leaching efficiency of 99% was obtained. Lanthanum exhibited the highest leaching efficiency at almost 100%, followed by Yttrium, Neodymium, Terbium, and Dysprosium. The results of the laboratory experiments are promising and suggest that larger pilot or commercial experiments can be performed next.

Green ammonia adoption in shipping: Opportunities and challenges across the fuel supply chain

The IMO’s 2023 revised targets increase pressure on shipping and trading organisations to urgently cut energy consumption and transition away from fossil fuels. Although there are several alternative fuel options for shipping, ammonia is a prominent contender. Green ammonia is produced from renewable hydrogen with no direct CO2 emissions when combusted, making it an important option to interrogate. This research uses a mixed methods approach, including analysing shipping stakeholders’ perspectives, to consider the full range of factors relating to its deployment and use. Challenges to its adoption include low fleet renewal as a result of uncertainties around being first movers, managing NOx and N2O emissions if used in a combustion engine and lack of economic incentives. Nevertheless, green ammonia's storage advantages over hydrogen, established experience of ammonia handling for the fertiliser industry and its direct emission free application in fuel cells, underpin interest in its development. The study emphasizes though that the on-ground realities of transitioning away from fossil fuels require significant developments across the entire fuel supply chain. This extends beyond considerations around ammonia’s technological viability and encompass changes needed to onboard and portside infrastructure, incentives to accelerate retrofit and fleet renewal, and recognition of risks posed by first-movers in the sector. Furthermore, with short timeliness associated with Paris targets, and anticipated rising costs of new fuel infrastructure, there is an imperative to implement mitigation policy that focuses on urgently reducing reliance on liquid fuels, while alternative fuel deployment is established at scale.

Risk analysis of urea manufacturing plant using fuzzy logic approach

The potential hazard element of chemical process industries has become severe with technological developments over the past few years. Fertilizer industries like the urea industry deal with highly toxic components in nature, causing severe consequences. This paper implements the fuzzy lambda-tau (λ-τ) approach with the Petri net (PN) model on a urea manufacturing plant. The PN model helps to reduce the complexity of the problem, whereas fuzzy logic helps to deal with the uncertainty and vagueness of data. The urea plant has been divided into three major units, that is, the reacting unit (RU), purifying unit (PU), and concentrating unit (CU). The different reliability parameters, such as failure rate, repair time, reliability, and mean time between failures (MTBF), are determined for all these units with different spread rates (±15%, ±25%, and ±35%). A significant change of around 75% and 9% was observed for overall repair time and MTBF, respectively, for a ±35% spread rate. The reliability parameters are found as a function of the square of the spread rate. These studies suggest that the PU of the urea plant is the most vulnerable one and thus requires timely maintenance to avoid any accidents in the future. Furthermore, a detailed qualitative study is done utilizing failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) to outline the numerous failure causes in order to enhance the system's availability and maintainability. The limitations of conventional FMEA are addressed in this study by obtaining fuzzy RPN values after application of the fuzzy FMEA technique. On comparison of the RPN and FRPN values, the FRPN values are found to be more reliable while prioritizing the failure causes in process industries.

The Business of Egg Transactions and Need for Improved Regulation of the Fertility Industry in Canada

In Canada, ethical and legal debates around egg donation have largely focused on the question of whether egg providers should be paid, since payment for egg donation is prohibited through the federal Assisted Human Reproduction Act, 2004. One of the generally overlooked issues, however, is the potential for fertility clinics and agencies to mistreat egg providers. There is little legal oversight of the practices of fertility clinics and agencies in Canada, and scholars have raised concerns about the potential for mistreatment of egg providers. This article examines the medical care of egg providers in Canada by presenting data from qualitative interviews with 14 egg providers. While some egg providers felt well cared for, others were left feeling like a means to an end — they felt that insufficient information was provided for consent, there was an inability to communicate with the clinic, and they were physically mistreated. I argue that not only do egg providers’ experiences run contrary to the CMA Code of Ethics, but they also run contrary to laws, regulations, and guidelines that are intended to ensure that people who undergo fertility treatments are not harmed.

Life cycle environmental and economic assessment of Phosphogypsum utilization in China

Phosphogypsum (PG), a byproduct of the phosphate fertilizer industry, poses significant environmental challenges due to its huge production and complex composition. Efficient and large-scale utilization of PG remains a global issue. China, as the world's largest producer and discharger of PG, faces a relatively low utilization rate and urgently needs effective management strategies. This study evaluates the environmental and economic performance of the main PG treatment pathways in China using life cycle assessment (LCA). The results reveal notable benefits for all three utilization technologies, with sulfuric acid co-production cement (PSC) offering the greatest environmental advantages and β-building gypsum (PBG) providing the highest economic benefits. Scenario analysis suggests PSC as the most effective strategy for achieving dual environmental and economic gains, making it a strong candidate for large-scale implementation. These findings provide critical insights for future PG management strategies in China.

A new approach on the management of landfill leachate reverse osmosis concentrate: Solar distillation coupled with struvite recovery and biological treatment

The management of reverse osmosis (RO) concentrate remains a challenging task for operators of Landfill Leachates Treatment Plants. In this article we suggest an integrated treatment scheme for RO concentrate that combines solar distillation, struvite precipitation to reduce ammonia content of the distillate and biological treatment of the supernatant either with mixed cultures of bacteria or with microalgae. Experiments in a pilot-scale solar still, equipped with underfloor heating system, showed that the production rate of the distillate ranged up to 3.17 L/d m2. The distillate was characterized by elevated average concentrations of ammonium nitrogen; 2028 mg/L and 1358 mg/L in the two experiments conducted, respectively. A decreasing trend on concentrations of NH4+-N was noticed during these experiments, while the opposite was observed for COD. Struvite recovery experiments showed that the optimum Mg:NH4:PO3 ratio was that of 2:1:5.8. Under these conditions, the NH4+-N removal reached 88%. Further treatment of the process supernatant into a 4-L hybrid sequencing batch reactor with biocarriers and activated sludge achieved NH4+-N removal higher than 98% in Phases C and D, where 450 and 600 mL of supernatant were added, respectively. Similar removal was also observed in a 2-L bioreactor with microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana when 150 mL of struvite supernatant were added (Phase B) while further increase of the amount of added supernatant to 200 mL resulted to a sharp stop of NH4+-N consumption (Phase C). Calculations for a landfill serving 20,000 inhabitants and a daily RO concentrate production of 6 m3/d showed that the required area for the construction of the solar still was 1893 m2 and the volumes of the hybrid and the microalgae reactor were 54 m3 and 60 m3, respectively. The recovered solid material of struvite process, after characterization for heavy metals and organic micropollutants, could be reused to the fertilizers industry.

Improved demineralization of the carbon black obtained from the pyrolysis of the sidewall and tread of scrap Tires: Extraction of some micro-/macro-nutrient elements of plants

In parallel with the increasing tyre production in the world, the amount of scrap tyres is also increasing. Within the scope of scrap tyre management, studies aimed at preventing the accumulation of tyres that threaten the world in terms of human health and the environment can be briefly defined as 4RL, including recycling, reuse, recovery, regeneration, landfill. Current methods have not yet completely controlled the accumulation of scrap tires. In this study, sidewall and tread parts of scrap tires with different compositions were pyrolyzed separately. Pyrolytic carbon black has been upgraded with an improved acid-base extraction method. Two different carbon blacks of high commercial value were obtained from the tire sidewall and tread. Since the mixture obtained from acidic-basic extraction, consisting of elements such as Zn, K, Na, Ca and S, are micro and macro nutrients of plants, the solution can be used directly in the fertilizer industry. With this study, the commercial value of solid residue, which is a major bottleneck in tire pyrolysis plants, has been increased. The pyrolysis method has been transformed into a more feasible project.

Single Atom Catalyst for Nitrate-to-Ammonia Electrochemistry.

Various life forms suffer from the negative effects of nitrate when it accumulates in water bodies, which is a major concern in the present day. The removal of nitrate from water bodies is a critical challenge, and the most effective method to achieve that is to change it into ammonia. Ammonia is a clean energy source and a vital input for the fertilizer industry. The Haber-Bosch process, which dominates the industrial production of ammonia, requires a lot of energy. A more sustainable way to produce ammonia is to use nitrate-contaminated water and reduce it to ammonia through electrocatalysis. This review is constituted of amalgamated articles featuring unique conditions that affect the productivity and activity of the transition metal single atom catalyst (TNMSAC) for the electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia (NRA) reaction. It explores factors such as nitrate ion adsorption, the characteristics of the central electroactive transition metal, the type of coordinating atoms, the impact of potential on stability, and the interplay among single atoms on the selectivity and yield of ammonia gas. In addition, this review also covers advanced concepts such as dual-atom catalysts, dual single atom catalysts, and single atom alloys. The review will provide valuable guidance for enhanced comprehension and strategic designing of TNMSAC for the electrocatalytic conversion of NRA, which will contribute to achieving a green ammonia economy.

Improving plant nutrition and growth through the use of minerals extracted from the sea on Aubergine and cucumber plants

Research objective: The aim of this research was to evaluate the stimulating potential of a product (FertilTomix) obtained by an innovative extraction process from seawater with the addition of silver, copper and zinc on aubergine and cucumber plants. In addition, it was assessed whether the product improves the nutritional quality of the fruit. Materials and Methods: The experiments, which started in May 2024, were conducted in the CREA-OF greenhouses in Pescia (Pt), on aubergine (Solanum melongena L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Plants were placed in pots of ø 14 cm, 30 plants per thesis, divided into three replications of 10 plants each. The experimental groups were: i) control group; ii) conmmercial biofertilizer; iii) FertilTomix; iv) FertilTomix with added silver, copper and zinc. On 10 September 2024, plant height (aubergine), length of the central branch (cucumber), number of leaves, leaf area, vegetative weight, root volume, number and weight of fruits were determined. The nutritional properties of the fruits were also assessed, for aubergine (iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, riboflavin thiamnine, vitamin C, niacin, vitamin B6, folate) and for cucumber (potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, zinc, manganese, vitamin C, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin E, thiamine, vitamin K, folate). Results and Discussion: The experiment showed that the use of FertilTomix, can significantly increase the height, number of leaves, vegetative and root growth, and leaf area of aubergine and cucumber plants. The product FertilTomix with added silver, copper and zinc worked better than as such, stimulating plant growth more. The trial also showed an increase in the number and weight of fruits in both aubergine and cucumber, in the theses treated with FertilTomix compared to the control and the commercial control with algae. The leaves also appeared larger and more intensely green in the theses treated with minerals extracted from the sea. The analysis of the mineral and vitamin content of the fruits showed a significant increase in minerals and vitamins in the fruits treated with FertilTomix for most of the analysed parameters, to a greater extent with FertilTomix with added silver, copper and zinc Conclusions: Various extracts obtained from seawater using an innovative mineral process were found to significantly increase plant growth. The test also showed an increase in the mineral and vitamin content of the fruit, probably influenced by the increased presence of bacteria in the soil, in the theses treated with marine extracts, as demonstrated in other tests with the same product. As well as for those wishing to reduce the use of industrial fertilisers, the results obtained are particularly interesting for those growing in arid environments or those without drinking water

A novel process approach of a circular economy practice in the production of hydroxyapatite from phosphogypsum

Phosphogypsum (PG), a by-product of phosphate fertilizer industry, is chemically impure gypsum (CaSO4 · 2 H2O) containing phosphate residues. Provided by the calcium and phosphorus content, PG can be considered as a precursor for synthetic hydroxyapatite (s-HAp) production. This study proposes a two-step alkali route for s-HAp production from PG. Resulting samples were characterized by ICP-OES, SEM, XRD and FT-IR analyses in comparison with bone ash (BA) sample. Ca/P ratio (wt%) was determined as 2.46 and 2.78 for s-HAp and BA samples, respectively. SEM analysis showed the uniform distribution of spherical shaped particles in BA samples; however s-HAp particles showed irregular distribution of nearly spherical-like particles agglomerated as platelets on the surface. XRD analysis indicated that s-HAp particles possessed low crystallinity and ICDD references showed the appearance of apatite-CaOH phases. FT-IR spectrum showed the vibration bands of PO4 3− bands in the range of 1018–601 cm−1. According to characterization analyses, s-HAp samples show lower Ca/P ratio, irregular morphology, and low crystallinity due to possible impurities. Thus, further downstream operations regarding to impurity removal should be employed to develop a promising route to synthetic HAp production and employ a CE approach on industrial scale to evaluate s-HAp samples as a commercial substitute to BA.

Assessing Nitrate Leaching in Crop Production through the Application of Crop Simulation Models with Experimental Data from Florida

Lysimeters are often used in research concerning nutrient leachate all over the globe. However, due to factors such as Florida's high water table (a condition when the water level stays relatively close to the soil surface) in some production areas, the assessment and collection of leachate are not feasible. Another obstacle to the use of lysimeters in field research is the fact that several types of irrigation methods are used in Florida (e.g., subirrigation with seepage or drain-tile, overhead, microsprinkler, and drip irrigation) requiring different strategies for leachate assessment. This publication focuses on the use of crop models as alternatives to estimate nitrate leaching from cropping systems at a field scale. This publication's target audience is growers, extension agents, crop consultants, representatives of the fertilizer industry, state and local agencies, students, instructors, researchers, and interested Florida citizens.

Electrodialysis with sacrificial magnesium anode for nutrient recovery from primary municipal wastewater: Effect on membrane fouling behaviours

The fertilizer industry is experiencing tremendous stress due to its dependence on limited natural resources and high energy consumption, thus great attention has been paid for alternative nitrogen and phosphorus resources. This study employed electrodialysis (ED) with sacrificial magnesium anode to recover nitrogen and phosphorus (towards struvite formation) from primary municipal wastewater and examined the effects of various operating conditions on ED membranes' fouling behaviour. The results revealed that (1) lowering the concentrate to feed volume (C/F) ratio would reduce overall ED stack resistance, while at a C/F < 0.5, the magnesium corrosion rate decreased with an increase of pH in the concentrate stream; (2) the cation exchange membranes (CEM) adjacent to the feed chamber were more susceptible to foulant depositions (especially organics) than the anion exchange membrane (AEM); the total foulant density was linearly correlated with the increased electrical resistance; (3) increasing current density led to higher ion transport rate, however also promoted membrane fouling for the wastewater containing more solids; (4) the ammonium and phosphate mass transport rates were enhanced by increasing their concentrations in the feed instead of elevating current density. Higher concentrations of nutrient levels in the feed facilitated reduced scaling on membranes, possibly due to more formation of struvite. This study highlights the feasibility of simultaneously treating primary wastewater and recovering nutrients by combining gravity-driven membrane (GDM) filtration with ED.

Fertilizer reduction and biochar amendment promote soil mineral-associated organic carbon, bacterial activity, and enzyme activity in a jasmine garden in southeast China

Reducing chemical fertilizers and biochar amendment is essential for achieving carbon neutrality, addressing global warming, and promoting sustainable agricultural development. Biochar amendment, a carbon rich soil additive produced through biomass pyrolysis, enhances soil fertility, increases crop yield, and improves soil carbon storage. However, research on the combined effect of fertilizer reduction and biochar amendment on soil mineral associated organic carbon (MAOC) in jasmine gardens is limited. This study aims to determine if biochar can reduce industrial fertilizer usage without compromising soil quality. This study focuses on jasmine cultivation in southeastern China, employing four treatments: conventional fertilization (CK), biochar amendment without fertilizer (BA), fertilizer reduction (FR), and fertilizer reduction with biochar amendment (FRBA). The effects on MAOC, microbial abundance, and enzyme activity were investigated. The FRBA treatment significantly increased MAOC content by 19.98 % compared to CK (P < 0.05). The BA and FRBA treatments enhanced the diversity of soil bacteria, including Lactobacillus, Azospirillum, and Cutibacterium, which are associated with soil organic carbon sequestration and nutrient decomposition. The RandomForest model identified β-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG), electric conductivity (EC), β-1, 4-Glucosidase (BG), soil potential of Hydrogen (pH), soil bulk density (BD), and β-D-cellobiosidase (CBH) as key soil traits promoting MAOC accumulation (P < 0.05). The results indicate that BA and FRBA improve soil bacterial community structure, enzyme activity, and MAOC content, promoting soil carbon accumulation through environmental factors and dominant bacteria. This study encourages future fertilization protocols that enhance fertilizer efficiency and carbon storage in crop soils.

Land Suitability Analysis for Green Ammonia Unit Implementation in Morocco Using the Geographical Information System–Analytic Hierarchy Process Approach

Morocco contains one of the greatest phosphate deposits and is the second-largest international phosphate fertilizer producer. However, it heavily relies on imported grey ammonia. To reduce this dependency, a paradigm shift is required toward local green ammonia production to strengthen the fertilizer industry. The purpose of the study is to identify the most promising locations in Morocco for hosting a green ammonia unit through a land suitability analysis. This was carried out using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) and geographical information systems (GIS). Eight relevant criteria were considered, based on carefully studying the relevant literature and consultation with renewable energy experts and professionals. The land suitability analysis revealed high suitability locations and five sites were selected from the regions of Dakhla, Laayoune, Boujdour, and Tarfaya. These locations were introduced to Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Electric Renewables (HOMER) software 3.16.2 for simulation. The simulation findings showed that the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) ranges from 1.67 USD/kg to 1.82 USD/kg, with the lowest LCOH at Dakhla. The corresponding levelized cost of ammonia (LCOA) ranges from 646 USD/t to 687 USD/t. Dakhla was identified as the location with the lowest LCOA, accounting for 646 USD/t. The outcomes showed a similar trend compared to other studies (Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iran). Considering improvements in the electrolyzer’s efficiency and cost, a technical and financial sensitivity analysis was conducted, identifying highly promising LCOA in Morocco, reaching 548 USD/t.

An integrated BWM and PIV approach for vendor selection methodology for predictive maintenance 4.0 in chemical fertilizer industry

An integrated BWM and PIV approach for vendor selection methodology for predictive maintenance 4.0 in chemical fertilizer industry

Corporate Sustainability Performance in the Indonesian Fertilizer Industry: A Strategic Approach with PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero)

This study investigates the determinants of Corporate Sustainability Performance (CSP) in PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero), a leading state-owned enterprise in Indonesia's fertilizer industry. The research focuses on the impact of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG), Operational, Leadership, and Strategic Transformation factors on CSP. Utilizing a Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) approach, the study reveals that Operational Performance is the most significant driver of CSP, with Governance and Social factors also playing crucial roles. However, Environmental, Leadership, and Strategic Transformation variables show limited direct influence on CSP. These findings suggest that while operational efficiency and governance are critical for enhancing sustainability, the importance of social responsibility, visionary leadership, and long-term environmental strategies should not be underestimated. The study offers strategic insights for corporate leaders, emphasizing a balanced and comprehensive approach to achieving sustainable growth in energy-intensive industries.

Framing the Labor of Paid Egg Donors in Iran: Marginality, Gendered Care, and Divine Reward

ABSTRACT Despite the economic incentives evidenced in the recruitment strategies of the Iranian fertility industry for egg donors, the official discourse put forward by policymakers conveys egg donation as an altruistic act. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in two fertility clinics in Tehran, I center the narratives of paid egg donors to investigate how multiple meanings are attributed to egg donation as a form of labor, demonstrating how reproductive inequalities are perpetuated in this context. Following feminist theorists of reproductive bioeconomies, I argue that Iranian donors experience and articulate their participation in local egg market through the prism of their economic marginality, gendered responsibilities, and religiously informed beliefs, including divine reward.

Chemical Dermal Exposure Risk Assessment in the Water Treatment Plant of Fertilizer Industry

Introduction:In water treatment plants (WTP), chemicals play a crucial role. However, some of these chemicals are hazardous. This study aims to conduct a dermal risk assessment in the WTP of an ammonia and urea production facility. Methods: The study was performed in August 2023 and assessed dermal exposure risk for four hazardous chemicals: NaOCl (30%), HCl (60%), H2SO4 (98%), and NaOH (48%), utilizing the Tier 2 RISKOFDERM model. Intrinsic toxicity was evaluated using risk phrases and toxicity information. Potential dermal exposure rates (PERBODY and PERHANDS) were determined based on task group and exposure modifier, while actual dermal exposure rates (AERBODY and AERHANDS) were determined based on clothing type and activity time. Health risk was assessed using actual exposure scores and intrinsic toxicity levels, which were categorized into 10 different levels ranging from 1 to 10. Results: The risk phrases indicated that four chemicals possessed a high level of intrinsic toxicity in terms of local effect but no systemic effect. PERBODY and PERHANDS were high (NaOCl, HCl) and low (H2SO4, NaOH). The actual exposure scores were determined to be 1 (high) for NaOCl and HCI, 0.01 (low) for H2SO4, and 0.03 (medium) for NaOH. Health risk values were 8 for NaOCl and HCI, 5 for H2SO4, and 6 for NaOH. Conclusion: Health risks in NaOCl and HCl were assigned action priority (AP) 1, followed by NaOH at AP-2, and H2SO4 at AP-3. The study recommends the implementation of control measures encompassing engineering solutions, administration, and personal protective equipment.