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Wordlwide trends in urea production

Summary

Mark Brouwer and Jo Eijkenboom of ureaknowhow.com examine the major shifts in global urea production. They also discuss the future of the urea industry and, in particular, how the sector is being affected by the increasing focus on low-carbon ammonia production.

Abstract

Urea production on an industrial scale can trace its origins back to the first half of the 20th Century. Because it is a mature technology, plant operators typically have high expectations when it comes to the performance of modern plants and urea process design. To meet those expectations, technology licensors generally need to offer a urea process concept that combines: high feedstock conversion, low energy consumption, low environmental footprint, low initial investment, high operating reliability and high product quality. Fertilizer, Production, Urea, Process, Technology, Trends, Innovation, Licensing, Licensor, Stamicarbon, Saipem, Casale, Toyo, TEC, NIIC, Safety, Reliability, Capacity, Energy consumption, Alloys, Duplex, Stainless steel, Synthesis section, Submerged condensation

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State of the specialty market

Summary

Specialty fertilizer products represent a small volume, high value segment of the overall fertilizer market that's been growing at around four percent per annum in recent years. Economic, environmental, regulatory and agronomic imperatives are driving up their adoption – and an overall shift from volume to value in the fertilizer market.

Abstract

The fertilizer market, fundamentally, remains a commodity market. The three major crop nutrients N, P and K, more often than not, are supplied through four main products: urea, diammonium phosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and potassium chloride (MOP). Combined world production of these long-standing, globally-traded commodities is north of 300 million tonnes annually. Keywords: Market, Report, Consumption, Drivers, Regulation, Nutrient use efficiency, NUE, Specialty, Fertilizers, Water soluble, WSFs, Enhanced efficiency, EEFs, Controlled release, CRFs, Slow release, SRFs, Micronutrients, Stabilised, SFs, Mosaic, MicroEssentials, Yara

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New biostimulant developments

Summary

Biostimulants are emerging as mainstream products with major fertilizer producers – including Yara, Mosaic, Fertiberia and ICL – launching their own biostimulant lines and expanding production capabilities. Smaller innovative companies, meanwhile, such as Azotic and Fyteko, remain the mainstays of the sector and are continuing to being new products to market. Other players such as Den Nouden/GrowSolutions are targeting the expansion of organic fertilizers.

Abstract

Biostimulants cover a diverse range of products designed to improve nutrient use efficiency and protect crops from abiotic stress. Growers generally purchase biostimulant products to improve crop yields and/or crop quality. Keywords: Market, Trends, Investment, New products, Innovation, Biostimulants, Biofertilizers, Organic, Fertilizers, Yara, YaraAmplix, Mosaic, Biosciences, PowerCoat, BioPath, Fertiberia, ICL, PlantArcBio, Azotic, Encera, Envita, Fyteko, Nurseed, Den Nouden, GrowSolutions, Yield, Quality, Abiotic stress

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An overview of potash ore processing

Summary

We review potash mining and mineral processing methods. Advances in equipment technology and major project investments are highlighted.

Abstract

Potash is the collective name given to the ores, minerals and products which contain the element potassium in water-soluble form. The term dates from the 1800s and originally referred to potassium carbonate and potassium hydroxide obtained from the ashes of wood and leaves. These were recovered as washings and concentrated by boiling in iron pots. Keywords: Industry, Viewpoint, Aquifert, Water soluble, Fertilizers, Specialty, WSFs, Trade, Logistics, Production, China, MAP, Monoammonium phosphate, NPKs, Potassium, Nitrate, Sulphate, SOP, NOP, Calcium, CN

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Phosphorus recovery: market drivers and key technologies

Summary

We look at current progress towards the greater use of recovered phosphorus, and whether there are lessons to learn from the success of the fast-growing carbon capture industry. We also highlight two pioneering European companies, EasyMining and Glatt, who are racing to bringing recovered phosphorus products to market.

Abstract

In an era defined by persistent economic pressures, climate challenges, and geopolitical volatility, it might have been assumed that the Covid-19 pandemic and conflicts in various parts of the world would convulse and reshape the fundamentals of the global fertilizer industry. Yet, against all odds, world production of phosphate rock and its derivatives has remained intact with strong demand growth across most global regions in 2023. Keywords: EU, Regulation, Critical minerals, Circular economy, Technologies, Resources, Security, Supply, Phosphate, Ore, Primary, Sustainability, Phosphorus, Secondary, Recycling, Recovery, Sewage sludge, Ash, Monoincineration, Marktrack, EasyMining, Ash2Salt, Aqua2N, CleanMAP, Lithium iron phosphate, LFP, Batteries, Glatt, Sweden, Germany, RePhoRM, Project, PHOS4green

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Phospholutions - delivering efficiency, creating value

Summary

Phospholutions, Inc., a sustainable fertilizer company headquartered in the United States, recently launched its flagship technology, RhizoSorb®, to improve phosphorus fertilizer efficiency.

Abstract

RhizoSorb is a patented and proprietary fertilizer additive. The core technology originated from The Pennsylvania State University and was discovered by Hunter Swisher, an undergraduate majoring in plant sciences. Keywords: Company profile, Phospholutions, Rhizosorb, Start up, Innovation, Investment, Monoammonium phosphate, MAP, Nutrient, Phosphorus, Use efficiency, Granulation, North America, Sustainability, Crops, Reduced application, Yield improvement, Cost savings

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Tackling potash's carbon challenge

Summary

Waste heat recovery in the potash industry is now more feasible thanks to the availability or robust and reliable heat pipe heat exchangers (HPHEs). Igor Makarenko, Solex Thermal Science, explains how HPHE technology can help potash producers reduce their primary energy consumption and cut their CO2 emissions.

Abstract

Potash producers globally are facing mounting pressure to decarbonise their operations. Driven by environmental concerns, regulatory pressures, stakeholder expectations and market demand, the industry at large is being called upon to improve its energy profile and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Keywords: Solex Thermal Science, Technology, Review, Waste heat, Energy, Recovery, Consumption, Reduction, Natural gas, Carbon, CO2, Emissions, Heat pipe heat exchangers, HPHEs, Exhaust gases

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