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FFPs Frequently Faced Problems

Fertilizer being highly hygroscopic absorbs moisture from the surrounding air during storage leading to followingproblems.

Caking and Lumping

Loss in the fertilizers free flowing properties

Dissolution

Loss in Strength

Crystallization

Loss in physical, nutrient and chemical properties

Danger in eplosion of !itrate "ased Fertilizers

#ealth #azards due to ammonical fumes of decomposedhygroscopic fertilizers

Slippery floors due to hardning of the fertilizer on the floor ofthe warehouse

General Recommendations

$he relati%e humidity in the Fertilizer Storage &rea should bemaintained at '() (* at about +-C.

Solutions

$hrough the use of fertilizer in agriculture is seasonal, its production especially in modern fertilizer plant, isessentially a continuous process. t therefore becomes necessary to store substantial /uantities of fertilizer both atfactory site and at warehouse close to the consuming areas to facilitate the timely a%ailability of fertilizer. $hestorage of fertiliser for a long period brings about detrimental changes in its characters and measures to o%ercome

this ha%e to be taken to a%oid loss in fertilizer /uantity. 0ost commercial fertilisers especially if there is a highconcentration of nutrients, are hygroscopic and ha%e a high solubility in water. 1hen stored in bulk for long periods,

they are sub2ected to high humidity and %arying atmospheric conditions leading to caking, loss in its properties andstrength.

$he fertilizer, when taken out of silos for bagging, is %ery hot and thus, etremely hygroscopic. t is essential tocontrol humidity le%els in the area during this period for free flow of fertilizer, through auto3bagging machines intothe polythene bag without lumping and caking.

&lmost all types of fertilizers are essentially stored at ambient temperature conditions but relati%e humidity needs tobe controlled at 45*. f the humidity goes abo%e 45*, the prills, being %ery hygroscopic, absorb moisture causingthem to stick to each other rendering the product useless. &nother side effect of high humidity is that in contact with

hydrocarbon, the ammonium nitrate becomes eplosi%e in nature. #ence, it becomes %ery important that humiditybe kept or held below 45*.

The Solution

$o o%ercome the problems arising out of hygroscopic nature of fertilizers, it is necessary to condition the air insidethe warehouse and storage sites, so that the fertiliser does not absorb moisture from the atmosphere. "ry3&ir

Dehumidifiers maintain these conditions with ease regardless of ambient temperatureDehumidification is essential/ critical in the following areas

$he prilling tower 6 low humidity impro%es the prills

"ulk Storage 6 to protect the prills etc.

"agging operations 6 for the ease in handling of prills etc.

References Some 0adras Fertilizers Limited, ndia

78"#C9, Surat, ndia

BRYGRAMBRYGRAMFertilier Storage

0odified on: ;st&ugust +5;;

www.brya i r .com !"