Industrial Verification and Research Development of Lime–Gypsum Fertilizer Granulation Method

Abstract

This work concerns non-pressure granulation of mineral materials used for the production of agricultural fertilizers for soil deacidification. In order to expand the product range of Nordkalk Poland sp. z o. o. located in Poland, the granulation conditions of the gypsum–lime mix were examined with the use of various granulation methods. The processed mixture was Jurassic lime flour mined in the Sławno mine (Poland) and waste gypsum (sulfogypsum) obtained from the largest coal-fired power plant in the EU, Bełchatów Power Plant (Poland). This paper presents the results of the optimization of the gypsum–lime fertilizer granulation process. The results of the study of granulation of gypsum–lime mixture realized in one-stage technology in a disc granulator were compared with the effects of two-stage agglomeration. During the research, a mixture (in a 1:1 ratio) of waste sulfogypsum and lime flour was used. Such a weight ratio provides maximum use of the sulfogypsum waste while maintaining good mechanical properties of the granulate. The granulated bed was moistened with a lignosulfonate solution. The process was carried out periodically. After the experiment, the grain composition of the granulate obtained was determined and tests were performed to determine the strength of the product. The test results were compared with analogous ones obtained during granulation with the use of molasses (waste from sugar production). The results obtained were verified during a trial carried out on an industrial scale.

The Promotive Effect of Cyanobacteria and Chlorella sp. Foliar Biofertilization on Growth and Metabolic Activities of Willow (Salix viminalis L.) Plants as Feedstock Production, Solid Biofuel and Biochar as C Carrier for Fertilizers via Torrefaction Process

“…The research shows that a temperature of 245 °C during carbonization of Salix viminalis L. biomass for solid biofuel conversion under isothermal conditions is low in comparison to other energy crops [80][81][82].…”

Sustainable Drying and Torrefaction Processes of Miscanthus for Use as a Pelletized Solid Biofuel and Biocarbon-Carrier for Fertilizers

“…25 shows that the energy inputs in the grinding process decrease as the raw material drying temperature increased. Secondly, the authors quantified various parameters of the biomass carbonization process like it was done on different biomass in [82][83][84]. These included kinetics, optimal temperature of the biomass roasting process, and residence time for specific mass loss ratios [85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92].…”

Numerical Model of Heat Pipes as an Optimization Method of Heat Exchangers

“…On the other hand, a sharp change in temperature in the isothermal section confirms the correct mechanism of operation of the heat pipe heat exchanger. There is also little confusion at the walls due to the lack of roughness and the flow of the liquid down the wall of the heat tube [29].…”