Abstract: The instant invention relates to a method utilizing relatively high frequency oscillations for dispersing channelized 2:1 clays during the production of fertilizer suspensions to therein form gels as opposed to the use of mechanical energy such as, for example, that imparted by a pump or agitator. The instant sonic gelling method is effective for use with all fertilizer suspension systems containing the channelized 2:1 clays, sepiolite or attapulgite. The method involves situating the fluid fertilizer-clay mixture to be gelled in juxtaposition with ultrasonic (i.e., sonic) energy generating means.

Abstract: The invention described herein comprises two principal embodiments. The first embodiment comprises operating procedures related to the instant invention which along with urease inhibition test results demonstrate the use of two classes of N-Halamine compounds (N,N'-DIHALO-2-IMIDAZOLIDINONES and N-HALO-2-OXAZOLIDINONES) as inhibitors of the activity of the enzyme urease in solution and agricultural soil systems. The second embodiment comprises operating procedures related to the instant invention which along with nitrification inhibition test results demonstrate the use of the two classes of N-Halamine compounds (N,N'-DIHALO-2-IMIDAZOLIDINONES and N-HALO-2-OXAZOLIDINONES) as inhibitors of nitrification in agricultural soil systems.

Abstract: Newly developed testing procedures have demonstrated that three new classes of compounds, the thiopyridine-N-oxides, the thiopyridines, and the thiopyrimidines are highly effective inhibitors of urease activity in agricultural soil systems. Compositions of urea-containing fertilizers in combination with these materials can be used to reduce ammonia loss and control the activity of the soil enzyme urease in the conversion of urea to ammonia.

Abstract: The first embodiment of the present invention relates to my discovery that thiophosphoryl triamide can be utilized as a nitrification inhibitor for controlling the nitrification of ammonium to nitrate. The second embodiment relates to my discovery that this same compound can be used to control, within predetermined limits, the ammonium/nitrate ratios in urea-based fertilizers, by serving as a dual-purpose inhibitor to control both urease inhibition and nitrification inhibition and thereby maximize plant response characteristics in direct proportion to nutrient value amendments to the soil environment.

Abstract: In the production of suspension fertilizers the addition of an additive comprising lignosulfonate to the wet-process acid prior to the ammoniation step prevents severe thickening of the suspension during its formation, which severe thickening is normally associated with in situ mass crystallization of monoammonium phosphate and which mass crystallization results in (1) the total prevention of further ammoniation of said acid or, at the very least, extremely slow further ammoniation thereof, and/or (2) excessive ammonia losses. Also, addition of said lignosulfonate to the acid prevents the formation of metallic impurity gel-like compounds which cause extremely high viscosities, nonpourability, and complete destruction of fluidity.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes measurements of the characteristic standing pressure wave frequencies in normally liquid-filled pipes to detect the presence of gas bubbles or gas pockets within the pipes. Because gases, for example air, are more compressible than liquids, gas in a pipe causes the natural frequencies of standing waves to be shifted from their values with no gas. The characteristic standing wave frequencies are determined from a Fourier transform of pressure fluctuations within the pipe. The pressure fluctuations, measured using a hydrophone or other pressure transducer, are due to either background flow noise (passive technique) or a deliberately induced pressure transient (active technique). The technique is sufficiently sensitive to detect relatively small gas bubbles as well as complete gas blockage. The apparatus required depends somewhat on whether the particular application requires use of the active or passive technique.

Abstract: Heretofore, two approaches have been utilized to improve storage stability, particularly a reduction in the tendency for caking during storage, of freshly prepared urea particles: (1) treat the surface of freshly prepared urea particles with conditioning agents, or (2) incorporate, within the urea particles, by means of addition to the urea melt, certain chemicals which act as hardening agents. This invention is directed to approach (2) supra, and by way of coincidence, to a third approach, to wit, utilizing a gelling clay as said additive to also act as an in situ suspending agent in instances wherein said treated urea is utilized in the subsequent production of suspension type fertilizers.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes measurements of the characteristic standing pressure wave frequencies in normally liquid-filled pipes to detect the presence of gas bubbles or gas pockets within the pipes. Because gases, for example air, are more compressible than liquids, gas in a pipe causes the natural frequencies of standing waves to be shifted from their values with no gas. The characteristic standing wave frequencies are determined from a Fourier transform of pressure fluctuations within the pipe. The pressure fluctuations, measured using a hydrophone or other pressure transducer, are due to either background flow noise (passive technique) or a deliberately induced pressure transient (active technique). The technique is sufficiently sensitive to detect relatively small gas bubbles as well as complete gas blockage. The apparatus required depends somewhat on whether the particular application requires use of the active or passive technique.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a technique and provides for apparatus eminently useful for producing closely sized, high-strength granular particulates from low-strength prills such as, for example, urea and ammoniu m nitrate which are nitrogen fertilizers, i.e., an essential plant nutrient. Advantages and benefits derived from the practice of the present invention relate to the production of closely sized high-strength particulates useful to the chemical fertilizer industry by virtue of their having favorable properties for custom fertilizer blending, direct applications, and as a substrate for sulfur coating to produce a controlled release fertilizer. Further advantages and benefits derived from the practice of the present invention relate to the utilization of low-cost surplus prills of low stren gth as feedstock in the production of the closely sized, high-strength granu lar particulates.

Abstract: A phosphate ore flotation process for subjecting a phosphate ore containing dolomitic impurities to beneficiation as follows: The flotation feed is first conditioned with fatty acid and fuel oil as collectors and then reconditioned with humic acid as a modifier; subjecting the reconditioned flotation feed to rougher phosphate flotation to collect the rougher phosphate concentrate from the overflow; subjecting said rougher phosphate concentrate to at least one cleaner phosphate flotation; and recovering the phosphate product in the overflow from said cleaner phosphate flotation step.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a technique and provides for apparatus eminently useful for the econimic recovery of Fe, Zn, and S from waste galvinizer sulfuric acid and crystals of iron sulfate and zinc sulfate. The technique or method of the instant invention involves the ammoniation of the acid or a solution prepared from such crystals followed by the partial oxidation of the resulting ammoniated suspension to a point where the desired product magnetite is formed in the separated from a marketable solution of ammoniacal zinc sulfate. The effecting of the instant technique requires only a minimal amount of relatively inexpensive equipment and is simply and easily placed into practice by, for example, sparging anhydrous ammonia into a stirred tank of waste acid until the Ph is elevated to about 10. Air can be sparged through the resulting slurry to oxidize the iron in the acid. After a proper incubation period, the desired stable product, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention teaches novel compositions and techniques for economically producing highly concentrated nitrogen-sulfur suspension fertilizers using cheap and readily available by-product ammonium sulfate or by-product sulfuric acid and ammonia in conjunction with solid, liquid, or suspension nitrogen fertilizers and suspending clay. The products of the instant invention exhibit unique and very desirable physical properties and long-term storage characteristics not heretofore encountered in suspensions containing soluble fertilizer salts. Some of these unique characteristics include virtually no crystal growth during exceptionally long storage periods and near-constant or decreasing viscosity with decrease in temperature.

Abstract: Apparatus useful as a compacting device adapted to be inserted into a barrel or similar container either singularly, or in combination with a plurality of similar devices and generally comprising one or more compacting plates which plates are adapted to fit within such container and disposed therein for movement in a direction generally parallel to the axis of such container. A plurality of resilient locking tabs are secured to the upper surface of such compacting plates each by means of an angle bracket and in a manner so as to extend beyond both the peripheral surface of such compacting plate and the outermost edge of said angle bracket to thereby provide for engagement of said tabs with the inside of such container. When loose material is placed in the container, and a compacting plate is inserted thereinto and pressed downwardly, the material within the container and under said plate will be compacted.

Abstract: Improved, simple, energy-efficient, and easy-to-operate process for producing granular diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizers from anhydrous ammonia, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, and water utilizing a rotating drum granulator and a pipe reactor in combination with a specially designed slurry distributor. The pipe reactor operates at pressures of more than 80 pounds per square inch gage and utilizes a special low-impact distributor to uniformly distribute a wide-angle spray of slurry onto the bed of recycled solids in the drum granulator and to provide for a minimum of bed disruption and deformation. This energy-efficient process produces dry, free-flowing granular DAP with little or no fossil-fuel heating requirements for drying and with low recycle ratios which allow for high production rates or increases in production rates when the process is retrofitted into existing plants.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a technique and provides for apparatus eminently useful for the continuous, simultaneous monitoring of the insulation quality of one or more pieces of high voltage ac electrical equipment, while the equipment is in service and connected to its normal high voltage source. The technique or method of the instant invention involves comparing a voltage, developed across a capacitive shunt at the capacitance tap of a transformer or bushing so equipped with a reference voltage taken from a voltage transformer or potential device connected to the same high voltage source.

Abstract: An improved process for more economically and effectively producing crystalline by-product ammonium sulfate (A/S) by granulating crystalline by-product A/S feedstock and recycle material together with an A/S-sulfuric acid-granulation aid-particle hardener solution and ammonia to bind the crystals together. Underlying the gist of the improvement concept is the identification of a low-cost readily available lignosulfonate by-product of the pulp and paper industry which, when used in predetermined and relatively small proportions, has now been discovered to be very satisfactory as a granulation aid-particle hardener for granulating such by-product ammonium sulfate crystals. Use of lignosulfonate instead of alum, as is currently practiced, reduces the manufacturing cost of granulating by-product ammonium sulfate by about as much as one dollar per short ton of product.

Abstract: An improved process for extending the capabilities of an existing, conventional wet-process phosphoric acid production plant to more effectively utilize phosphate values contained in low purity phosphate rock which process comprises (1) adjustment of the maximum soluble sulfate level in phosphoric acid taken from, for example, the conventional wet-process acid facility prior to reacting same with such low purity phosphate rock, in combination therewith, and (2) control of the parameters of (a) ratio of attack acid to feed rock, (b) reaction temperature, and (c) reaction time. Said improved process effects selective dissolution of calcium and phosphate values from such rock without incurring unwanted and undesired high codissolution of congeneric aluminum and iron impurities therein.

Abstract: Process and Apparatus for preparing O--X--O and O--X--X (i.e., zero nitrogen) suspension fertilizers wherein phosphate rock is acidulated with merchant-grade wet-process orthophosphoric acid. The instant invention requires only a minimal amount of relatively inexpensive equipment. The process comprises a first-charging step wherein a reactor vessel is partially filled with water of formulation, phosphoric acid, and phosphate rock. The resulting mixture is subjected to a digestion step for a predetermined period of time to effect reaction of the acid and phosphate rock added thereto. Said digestion step is subsequently followed by a second-charging step wherein predetermined amounts of potassium chloride and/or suspending agent are added to said reactor vessel.

Abstract: A process for producing urea fluorosilicate, [(NH.sub.2).sub.2 CO].sub.4 .multidot.H.sub.2 SiF.sub.6, a composition eminently suitable for use as a fungicide in the prevention and control of wheat stem rust. The method involves mixing urea and fluorosilicic acid derived from by-product fluorine in a mole ratio of urea:fluorosilicate acid in the range from about 3.5:1 to about 4.5:1 and thereafter dewatering the resulting solution to produce a concentrated solution of urea fluorosilicate. Solid urea fluorosilicate is subsequently obtained by evaporation of the remaining water which is conveniently effected by introducing the resulting solution or melt to concentrator means, or alternatively into a heated, moving bed of preformed granular urea fluorosilicate.