Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the production of a solid urea-thiosulfate fertilizer wherein the method comprises preparing a liquid urea-thiosulfate blend comprising 70-90 wt. % urea and 10-30 wt. % thiosulfate salt and processing this blend in liquid form. Various process steps such as evaporation and/or transport to the solidification apparatus can be performed with decreased energy usage and decreased thiosulfate decomposition since the melting point of the blend is significantly lower than the melting point of a regular urea melt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the co-production of urea-based solid nitrogen fertilizer and urea-based solid nitrogen-sulfur fertilizer wherein urea recovered from a gas stream obtained from regular urea production is recycled and used to produce nitrogen-sulfur fertilizer containing a nitrification/urease inhibiting sulfur compound selected from thiosulphate salts, (bi)sulfite salts, polysulfide salts, (bi)sulfide salts, metabisulfite salts, dithionite salts, elemental sulfur and combinations thereof, preferably selected from the group consisting of thiosulphate salts, (bi)sulfite salts, polysulfide salts and combinations thereof. The present invention further relates to certain fertilizer compositions obtainable by the methods of the invention wherein ammonium sulphate and/or ammonium nitrate is further produced from the gas stream and combined to make a nitrogen-sulfur fertilizer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and uses for the modulation of the redox potential of soil and/or plant tissue comprising the application of sulfur fertilizers selected from the group consisting of thiosulfates, polysulfides, (bi)sulfides, (bi)sulfites, metabisulfites, dithionites, elemental sulfur and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates method for the production of a thiosulfate comprising the steps of providing a thiosulfate A represented by formula (X)n(S2O3)m; providing a compound B represented by formula (Y)o(Z)p; contacting the thiosulfate A of step (i) with the compound B of step (ii) in the presence of a solvent, thereby obtaining a reaction mixture comprising a compound C represented by formula (X)q(Z)r and a thiosulfate D represented by formula (Y)s(S2O3)t; wherein the ratio of the solubility of the thiosulfate D in the solvent at a predetermined temperature to the solubility of the compound C in the solvent at the same predetermined temperature is at least 5:1 or less than 1:5. The invention also relates to liquid fertilizers obtainable by the method of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the production of an ammonium salt wherein sour water stripper gas is reacted with an aqueous medium and wherein the sour water stripper gas (SWSG) is obtained from stripping, preferably steam stripping, of sour water comprising organic compounds, wherein the sour water was submitted to a treatment T1 to reduce the concentration of organic compounds in the sour water before stripping. The present invention also relates to methods for the production of an ammonium salt wherein sour water stripper gas and (concentrated) ammonia are reacted with an aqueous medium such that the ratio (mol:mol) of the total amount of ammonia (NH3) provided by the sour water stripper gas stream to the total amount of ammonia (NH3) provided by the concentrated ammonia stream is at least 1:20.

Abstract: A process for the production of potassium sulphate by conversion of potassium chloride and sulphuric acid using a muffle furnace, said furnace comprising a reaction chamber and a combustion chamber, wherein in the reaction chamber potassium chloride (KCI) and potassium hydrogen sulfate (KHSO4) are reacted to form potassium sulphate while supplying heat to the reaction chamber from the combustion chamber, wherein the combustion chamber has at least a pair of regenerative burners and wherein the process comprises the steps of alternatingly causing one of the regenerative burners to perform a combustion operation in the combustion chamber to heat the reaction chamber and another of the regenerative burners to perform a heat-regenerating operation in a regenerator, wherein the pressure in the combustion chamber is kept at a pressure of between 0.2 and 3 mbarg.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fertilizers comprising a first source of potassium in an amount providing more than 10 wt. % (by total weight of the fertilizer) potassium (as K2O) and potassium solubilizing microorganisms. It also relates to methods of manufacturing these fertilizers and to uses of these fertilizers for providing nutrients to plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to liquid compositions useful as fertilizers comprising water; a thiosulfate salt dissolved in the aqueous liquid; a solid suspended in the aqueous liquid. The present invention further relates to methods for producing said liquid compositions and the use thereof as fertilizer, in particular for spray or fertigation applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to liquid fertilizers comprising water; a first fertilizing ingredient dissolved in the aqueous liquid; a solid suspended in the aqueous liquid, wherein the solid comprises calcium; and a polysaccharide rheology modifier; characterized in that the suspended solid has a Dv(25) of 5 micron or more and a Dv(75) of 100 micron or less as determined by laser diffraction. The present invention further relates to methods for producing said liquid fertilizers and the use thereof for fertilization through side dress, soil injection, spray (soil and/or foliar) or fertigation application, preferably spray or fertigation application.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sulfur fertilizer granules having a sulfur content of at least 90 wt. % and a crush strength of at least 3.0 kgf. The present invention further relates to methods for the production of sulfur fertilizer granules by rotary drum granulation employing specific temperatures and water feed rates to achieve stable production of said sulfur fertilizer granules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for inhibiting, at least in part, nitrification activity of ammonium-containing fertilizers (a1) and/or of ammonium-producing fertilizers (a2), which process comprises the steps of: a) Applying to soil and/or to foliage a nitrification inhibitory amount of one or more compounds (b) that are selected from the group consisting of (b1) polysulfides and/or (b2) thiosulfates and/or (b3) hydrosulfides; b) Wherein the one or more compounds (b) are applied simultaneously with, before or after the fertilizers (a) are applied to the soil and/or to the foliage such that the compounds (b) are in direct contact with the ammonium-containing fertilizers (a1) and/or the ammonium-producing fertilizers (a2); c) Wherein the one or more nitrification inhibiting compounds (b) are applied in an amount: i. such that the ratio (w/w) of “total protectable nitrogen” over “sulfur from compounds (b)” is at most about 8:1, preferably at most about 7.

Abstract: An aqueous composition comprises at least one oxidizable sulfur-based compound. A concentrated extract of the aqueous composition includes a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-detectable amount of contaminating refinery hydrocarbons but the aqueous composition is free of refinery odor when stored for at least 24 hours at room temperature and 60% relative humidity. The aqueous compositions are prepared from a gas stream obtained from a petroleum refinery process, a coke oven, or the like, containing at least about 4 mol %, more specifically about 15 mol %, of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and/or sulfur dioxide (SO2) and/or ammonia (NH3), and at least about 0.1 mol % of contaminating refinery hydrocarbons. The aqueous compositions are suitable for use in fertilizers, mining and industrial applications.

Abstract: Method for producing soluble potassium sulfate by recrystallization of crude potassium sulfate wherein the crude potassium sulfate contains an amount of potassium, calculated as K2O, of about 15 wt % or higher, and the resulting potassium sulfate crystalline material conforms with the following characteristics: the amount of insoluble material is less than about 0.05 wt %, a 1 wt % solution of the potassium sulfate has a pH below about 6, and/or 1 pH unit lower than the pH of the crude potassium sulfate, the fraction obtained after crystallization has an average particle size within the following parameters: (i) d90<about 0.6 mm, (ii) d10>about 0.02 mm, and (iii) dust amounts to about 0.4 wt % or less, whereby the resulting potassium sulfate contains more than 51% potassium, calculated as K2O.

Abstract: The current invention concerns a method for increasing an iron content of a solution by converting low iron containing solutions into highly concentrated ferric chloride solutions by adding iron containing substances. The invention concerns also methods for transporting and storage of said highly concentrated ferric chloride solutions.