Abstract: The invention relates to a method for providing an inorganic coating to ammonium nitrate (AN) based particles, in particular to ammonium nitrate-based particles for use as a fertilizer, as well as to an inorganic coating for ammonium nitrate-based particles per se. The method comprises the steps of: a) applying a liquid concentrated mineral acid with a water content of less than 50 weight %, to the particles, in order to at least solubilize ammonium nitrate at the outer surface of the particles such that an acidified particle grasping layer is obtained, and b) applying a solid mineral alkaline in powder form to the particles of step a) in order to react with the grasping layer of the particles to coat the acidified particle surface; wherein the stoichiometric ratio of solid mineral alkaline in powder form to concentrated mineral acid is equal to or more than 5:1.

Abstract: Additives can be added to fertilizers to impart desirable characteristics. For example, a class of additives have been disclosed to stabilize the explosive potential of AN fertilizers are desirable, however, such additives can react with the AN fertilizer during its manufacture or during its storage. This is particularly the case where the additives contain carbonates, oxides, hydroxides, contain water of hydration or water locked within the structure (e.g. within an interlayer substructure). This reaction can be avoided if the additive has a passivation layer substantially covering the surface of the additive. The passivation layer, being substantially non-reactive and substantially insoluble, protects the additive so that the additive keeps its desired properties and the fertilizer keeps its quality. In other aspects, methods of making the fertilizer are provided.

Abstract: Honeycomb monolith structure, especially for use as catalyst or support for a catalyst in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides, comprising: a plurality of cell walls defining a plurality of polygonal channels, the plurality of cell walls and channels extending in parallel along a common direction from an entrance end to an outlet end of the structure in the fluid flow direction. The transversal cross section of a polygonal channel has the shape of a convex polygon in closest packing, wherein more than 50% of the internal angels between two adjacent walls of the convex polygon are above 90 degrees and wherein the cell aspect ratio LL/LS is greater than 1.5. The monolith structure has an outer row of polygons in shifted direction perpendicular to each other at the two side edges of the monolith which are parallel to the longest direction of the cells/channels.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for incorporating micronutrients in an outer shell of urea-based particles, characterized in that it comprises the steps of a) applying a liquid concentrated mineral acid with a water content of at most 25 weight % to urea-based particles having a water content of at most 2 weight %, in order to at least form a double salt layer at the outer surface of the urea-based particles such that an acidified particle grasping layer is obtained, and subsequently b) applying a solid mineral base in powder form to the urea-based particles of step a) in order to react with the grasping layer of the urea-based particles; wherein the mineral acid or the solid mineral base are the source of any one of the micronutrients and wherein the liquid concentrated mineral acid and the solid mineral base in powder form are applied in a non-equimolar ratio between 0.1 and 1 mol/mol mineral acid/mineral base.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solid particulate calcium nitrate composition having particles with an average particle size of between 0.1 and 1 mm and comprising an anti-caking agent, wherein the anti-caking agent consists of a solid particulate silicate with an average particle size of between 0.05 and 750 ?m. The invention furthermore relates to a pre-blend binder composition comprising such a solid particulate calcium nitrate composition. Also a dry mortar mix or tile adhesive composition and a dry concrete mix comprising an aggregate and such a pre-blend binder composition. Also a method for producing a solid particulate calcium nitrate composition, the use of a solid particulate silicate as anti-caking agent for a solid particulate calcium nitrate composition and the use of a solid particulate calcium nitrate composition as a setting accelerator for cementitious pre-blend binder composition are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solid, particulate, urea-based blend composition comprising a urea-based compound in particulate form, one or more components in particulate form, selected from the group of nitrates, phosphates, sulphates and chlorides, and a urease inhibitor of the type phosphoric triamide, in particular N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (nBTPT), wherein the urea-based blend composition is further characterized in that it comprises one or more reactive alkaline or alkaline-forming inorganic or organic compounds. The composition according to the invention has been stabilized against the degradation of a urease inhibitor of the type phosphoric triamide, in particular N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (nBTPT). The invention further relates to a method for the manufacture of the claimed solid, particulate, urea-based blend composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a homogeneous, solid, particulate, urea ammonium sul¬phate-based composition comprising urea ammonium sulphate and a urease inhibitor of the type phosphoric triamide, wherein the urea ammonium sulphate-based composition is further characterized in that one or more of the following measures applies: a) it comprises 5 weight % or less, relative to the total weight of the composition, of one or more alkaline or alkaline-forming inorganic or organic compounds that is able to interact with ammonium sulphate; b) the urease inhibitor of the type phosphoric triamide is in a solid particulate form; c) an anticaking and/or moisture repellent coating is applied onto the urea am¬monium sulphate particulate material. The composition according to the invention has improved properties for reducing ammonia loss by urease activity in the soil and is in particular suitable as a ferti¬lizer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for reducing the amount of sulphur compounds in a sulphur compounds contaminated wastewater stream, using a granular sludge treatment system (10) comprising anaerobic microorganisms, wherein the process comprises the steps of adding an aqueous nitrate solution to the wastewater stream, contacting the wastewater stream with the anaerobic microorganisms, and anoxic oxidation of at least part of the sulphur compounds in the sulphur compounds contaminated wastewater stream by the anaerobic microorganisms, resulting in a sulphur compounds depleted wastewater stream. The invention furthermore relates to such a granular sludge treatment system (10).

Abstract: The application relates to the use of a powder comprising calcium nitrate as a setting accelerator for a tile adhesive blend, wherein nitrate powder comprising calcium nitrate, and optionally also comprising a nitrate salt different than the calcium nitrate, specifically potassium or ammonium nitrate, and having a particle size of between 0.01 mm and 1 mm is used as the setting accelerator. The application furthermore relates to a process for producing such a setting accelerator comprising, in one possible embodiment, the step of cutting or grinding prills and/or granules comprising the calcium nitrate and optionally the different nitrate salt, and in another embodiment, a spray drying process, resulting into the setting accelerator. The application also relates to a tile adhesive blend comprising at least a cement, sand and a such setting accelerator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid, particulate, non-explosive composition comprising ammonium nitrate-based particles, in particular a fertilizer composition, of which, on the one hand, the potential misuse as a precursor for an explosive composition is limited without, on the other hand, hampering its legitimate use by farmers for food production. The solid, particulate, non-explosive composition further comprises a gelling agent which is able to form a substantially water-insoluble and non-filterable hydrogel after the solid fertilizer composition is contacted with water. The gelling agent is selected from the group of gum-based gelling agents, in particular xanthan gum-based agents and guar gum-based agents, most preferably is a xanthan gum-based agent.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a homogeneous, solid, particulate, urea-based material comprising elemental sulphur. The invention further relates to a homogeneous, solid, particulate urea-based material comprising small elemental sulphur phases in a urea-based base material and formed by an accretion process. The product is in particular suitable as a fertilizer.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a biochemical process for the denitrification of a hypersaline wastewater composition.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the field of breeding domestic livestock, in particular to animal nutrition for domestic livestock, more in particular to nutritional supplements and additives for breeding monogastric mammals, most specifically inorganic nitrate compounds for use in a method of improving the (re)productive performance of a female monogastric mammal. The present invention provides, among others, a method of improving the (re)productive performance of a female monogastric mammal, feed supplements and feed compositions comprising inorganic nitrate compounds.

Abstract: A continuous dry particulate matter injection device (1), and more in particular a device for use in a fertigation application in which a soluble matter, such as a fertilizer, is suspended and/or dissolved into the irrigation water in order to use the irrigation system and irrigation water as a delivery system for the soluble matter, in particular a soluble fertilizer. To this end, the device includes at least one feed device (2), suitable for feeding particulate matter, and connected, by a first connection pipe (3), to the top of a vertically positioned slurry mixing chamber (5), located under the first connection pipe (3), and a pressurized mixing tank (12), connected to the bottom of the slurry mixing chamber (5) by a second connection pipe (8). The device is operated in a continuous cycle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a double salt of Ca(NO3)2 and KNO3 for the manufacture of a melt, in particular a nitrate-based heat transfer fluid (HTF) and/or thermal energy storage fluid, for example in solar energy applications, such as in solar electrical power plant systems using a parabolic through, a central receiver or a linear Fresnel, which have both a low melting temperature and a high decomposition temperature, as well as to methods for the manufacture thereof. Using said double salt, a melt could be manufactured comprising at least NaNO3, KNO3 and Ca(NO3)2, preferably, an eutectic ternary melt comprising Ca(NO3)2, NaNO3 and KNO3 in a weight ratio of about 42:15:43 with an operating temperature of about 131° C. to about 560° C.

Abstract: The application relates to the use of a powder comprising calcium nitrate as a setting accelerator for a tile adhesive blend, wherein nitrate powder comprising calcium nitrate, and optionally also comprising a nitrate salt different than the calcium nitrate, specifically potassium or ammonium nitrate, and having a particle size of between 0.01 mm and 1 mm is used as the setting accelerator. The application furthermore relates to a process for producing such a setting accelerator comprising, in one possible embodiment, the step of cutting or grinding prills and/or granules comprising the calcium nitrate and optionally the different nitrate salt, and in another embodiment, a spray drying process, resulting into the setting accelerator. The application also relates to a tile adhesive blend comprising at least a cement, sand and a such setting accelerator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an anhydrous powder having a calcium nitrate content of between 92 and 99.9 weight %, a water content of between 0.1 and 8 weight %; and a particle size of between 0.05 and 1.5 mm, wherein the method comprises the step of subjecting a calcium nitrate solution having a water content of between 70 and 15 weight % and a calcium nitrate content of between 30 and 85 weight % to a drying step in an industrial turbo-dryer, resulting in the anhydrous calcium nitrate powder. The invention furthermore relates to such an anhydrous calcium nitrate powder and the use of an industrial turbo-dryer to produce such anhydrous calcium nitrate powder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a biofilter system (10) for removing H2S from a H2S contaminated energy production gas stream containing methane. The aqueous biofilter system comprises a biofilter (6) having biofilter support material constituting a biofilter bed supporting a humidified biofilm having microorganisms that are capable of oxidizing H2S. The process comprises the steps of contacting the H2S contaminated energy production gas stream with the microorganisms of the humidified biofilm, and oxidation of at least part of the H2S in the H2S contaminated energy production gas stream by the microorganisms, resulting in a H2S depleted energy production gas stream, wherein the process further comprises the step of adding an aqueous nitrate solution to the H2S contaminated energy production gas stream prior to being contacted with the microorganisms, enabling the microorganisms to oxidize the H2S under anoxic conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conditioning agent for reducing water absorption and dust formation of a particulate fertilizer, comprising 10 to 50 weight % of wax, 40 to 90 weight % of mineral oil and 1 to 15 weight % of a resin being mineral oil-soluble and miscible with wax and mineral oil, wherein the agent further comprises 0.1 to 1 weight % of a viscoelastic elastomer selected from the group of polyisobutylene and styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer which is soluble in mineral oil and has an average molecular weight of 30.000 to 5.000.000. The invention further relates to a particulate fertilizer composition, preferably a urea-ammonium sulfate (UAS) fertilizer, a urea fertilizer or a calcium nitrate fertilizer, comprising a particulate substrate, preferably an hygroscopic fertilizer, preferably a nitrogen-containing fertilizer, and 0.05 to 2 weight % of said coating thereon for reducing moisture uptake and dust formation of said fertilizer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst for production of nitric oxide from ammonia and oxygen. The catalyst has the composition A3-xBxO9-y, wherein A and B are selected from the group Mn, Co, Cr, Fe and Al, x is between 0 and 3 and y is between 0 and 6. The catalyst has a high selectivity towards nitric oxide and a low ignition temperature in the reactor. Further the present invention relates to a method for the production of gas comprising nitric oxide by the catalyst of the present invention. The produced gas has a low content of nitrous oxide.