Oral Presentation On Course Title : Inorganic

Fertilizer By Chemical Technology

Group 3 Course Code : CHE 515
Group members
Ojumu Bolarinwa
Awotimiro Tolulope
Lawal Nurudeen
Faroun Olatunbosun
Fabinu Azeez
Ekemma Emeka
Williams Praise
Adedayo Shanu
Oyebanji Jide
Abdulkareem Olanrewaju
Folarin Daniel
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Agriculture is the most important sector that provides

fuel, fiber and food to humans (Rehman et al.,2020a &
Adnan,2020) and also has the greatest role in the lives of
people.
Its productions are facing a major challenge to fulfil the
requirements of the growing population and many poor
countries are facing the problem of malnutrition (Adnan
et al., 2020 & Saeed et al.,2020).
According to Kalsoom (2020), the food demand
throughout the world is increasing because of a rise in
human population.
However, fertilizer can be seen as a substance added to
the soil to improve plants’ growth and yield by adding
Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium which are all
needed by plants to the soil.
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Agricultural sector is directly linked with land
while most agriculture land is degraded day by
day (Toor et al., 2020).
Addition of substances to the soil to improve its
growing capacity was developed in the early
days of agriculture.
Use of fertilizer can be dated as far back as the
Neolithic period. Ancient farmers knew that the
first yields on a plot of land were much better
than those of subsequent years. This caused
them to move to new, uncultivated areas, which
again showed the same pattern of reduced
yields over time.

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Eventually it was discovered that plant growth and
yield on a plot of land could be improved by
spreading animal manure throughout the soil .
Some of the methods included the use of ashes
gotten from burnt weeds by the Egyptians. Ancient
writings from the Romans and Greeks indicate the
use of various animal excreta.
The commencement of organised research into
fertilizer technology was not seen until the early
seventeenth century. Scientists like Francis Bacon
and Johann Glauber established the need for
addition of saltpeter to the soil.
Glauber developed the first complete mineral
fertilizer which was a mixture of saltpeter, lime,
phosphoric acid, nitrogen and potash.

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Like many developing countries in Africa,
Nigeria has accelerated in the construction
of new fertilizer plants.
The main fertilizer type in Nigeria is urea
and phosphate compound fertilizer, NPK
compound fertilizer and blend fertilizer.
Because there are urgent need for
increasing food and crop production,
farmers apply the fertilizers to increase the
national food production and boost the
economy.

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 WHAT IS A FERTILIZER?

A Fertilizer is a substance added to the soil to improve

plants' growth and yield.
First used by ancient farmers, fertilizer technology
developed significantly as the chemical needs of growing
plants were discovered. Modern synthetic fertilizers are
composed mainly of nitrogen, phosphorous, and
potassium compounds with secondary nutrients added.
Like all living organisms, plants also are made up of cells.
Within these cells occur numerous metabolic chemical
reactions that are responsible for growth and
reproduction.

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 Since plants do not eat food like animals, they
depend on nutrients in the soil to provide the basic
chemicals for these metabolic reactions. The supply
of these components in soil is limited, however, and
as plants are harvested, it dwindles, causing a
reduction in the quality and yield of plants.
 Fertilizers replace the chemical components that
are taken from the soil by growing plants. However,
they are also designed to improve the growing
potential of soil, and fertilizers can create a better
growing environment than natural soil.
 The primary components in fertilizers are nutrients
which are vital for plant growth.

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Fertilizer can be categorized into two main
types:
1.Organic fertilizer
micro-organisms
Organic waste + O2 Heat + Co2 + H20 + Compost

2. Inorganic fertilizer
They are also referred to synthetic fertilizers
and they are manufactured artificially
containing minerals and nutrients required
for proper plant growth.

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 RAW MATERIALS REQUIRED

The raw material requirement is always based on the

result of soil test conducted. The result of the soil test
might indicate a deficiency of some main macronutrient
such as Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium or some
secondary macronutrients such as Calcium, Magnesium
and Sulphur. Often times it might be some micronutrients
such as Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Zinc,
Boron, Silicon, Cobalt, Vanadium, etc.
The scope of this presentation is just limited to the main
macronutrients. The production of
fertilizers to supply these nutrients will be investigated
one after the other, a mixture of any two
and a mixture of the three.

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UNDERSTANDING N-P-K RATIOS

The three numbers you see on the label of every bagged

fertilizer represent the product’s N-P-K ratio. The N in
the ratio stands for nitrogen, the P stands for
phosphorous, and the K stands for potassium. 

The fertilizer numbers found on the package represent

the percentage (by weight) of these three macro-
nutrients as they are found in that package. Though
plants use many different nutrients to fuel their growth,
these three are used in the largest amounts. A 16-16-16
fertilizer, for example, contains 16% nitrogen, 16%
phosphorus, and 16% potassium.

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IMPORTANCE OF NITROGEN FOR PLANTS

 Nitrogen is needed for leaf and stem growth, and it

gives a dark green colour to plants.
 It is also a major component of amino acids, the
building blocks of proteins. Without proteins, plants
wither and die. 
 Nitrogen makes up part of the chlorophyll in plants.
Chlorophyll is the green part of leaves and stems.
Light energy is taken by the chlorophyll and used to
make sugars for the plant.
 Nitrogen is also important from the point of view of
human nutrition as it increases the protein content
of some foods and feed crops.
Source: Esrey et al (2001), p. 45 11
IMPORTANCE OF PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM FOR PLANTS

Phosphorus Potassium
• Improved nutrient translocation and
• Facilitates nitrogen fixation mobility
abilities of legumes

• Improves flower maturity and • Potassium increases resistance of

seed or fruit production plants to disease

• Phosphorus helps make plants • Produces stiff stalks and stems to

more drought resistant reduce water logging.

Source: Esrey et al. (2001), p. 44

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PRODUCTION PROCESS

The production of fertilizer not a one way thing, the production is always determined by the
desired output and is in such a way that the raw materials can be independently processed and
packaged separately as the final product.

Fully integrated factories have been designed to produce compound fertilizers. Depending on the
actual composition of the end product, the production process will differ from manufacturer to
manufacturer.

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PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER COMPONENT

To isolate phosphorus from phosphate rock, it is treated with

sulfuric acid, producing phosphoric acid. The considered
phosphorus-rich compound is Calcium Phosphate (phosphate
rock) because of its abundance in Nigeria.

Phosphate Rock is a Sedimentary Rock which is composed of

Phosphate minerals high enough to be applied directly as fertilizer.
Conversion to phosphoric acid is chemically presented
as:
Ca3 (PO4)2 + H2SO4  H3PO4 + 3CaSO4

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BLOCK FLOW DIAGRAM FOR PHOSPHORIC ACID SYNTHESIS

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 NITROGEN FERTILIZER COMPONENT
Nitrogen used in fertilizers is supplied in form of Ammonia,
Ammonium nitrate. There are number of
processes/Production techniques available for the production
of nitrogen-rich compounds, this include the Haber-Bosch,
Frank-Caro and the Birkeland-Eyed process. Of the three
processes listed, the chosen process is the Haber – Bosch
process, because it is the most energy efficient process.

This is an artificial Nitrogen fixation process, the process

converts atmospheric nitrogen to Ammonia by a reaction
with Hydrogen in the presence of a metal catalyst. The
reaction is as shown below.
N2 + 3H2  2NH3

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 POTASSIUM FERTILIZER COMPONENT

Potassium ions are essential component of plant

nutrition and are provided in form of chloride,
sulphate or nitrate. Potassium chloride is
typically supplied to fertilizer manufacturers in
bulk. The manufacturer converts it into a more
usable form by granulating it. This makes it easier
to mix with other fertilizer components in the
next step.
The processing of potash for fertilizer production
is as depicted in the Block Flow diagram above:

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BLOCK FLOW DIAGRAM FOR THE PROCESSING OF POTASH

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 GRANULATING AND BLENDING
To produce fertilizer in the most usable form, each of the different
compounds, ammonium nitrate, potassium chloride, ammonium phosphate,
and triple superphosphate are granulated and blended together. One method
of granulation involves putting the solid materials into a rotating drum which
has an inclined axis

They are passed through a screen that separates out adequately sized
particles. A coating of inert dust is then applied to the particles, keeping
each one discrete and inhibiting moisture retention. Finally, the particles
are dried, completing the granulation process.

The different types of particles are blended together in appropriate

proportions to produce a composite fertilizer. The blending is done in a
large mixing drum that rotates a specific number of turns to produce the
best mixture possible. After mixing, the fertilizer is emptied onto a
conveyor belt, which transports it to the bagging machine

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UNIT OPERATIONS INVOLVED IN FERTILIZER PRODUCTION

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OPERATION PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS

Bad means of storing the fertilizers Standard storage facilities

Unsafe working conditions Efficient health and safety personnel

Inadequate raw material Siting of plants proxy to raw materials

High exchange rate Good government policies

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QUALITY CONTROL

To ensure the quality of the fertilizer that is produced,

manufacturers monitor the product at each stage of
production. The raw materials and the finished
products are all subjected to physical and chemical
tests to determine the specifications previously
developed.
Some of the characteristics that are tested include pH,
appearance, density, and melting point. Since fertilizer
production is governmentally regulated, composition
analysis tests are run on samples to determine total
nitrogen content, phosphate content, and other
elements affecting the chemical composition.
Various other tests are also performed, depending on
the specific nature of the fertilizer composition.
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
The purpose of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is to have clear and concise information
about the impact of the production of fertilizer on the environment. We want to ensure that the
environment is not affected by the production as we know that effect of a production plant can be
negative or positive depending on what they are releasing to the environment.
The following set of conditions may be used as a guide for assessing and evaluating impact of
fertilizer plant on the environment:
 Will there be a large change in environmental conditions?
 Will the impact be unusual in the area or particularly complex?
 Will the impact extends over a large area and continue for a long time?
 Will many people be affected?
 Is there a risk that environmental standards will be breached?
 Is there a high probability of the impact re-occurring?
 Will the impact be permanent rather than temporary?
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 LIQUID EFFLUENTS

Type Sources

1 Ammoniacal effluent A significant quantity from the nitrogenous fertilizer plant

2 Urea plant effluent Urea plant

3 Oil-bearing effluent Oil unloading, storage and pumping sections of fertilizer plants,
and pumps and compressors bay.

4 Fluoride and phosphate NPK and DAP plants

5 Nitro-phosphate effluent Processes involving phosphates and nitrogen

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 GASEOUS EFFLUENTS
S/N Type Sources
1 Prilling tower dust Urea production

2 Hydrogen sulphide Ammonia plant based on gasification of fuel oil with high sulphur
(2.5 - 4.2%)

3 Sulphur dioxide Sulphuric acid plant

5 Oxides of Nitric acid plant

nitrogen (NOx)
 
6 Particulate matter From various plant operations like grinding, drying, cooling, coal use
etc.
7 Fluoride emission Acidification of rock phosphate

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 SOLID WASTES
S/N Type Sources
1 Spent Catalyst Manufacture of ammonia, synthesis of sulphuric acid.
2 Carbon Slurry Ammonia plants based on partial oxidation of fuel oil or coal,
gasification of oil.
3 Waste Oil Spillages, leakages and washings from oil unloading, storage and
pumps.

4 ETP Sludge ETP

5 Sulphur Sludge Sulphuric acid plant
6 Hydrofluorosilic Manufacture of phosphoric acid and
Acid (H2SiF6) SSP
 
7 Phosphogypsum Manufacture of phosphoric acid

8 Chalk Nitro phosphate plants

9 Other Wastes like Silica, Scrap, Solid waste like silica generated in the fluorine scrubbing system
Lime sludge

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Production of fertılızer could have a negatıve ımpact on humans and the envıronment. The
following impacts were assessed and mitigation measure were proposed:

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ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY
s/n Item Incurred cost (NAIRA)
1 Granulator 90 000
2 Crusher 5 000
3 Mixer 7 000
4 Dryer 60 000
5 Packing machine 14 000
6 Cooler 2 000
7 Coating machine 80 000
8 Turner machine 70 000
9 Conveyor machine 90 000
10 Screener 9 000
11 Bags 3 000
12 Trucks 120 000
13 Rotary kiln machine 80 000
14 Control system 15 000
15 Preheater 12 000
16 Salary 20 000
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 Total cost in naira = #710,000
 Recurrent cost (all fees exclusive of capital forms of payment.) equivalent to #710,000
 Solidified Ammonium nitrate - ₦20,000 per ton
 Potash - ₦10,000 per ton
 Phosphate rock - ₦20,000 per ton
 Labor - ₦1,500 per day per worker and Labor cost per bag is equivalent to #15
 Energy required per ton – 2.7 M Btu, generated from electricity = #1200 (1 ton of fertilizer)
 The resultant cost per kg is equivalent to #56.2
 Thus, the cost of production of a bag of NPK fertilizer (50kg) = ₦2810
 Current Selling price of a bag of cement = ₦5500
 Therefore, Profit = ₦5500 - ₦2810 = ₦2690
 With #2690 as the profit rate per bag,profit on 400 bags at EOW  #2690*400 = #1,076,000
 At the end of a year (equivalent to 52 weeks), the net profit is  #1,076,000*52 = #55,952,000
 At this rate, the investor will make #55.952 million at the of the year thus making the process
FEASIBLE.
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CONCLUSION

Fertilizers help to boost plant

growth and fruit or seed
production. The population of
Nigeria is on the high rise and it is
directly proportional to the
consumption of food.

Local usage of fertilizers could help

reduce the importation of food
crops and increase exportation.
COVID-19 has taught the world that
food is important.
Say YES to Fertilizer!
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 REFERENCES
 Esrey, S., Andersson, I., Hillers, A., Sawyer, R. (2001) Closing the loop – ecological sanitation for food security,
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). Available:www.ecosanres.org
 Lowrison, George. Fertilizer Technology. John Wiley and Sons, 1989
 Kalsoom, M., Rehman, F. U., Shafique, T., Junaid, S., Khalid, N., Adnan, M., & Ali, H. (2020). Biological
Importance of Microbes in Agriculture, Food and Pharmaceutical Industry: A review. Innovare J. Life Sci. 8(6),
1-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22159/ijls.2020.v8i6 .39845.
 Rehman, F. U., Kalsoom, M., Adnan, M., Toor, M. D., & Zulfiqar, A. (2020c). Plant Growth Promoting
Rhizobacteria and their Mechanisms Involved in Agricultural Crop Production: A Review. SunText Rev. Biotec.
1(2), 1-6.
 Saeed, M. S., Saeed, A., & Adnan, M., (2020). Production and Utilization of Single Cell Proteins-An Overview,
Curr. Rese. Agri. Far. 1(4), 9-12. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582- 7146.117
 Toor, M. D., Adnan, M., Raza, A., Ahmed, R., Arshad, A., Maqsood, H., Abbas, F., Mughees-Din, M., Shehzad, M.
H., & Zafar, M. K. (2020). Land Degradation and its Management: A Review. Int. J Environ. Sci Nat. Res. 25(1),
54-57. DOI: 10.19080/IJESNR.2020.25.556157. 31