Fertilizer compositions and methods of making and using the same
Broadly, the instant disclosure is directed towards: fertilizer compositions and methods of making the same, in which, due to the composition, the fertilizer exhibits blast suppression (e.g. measured via specific impulse) and/or desensitization (e.g. measured via unconfined critical diameter and/or booster quantity needed to initiate detonation) as compared to existing ammonium nitrate fertilizer(s).
1. A method comprising:
heating a stabilizer material comprising an LDH to a temperature of greater than 350 C to not greater than 650 C to form a treated LDH stabilizer material;
combining the treated LDH stabilizer material with a molten ammonium nitrate material to form a molten fertilizer composition;
prilling the molten fertilizer composition to form a prilled product,
the fertilizer composition including: the ammonium nitrate material and the LDH stabilizer material; wherein the fertilizer composition is configured, via an effective amount of the treated LDH stabilizer material, to have a blast resistance, when measured in accordance with a blast propagation test.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LDH comprises: a hydrocalumite material.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LDH comprises: a hydrotalcite material.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer composition is a homogenous blend.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer product comprises a mesh size of between 4 mesh and 20 mesh.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heating step further comprises: heating the stabilizer material comprising the LDH to a temperature between 375° C. and 500° C.
7. A method, comprising:
mixing a treated stabilizer material comprising a phosphoric acid rinsed LDH, the resulting LDH material having a pH of less than of 8.49, with a molten ammonium nitrate material to form a molten fertilizer composition; and
prilling the molten fertilizer composition to form a prilled product, wherein the fertilizer composition including: the ammonium nitrate material and the the treated stabilizer material; wherein the fertilizer composition is configured, via an effective amount of the treated stabilizer material, to have a blast resistance, when measured in accordance with a blast propagation test.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the LDH comprises: a hydrocalumite material.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the LDH comprises: a hydrotalcite material.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the fertilizer composition is a homogenous blend.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the fertilizer product comprises a mesh size of between 4 mesh and 20 mesh.
12. A method, comprising:
neutralizing a stabilizer material comprising an LDH with a phosphoric acid solution to provide a treated stabilizer material having a pH of not greater than 8.49;
mixing the treated stabilizer material with a molten ammonium nitrate material to form a molten fertilizer composition; and
prilling the molten fertilizer composition to form a prilled product, wherein the fertilizer composition including: the ammonium nitrate material and the treated stabilizer material; wherein the fertilizer composition is configured, via an effective amount of the treated stabilizer material, to have a blast resistance, when measured in accordance with a blast propagation test.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the LDH comprises: a hydrocalumite material.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the LDH comprises: a hydrotalcite material.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the fertilizer composition is a homogenous blend.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the fertilizer product comprises a mesh size of between 4 mesh and 20 mesh.
17. A method, comprising:
treating a stabilizer material with an effective treatment selected from the group consisting of: at least one of a thermal treatment or a chemical treatment to provide a treated stabilizer material;
mixing the treated stabilizer material and an ammonium nitrate material to form a molten fertilizer composition;
directing the molten fertilizer composition through a prilling head to form droplets of the fertilizer composition;
flowing the droplets from the top of a chamber to the bottom of a chamber, where the top of the chamber is configured in liquid communication with the prilling head, wherein the chamber is configured with a gas flow configured at a sufficient temperature to cool the droplets;
solidifying the droplets as the droplets pass through the gas; and
forming a prilled fertilizer product, the fertilizer product comprising: the ammonium nitrate material and the treated stabilizer material; wherein the fertilizer product is configured, via an effective amount of the treated stabilizer material, to have a blast resistance, when measured in accordance with a blast propagation test.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the stabilizer material is an LDH.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the LDH comprises: a hydrocalumite material.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the LDH comprises: a hydrotalcite material.
21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the fertilizer composition is a homogenous blend.
22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the fertilizer product comprises a mesh size of between 4 mesh and 20 mesh.