INTEGRATING CALCIUM AMMONIUM NITRATE AND AMMONIUM SULFATE FOR SAFE AND STABLE NUTRIENT COMPLEX
Disclosed is a fertilizer containing calcium ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate. Methods of making and using the fertilizer are also disclosed.
1 . A fertilizer composition comprising calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate ((NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 ), and one or more of a gel and/or a dried gel, wherein the composition comprises 17 to 22 wt. % nitrogen (N), 3 to 7 wt. % calcium (Ca), and 10 to 15 wt. % sulfur (S).
2 . The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises calcium nitrate (Ca(NO 3 ) 2 ), sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ), and/or ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3 ).
3 . The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises calcium sulfate (CaSO 4 ), nitric acid (HNO 3 ), ammonium hydroxide (NH 4 OH), and/or ammonia (NH 3 ).
4 . The fertilizer composition of claim 3 , wherein the composition comprises calcium sulfate comprised in waste gypsum and/or a recycled gypsum.
5 . The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition does not comprise a binding agent separate from the calcium ammonium nitrate.
6 . The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the ammonium sulfate is absorbed on the surface of the calcium ammonium nitrate.
7 . The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer composition further comprises a phosphorous source and/or potassium source.
8 . The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer is homogenous.
9 . The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a gel.
10 . The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a dried gel.
11 . The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the ammonium sulfate is encapsulated by the calcium ammonium nitrate.
12 . The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer composition is a granular fertilizer.
13 . The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition does not comprise at least one of urea, ammonium nitrate, or a polymer.
14 . A method of producing the fertilizer composition of claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
(a) contacting calcium sulfate with nitric acid and a source of ammonia to generate a first reaction product comprising:
calcium nitrate, sulfuric acid, and ammonium nitrate; and
(b) contacting the first reaction product with calcium nitrate and a source of ammonia to generate a second reaction product comprising:
calcium ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein step (a) comprises:
contacting calcium sulfate with nitric acid to generate a product comprising:
calcium nitrate and sulfuric acid; and
contacting nitric acid with a source of ammonia to generate a product comprising:
ammonium nitrate, and/or
step (b) comprises:
contacting calcium nitrate with ammonium nitrate to generate a product comprising:
calcium ammonium nitrate; and
contacting sulfuric acid with a source of ammonia to generate a product comprising:
ammonium sulfate.
16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising drying the second reaction product to form a solid fertilizer composition.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the calcium sulfate comprises red gypsum and/or waste gypsum from production of phosphoric acid and/or wherein the source of ammonia is ammonium hydroxide and/or ammonia.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein steps (a) and/or (b) occurs at 30 to 150° C. and/or for 30 minutes to 12 hours.
19 . A method of fertilizing, the method comprising contacting a plant, a soil, water, or a combination thereof with the fertilizer composition of claim 1 .