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 Under the
guidance of Steven J. Van Kauwenbergh, Fertilizer Materials Program
Leader, the staff members of the Fertilizer Materials Program conduct
projects in three primary areas. They characterize fertilizer materials
available in developing countries; carry out research on novel
fertilizer materials containing such elements as boron, sulfur, and
zinc; and develop methods to produce environmentally friendly
fertilizers which, for example, minimize contamination of the
environment by a toxic element, cadmium. There are strong linkages
between the Fertilizer Materials Program and the Soil and Nutrient
Dynamics Program of IFDC.
IFDC
research on mineral resources of the essential plant
nutrient—phosphorus—continues to yield valuable information regarding
the location, chemical composition, and other characteristics of
phosphate rock deposits in developing countries. The information
generated by this research is available to the public in an IFDC
database, which is useful in identifying phosphate rock deposits
potentially valuable as sources of phosphate fertilizer in developing
countries. Much of the information from the Fertilizer Materials Program
is included in the Phosphate Rock Decision Support System (PRDSS), which
is being developed by IFDC. This phosphate rock information is essential
to the predictive capabilities of the PRDSS.
Development of more efficient fertilizers that are capable of
controlling the release of essential plant nutrients is one of the main
components of the Fertilizer Materials Program. Laboratory and pilot
plant synthesis of innovative fertilizers that can more effectively
deliver essential plant nutrients, particularly secondary elements
including sulfur and micronutrients such as boron and zinc, is an
important part of this program. In addition, IFDC’s fertilizer
specialists formulate custom fertilizers for scientific research, such
as 15N-enriched and
15N-depleted
nitrogen compounds to meet the needs of scientists worldwide. Some of
the novel fertilizers formulated by these specialists are used by other
scientists at IFDC in greenhouse experiments to determine the effects of
the new fertilizers on plant growth and soil management.
Because
cadmium—an element toxic to plants and animals—is found in many
phosphate rock deposits in developing countries, it is imperative that
the content of cadmium in phosphate rock deposits be determined so that
the information can be used to develop technologies that minimize health
risks where phosphate fertilizers are applied to crops. An IFDC staff
member presented the paper, “Cadmium Removal from Phosphate Rock during
Fertilizer Processing,” at the Western Phosphate Mining and Process
Conference in June 2004. The paper reviewed current legislation
concerning cadmium around the globe, its potential impact, and methods
and costs of removing cadmium from raw materials, intermediates and,
ultimately, fertilizer products. IFDC engineers have conducted research
on technologies to remove cadmium from phosphate fertilizers during
their manufacture.
In addition, the Fertilizer Materials
Program provides technical assistance to fertilizer industry members
worldwide to improve their operations by providing assistance to improve
product quality, increase production, de-bottleneck units, and optimize
their processes. In carrying out these activities, these specialists
perform plant audits/assessments and on-site training for operations and
maintenance personnel. The specialists can provide assistance during
the design, construction, and startup phases of new projects and can
also participate in pre-investment analyses, pilot plant testing,
production cost analyses, process design, and project management.
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