Utilization of low-quality ammonium sulfates

Abstract

The present invention relates to techniques for successful storage, handling, shipment, and utilization of an inexpensive, poor-quality form of by-product ammonium sulfate (AS). Such AS undergoes rapid and severe caking almost immediately after production because the crystals are too small and often contain excessive moisture. Such rapid and severe caking renders the AS nearly impossible to move or use 'as is' without expensive crushing and screening of the material. Accordingly, such poor-quality AS is often used in production of solution or suspension fertilizers. In the present invention, long-storing, non-caking, highly-flowable AS fines are produced by practicing an unconventional technique of mixing the attapulgite gelling clays normally used in production of such suspensions directly with the fresh, poor-quality, caking-type ammonium sulfate fines and storing the resulting improved AS fines dry until needed for production of suspensions or other uses. Thus, the instant invention minimizes raw material and storage costs by utilizing the attapulgite gelling clays for the dual purpose of imparting to the AS fines anticaking properties and built in gelling properties for later suspension use and maximizing the quantity of AS which can be stored in inexpensive solids storage equipment.