A method for continuous production of fully colored and non-colored fertilizer particles having a median size of about 1 to 6 mm, with a predefined ratio of the fully colored and non-colored fertilizer particles, starting from a stream A of non-colored fertilizer particles. The method includes continuously separating the stream A of non-colored fertilizer particles into a stream C of non-colored fertilizer particles and parallel streams B1, B2, . . . Bn of non-colored fertilizer particles in a predefined ratio, continuously coloring the non-colored particles from the parallel streams B1, B2, . . . Bn with a non-rub-off coloring agent, such that the particles become fully colored, continuously joining the parallel streams B1, B2, . . . Bn, including the fully colored fertilizer particles, with the stream C of non-colored fertilizer particles downstream, thereby obtaining the mixture of fully colored and non-colored fertilizer particles, and, optionally, processing the mixture of fully colored and non-colored fertilizer particles.

A method for continuous production of fully colored and non-colored fertilizer particles having a median size of about 1 to 6 mm, with a predefined ratio of the fully colored and non-colored fertilizer particles, starting from a stream A of non-colored fertilizer particles. The method includes continuously separating the stream A of non-colored fertilizer particles into a stream C of non-colored fertilizer particles and parallel streams B1, B2, . . . Bn of non-colored fertilizer particles in a predefined ratio, continuously coloring the non-colored particles from the parallel streams B1, B2, . . . Bn with a non-rub-off coloring agent, such that the particles become fully colored, continuously joining the parallel streams B1, B2, . . . Bn, including the fully colored fertilizer particles, with the stream C of non-colored fertilizer particles downstream, thereby obtaining the mixture of fully colored and non-colored fertilizer particles, and, optionally, processing the mixture of fully colored and non-colored fertilizer particles.

A method for continuous production of fully colored and non-colored fertilizer particles having a median size of about 1 to 6 mm, with a predefined ratio of the fully colored and non-colored fertilizer particles, starting from a stream A of non-colored fertilizer particles. The method includes continuously separating the stream A of non-colored fertilizer particles into a stream C of non-colored fertilizer particles and parallel streams B1, B2, . . . Bn of non-colored fertilizer particles in a predefined ratio, continuously coloring the non-colored particles from the parallel streams B1, B2, . . . Bn with a non-rub-off coloring agent, such that the particles become fully colored, continuously joining the parallel streams B1, B2, . . . Bn, including the fully colored fertilizer particles, with the stream C of non-colored fertilizer particles downstream, thereby obtaining the mixture of fully colored and non-colored fertilizer particles, and, optionally, processing the mixture of fully colored and non-colored fertilizer particles.

The invention relates to a coated granular fertilizer, preferably wherein granules are sulfate-based or phosphate-based. When sulfate-based granules, as in ammonium sulfate, the coating substance is an inorganic salt of alkaline earth elements, preferably calcium, such that when applied to the surface of fertilizers, forms calcium sulfate, preferably a calcium sulfate-dihydrate, as a protective coating. For a reactive coating of a thiosulfate, free sulfuric acid present on the granule reacts to provide an elemental sulfur coating. For ammonium phosphate-based granules, coatings may comprise compounds of Ca.sup.++, Al.sup.+++ and/or Fe.sup.+++ salts thereby forming a calcium, an aluminum, an iron, or mixed cation phosphate protective coating. Thiosulfate is also effective with phosphate-based granules which are manufactured with sulfuric acid. Granules coated according to the disclosure have advantageous properties as the coating can be applied in a specified and sparing manner due to its tendency to adhere to surfaces during the reaction. Coated fertilizer granules of the disclosure are also advantageous in that, with regard to the applied amount of coating, they provide increased resistance to dusting in long term warehouse storage, to moisture uptake and to oxidative heating. Coating components also add nutrients to plants that can provide nutrients over a longer period of time such as a slow-release characteristic.

The invention relates to a coated granular fertilizer, preferably wherein granules are sulfate-based or phosphate-based. When sulfate-based granules, as in ammonium sulfate, the coating substance is an inorganic salt of alkaline earth elements, preferably calcium, such that when applied to the surface of fertilizers, forms calcium sulfate, preferably a calcium sulfate-dihydrate, as a protective coating. For a reactive coating of a thiosulfate, free sulfuric acid present on the granule reacts to provide an elemental sulfur coating. For ammonium phosphate-based granules, coatings may comprise compounds of Ca.sup.++, Al.sup.+++ and/or Fe.sup.+++ salts thereby forming a calcium, an aluminum, an iron, or mixed cation phosphate protective coating. Thiosulfate is also effective with phosphate-based granules which are manufactured with sulfuric acid. Granules coated according to the disclosure have advantageous properties as the coating can be applied in a specified and sparing manner due to its tendency to adhere to surfaces during the reaction. Coated fertilizer granules of the disclosure are also advantageous in that, with regard to the applied amount of coating, they provide increased resistance to dusting in long term warehouse storage, to moisture uptake and to oxidative heating. Coating components also add nutrients to plants that can provide nutrients over a longer period of time such as a slow-release characteristic.

A fluidized bed granulator for production of urea-containing or nitrate-containing granules may include a granulator interior having granulator interior walls with a first granulator side wall, a second granulator side wall, a granulator front wall that extends transversely to the granulator side walls, and a granulator back wall that likewise extends transversely at the opposite end of the granulator interior from the granulator front wall, a horizontal perforated plate that bounds the granulator interior in a downward direction, a seed entry opening, and a granule exit opening that is disposed at a distance in front of the granulator back wall. A process for producing urea-containing or nitrate-containing granules may utilize the fluidized bed granulator.

A fluidized bed granulator for production of urea-containing or nitrate-containing granules may include a granulator interior having granulator interior walls with a first granulator side wall, a second granulator side wall, a granulator front wall that extends transversely to the granulator side walls, and a granulator back wall that likewise extends transversely at the opposite end of the granulator interior from the granulator front wall, a horizontal perforated plate that bounds the granulator interior in a downward direction, a seed entry opening, and a granule exit opening that is disposed at a distance in front of the granulator back wall. A process for producing urea-containing or nitrate-containing granules may utilize the fluidized bed granulator.

The present invention relates to an improved nitrification inhibitor composition and its use in agricultural applications.

The present invention relates to an improved nitrification inhibitor composition and its use in agricultural applications.

A fluidized bed reactor includes at least one granulation compartment with one or more air inlets, and at least one scrubber for cleaning air from the granulator, such as a wet scrubber and/or a dry scrubber. The reactor comprises a return line for recycling cleaned air leaving the scrubber to the air inlets of the granulation compartment.