The demand for fertilizer is rapidly increasing, and if you go into the market, you will find it in powder and granules. The granulated design is gaining popularity due to its benefits. They are more convenient to store and transport as there is minimal wastage. The powder form isn’t stable, and exposure to wind results in losses. Also, the granules curbs dust pollution. It has a more extended warranty period as well. But how does the fertilizer become granules? What procedures attribute to the formation? There are three primary methods employed for this procedure. All of them use different mechanisms, but the results are similar. Your choice is dependable on the kind of device that you will have. Below is detailed information on them.
Rotating Granulation
The principle behind this method is the centrifugal force provided by a rotating body. The first step is placing the fertilizer in powder form on the disc. To achieve better results, you should add some water in an appropriate proportion. The range of moisture content should be between 25% to 30%. The particles will then join while the cylinder begins rotating. The rotating devices then provide a centrifugal force that breaks the once mixture into smaller even particles. Once they achieve the desired size, the granules will get out through the outlet. In case there are some unfinished materials, the process will further continue until everything becomes granulated.
Extrusion Granulation
Extrusion granulation is a unique process that works without the aid of heat or moisture. It is more of a dry granulation process for fertilizer. The first step is to proportion the materials, then add it to the mixer. It will then get stirred under high speed till it becomes uniform. Upon completion, it follows transfer to the disc feeder. If there is any iron content in excess amounts, the materials become cleaned to ensure the necessary remains. Once the operator ascertains that it is now in the recommended state, conveying to the roller extrusion machine follows. Granulation in equal amounts is essential as it allows for the production of a uniform product. The existing rollers then exert force to form sheet-like structures. The crusher then executes the breaking of the slices as it passes through the screening mesh. The procedure is continuous, thus a warrant of quality. Any materials that have not achieved the correct state returns to the feeder to go through the process again.
Stirring Granulation
Stirring granulation demands that fertilizer’s moisture content is between 22% to 30% depending on the machine’s at hand. Upon feeding, the fertilizer undergoes mixing at full speed until it becomes a steady mixture. The aerodynamic force produced by the granulation device will force the mixture to disintegrate and result in an end product of even shape and density. The procedure is short and very efficient.
The three methods mentioned above are all applicable for both organic and compound fertilizer. For organic, you have to first compost it before crushing while for the compound, you can use it as batches from the system.
