BioMatNet Item: FAIR-CT98-4042 - Recycling of agricultural materials as a novel slow release fertiliser

FAIR-CT98-4042
Recycling of agricultural materials as a novel slow release fertiliser

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Agricultural Residues : Agriculture : Composts/Fertilisers : FAIR Area 1.2 - Green Chemicals and Polymers Chain

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT98-4042
	Total Cost
	EC Contribution
	Start Date
	Duration	36 Months

Recycling of agricultural materials as a novel slow release fertiliser

Objectives

The overall objective of the proposed work is to recycle agricultural wastes and residues to produce a high added value slow release fertiliser for the horticultural and agricultural industries. This will be done by pyrolytic liquefaction with nitrogen addition through ammonoxidation and nutrient blending. The key feature is the total recycling of agricultural wastes and residues into a unique and valuable fertiliser that can be safely used in a range of agricultural and horticultural applications. This is a sustainable method of recycling agricultural materials into a useful and valuable non-food, non-fuel product. The product is flexible as a range of nutrients and additives can be included in the product as required for different applications. The pyrolysis process to be used to liquefy the agro-materials is a well-established technology. It produces no wastes as all the by-products are either used in the process as energy source, or contained as essential components of the resultant liquid.

Technical Approach

Production of slow release nitrogenous fertiliser

This will be carried out by three methods, the first of which has already been successfully demonstrated, while the other two may provide a more cost-effective processing route:

reaction of nitrogen containing compounds with pyrolysis liquid
addition of the nitrogen containing compound to the biomass before pyrolysis
direct reaction of nitrogen containing compounds within the pyrolysis process

The products from the three routes will be compared to determine the most effective fertiliser product and hence derive the most cost-effective process. The addition of other essential nutrients will also be investigated. Solid fertiliser products will be initially produced as a free flowing dark brown powder, but alternative product formulations will be investigated including liquid, granules and pellets. Product samples will be made from different feedstocks, under various reaction conditions and with various ammonia-oxidation reagents.

Tests of the slow release nitrogenous fertilisers

Growth trials on pot plants will be used to test the fertiliser samples in order to identify the most suitable product for growth using various criteria including nitrogen release rate, soil conditioning properties, level of application in the soil media, soil media substitution, release of micro-nutrients and toxicity. The fertiliser product will be extensively characterised. In addition, the fast pyrolysis by-product char can act as a fertiliser support media and also release the original inorganic elements present in the agro-industrial waste thereby also recycling micro-nutrients. Although the short-term focus is on the specialised slow release, higher added value fertiliser market, there are wider opportunities for general fertiliser production in the longer term.

Production and testing of larger quantities of slow release nitrogenous fertiliser

The most promising slow release fertiliser product from the evaluatory tests, as above, will be produced in quantities of 20-50 kg for larger scale field trials on suitable agricultural crops including Miscanthus in Denmark and wheat in the UK.

Design, cost and evaluation of commercial-scale opportunities

The potential for the product will be evaluated for key market opportunities in Europe. Costs will be compared with those for other conventional slow release nitrogenous fertilisers and potential markets assessed.

Expected Results

The results will provide an assessment of the short, medium and long-term performance of the fertiliser in terms of release rate, degree of mineralisation of nitrogen, crop growth and other criteria. The project should result in a full technical and economic assessment of the process, based on specifications, designs and costs for a fully integrated demonstration/commercial plant

The Aston 1 kg/h fluid bed fast pyrolysis unit that
will be used for production of small quantities of pyrolysis liquids
from which the slow release fertiliser will be made

Contacts

Coordinator

A V BRIDGWATER / Aston University Bio-Energy Research Group / UNITED KINGDOM

EC Scientific Officer

Adelmo MOREALE / European Commission DG VI Agriculture BELGIUM

Participant