Urea

Urea is a raw material used in the manufacture of many chemicals, such as various plastics, urea-formaldehyde resins and adhesives. It is also essential for making feedstock, glue, fertilizer, commercial products, and in resin production.

The primary raw material used to manufacture urea is natural gas, which ties the costs directly to gas prices. Consequently, new plants are only being built in areas with large natural gas reserves where prices are lower. Finished product is transported around the globe in large shipments of 30,000 metric tons. The market price for urea is directly related to the world price of natural gas and the demand for agricultural products. Prices can be very volatile, and at times, unpredictable. TCC is positioned to know the world markets and keep your prices competitive.

Urea,(NH2)2CO, is a colorless organic chemical compound also known by the International Nonproprietary Name (rINN) carbamide, as established by the World Health Organization. It is highly soluble in water and has a pKa close to zero. Urea is essentially the waste produced when the body metabolizes protein. It is not only produced by humans, but also by many other mammals, as well as amphibians and some fish. Urea was the first natural compound to be artificially synthesized using inorganic compounds — a scientific breakthrough.

More than 90 percent of world urea production is destined for use as a nitrogen-release fertilizer. Urea has the highest nitrogen content of all solid nitrogenous fertilizers in common use (46.7%). Therefore, it has the lowest transportation costs per unit of nitrogen nutrient.

In the soil, it hydrolyses back to ammonia and carbon dioxide. The ammonia is oxidized by bacteria in the soil to nitrate, which can be absorbed by the plants. Urea is also used in many multi-component solid fertilizer formulations. Urea is highly soluble in water, therefore, very suitable for use in fertilizer solutions (in combination with ammonium nitrate: UAN), e.g., in ‘foliar feed’ fertilizers. For fertilizer use, granules are preferred because of their narrower particle size distribution, an advantage for mechanical application.

The most common impurity of synthetic urea, biuret, must be present at less than 2 percent of the time, as it impairs plant growth.

Granular Ammonium Sulphate

Ammonium sulfate solutions are a pertinent industrial by-product. In its state-of-the-art plants thyssenkrupp has developed a process to convert ammonium sulfate solution to granules. The key advantages over liquid and crystalline solutions are improved spreading and mixing properties.

Ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2 SO4] was one of the first and most widely used nitrogen (N) fertilizers for crop production. Its high solubility provides versatility for a number of agricultural applications.

Ammonium sulfate is used primarily where there is a need for supplemental N and S to meet the nutritional requirement of growing plants. Since it contains only 21% N, there are other fertilizer sources that are more concentrated and economical to handle and transport. However, it provides an excellent source of S which has numerous essential functions in plants, including protein synthesis.

Because the N fraction is present in the ammonium form, ammonium sulfate is frequently used in flooded soils for rice production, where nitrate-based fertilizers are a poor choice due to denitrification losses.

A solution containing dissolved ammonium sulfate is often added to post-emergence herbicide sprays to improve their effectiveness at weed control. This practice of increasing herbicide efficacy with ammonium sulfate is particularly effective when the water supply contains significant concentrations of calcium, magnesium, or sodium. A high-purity grade of ammonium sulfate is often used for this purpose to avoid plugging spray nozzles.

Superphosphate

Increasing the blooms and fruit on your plants leads to higher yields. Whether you want more tomatoes, or bigger, more bountiful roses, superphosphate can be the key to success. Industry superphosphate information states the product is for increasing root development and to help plant sugars move around more efficiently for quicker ripening. Its more common use is in the promotion of larger flowers and more fruits. No matter what you need it for, it is important to know when to use superphosphate for best results and higher yields.

Superphosphate is very simply a high amount of phosphate. There are two main commercially available types of superphosphate: regular superphosphate and triple superphosphate. Both are derived from insoluble mineral phosphate, which is activated into a soluble form by an acid. Single superphosphate is 20 percent phosphorus while triple superphosphate is around 48 percent. The standard form also has plenty of calcium and sulfur.

It is commonly used on vegetables, bulbs and tubers, blooming trees, fruits, roses and other flowering plants. A long-term study in New Zealand shows that the high dose nutrient actually improves soil by promoting the organic cycle and increasing pasture yields. However, it has also been linked to soil pH changes, fixation and may decrease earthworm populations.

Directly at planting is the best time to use superphosphate. This is because it promotes root formation. It is also useful when plants are beginning to fruit, supplying nutrients to fuel larger fruit production. During this period, use the nutrient as a side dressing. As for the actual timing, it is recommended that the product is used every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season. In perennials, apply in early spring to jump start healthy plants and blooming. There are granular preparations or liquids. This means you may choose between soil application, foliar spray or watering in the nutrients. Because superphosphate may tend to acidify the soil, using lime as an amendment can restore soil pH to normal levels.

Muriate of potash

Muriate of potash, also know as potassium chloride contains 60% potash. Potash is essential for plant growth and quality. It plays a vital role in the production of proteins and sugars. It also protects against draught by maintaining plants water content which in turn is a benefit for photosynthesis as leafs maintain their shape / vigor. We source product globally from the highest standard producers, below you will find typical analysis.

MOP, or potassium chloride, is the most commonly used potash fertilizer and can be used to farm a variety of foods, particularly chloride-loving vegetables such as sugar beets, corn, celery and Swiss chard. It can be beneficial for soils that are low in chloride, building the plants’ disease resistance.

MOP remains one of the most commercial fertilizers in the potash family, with over 55 million tonnes being sold and used annually. Having said that, the popularity of MOP in recent years has led to an increase in production that is outpacing demand, resulting in lower-than-desired prices for the product. The market improved moderately in 2018, but is still a long way away from its peak in 2009.