The role of sugar factory lime on compound fertilizer properties

The manufacturing of compound fertilizers enriched with calcium by solid component granulation using by-product of beet sugar industry – sugar factory lime (SFL) was investigated on laboratory scale. Sugar factory lime was examined by chemical, differential scanning calorimetry – thermogravimetry (DSC -TG), infrared spectroscopy (IR ) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The dependence of particle size and crushing strength on SFL content, fertilizers component ratio and recycling part of fertilizers in granulation mixture was obtained. The main physicochemical properties of fertilizers such as particle size distribution, moisture content, pH, and particle crushing strength are determined. The results of investigations show, that waste from the beet sugar industry may be used in production of compound fertilizers as a calcium source. The results obtained are important for environmental protection and plant fertilization.