Avaliação da fluidodinâmica e do recobrimento de grânulos de ureia em leito de jorro para minimizar as perdas de nitrogênio

Abstract

The positive role of the fertilizers was proven as the factor that alone contributes most to increasing agricultural productivity. The nitrogen occupies a prominent position among the essential elements for the development of the vegetais species, usually provided through the application of urea. However, the nitrogen present in the urea is highly susceptible to volatilization, which can reach 80 % in some conditions. So the minimization of these losses can be performed by the lining of urea, a strategy that has been very utilized today. This work aims to conduct the study of fluid dynamics of urea granules in spouted bed and study the coating process using a polymer suspension that provides a slow release of nitrogen present in the urea. The steps of this study include: performed the physical characterization of urea particles; formulate and characterize a suspension that can be used in the coating of urea and is composed of inexpensive ingredients; characterize the coating film; study the particle fluid dynamics in spouted bed; use a central composite rotational design to coating study; evaluate the nitrogen release rate by volatilization; and characterize the product obtained. The variables studied in the experimental factorial design were: coating suspension flow rate and inlet air temperature; and the responses were evaluated as coating efficiency, particle growth and the volatility of the nitrogen present in the urea. The results showed that the yield obtained for the experimental design was from 17 to 46 %, while the growth of the particles was between 0.8 and 4.4 %. The coating film showed a decrease in nitrogen volatilization losses for all of the experimental factorial conditions, where the volatility reduction percentage was between 11 and 50 %. The release profile of nitrogen volatilized during the analysis period of 14 days presented a peak of volatilization on the third day. This behavior was observed with less intensity for the coated urea, demonstrating that the coating film was effective in controll nitrogen release contained within the particle. The analysis obtained by microscopy demonstrated that coating the film involved the particle as expected. The optimum conditions of inlet air temperature and suspension flow rate were estimated based on the desirability function.