CAN: CALCIUM AMMONIUM NITRATE DEFINITION ISSUES

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Reynard Armstrong
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1 CAN: CALCIUM AMMONIUM NITRATE DEFINITION ISSUES Association of American Plant Food Control Officials Martin Burger, Nick Young, Wei Wu, Kris Gulliver California Dept. of Food and Agriculture PALM SPRINGS, OCTOBER 24, 2018

2 GOALS CDFA contends that AAPFCO should not approve inaccurate definitions proposed by industry special interests. AAPFCO must ensure that fertilizer definitions are chemically accurate.

3 CURRENT STATE Calcium Nitrate Tetrahydrate salt of nitric acid Ca(NO 3 ) 2 4H 2 O 11.86% NO 3 -N CAS# % Ca Soluble calcium Calcium Nitrate Anhydrate salt of nitric acid Ca(NO 3 ) % NO 3 -N CAS# % Ca Soluble calcium Calcium Ammonium Nitrate Decahydrate double salt 5Ca(NO 3 ) 2 NH 4 NO 3 10H 2 O 14.26% NO 3 -N CAS# % NH 4+ -N 18.52% Ca Soluble calcium AAPFCO Fertilizer Definition N-3: Calcium Nitrate is chiefly the hydrated calcium salt of nitric acid. It shall contain not less than twelve percent (12)% nitrate nitrogen (1999).

4 CHALLENGE FOR REGULATORS Calcium Ammonium Nitrate Decahydrate double salt [5Ca(NO 3 ) 2 NH 4 NO 3 10H 2 O] and calcium nitrate [Ca(NO 3 ) 2 4H 2 O or Ca(NO 3 ) 2 ] are distinctly different. However, the name Calcium Nitrate is often interchangeably used for all three above compounds. Calling these compounds the same name has caused much confusion for regulators, especially in states that require a breakdown of total N into different nitrogen forms. Calcium Nitrate should only be used for Ca(NO 3 ) 2 (hydrated/anhydrate forms) and not for the calcium ammonium nitrate double salt.

5 INCORRECT LABELS Where is the ammoniacal nitrogen from? The derivation statement does not match the Guaranteed Analysis.

6 INCORRECT LABELS The derivation statement does not match the Guaranteed Analysis.

7 Product name and derivation statement are not consistent.

8 Anhydrous calcium nitrate [Ca(NO 3 ) 2 ]? Calcium Nitrate tetrahydrate [Ca(NO 3 ) 2 4H 2 O]?

9 ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES: CAN ACRONYM CAN has been used to describe many products in the marketplace with varying Guaranteed Analyses, derivation, and percentages of ammonium and nitrate. The acronym CAN has been used to describe: Calcium Ammonium Nitrate double salt Liquid Ca(NO 3 ) 2 + NH 4 NO 3 mixtures Ammonium Nitrate + Calcium Carbonate and/or Dolomite mixture CAN-17, CAN-27

10 Examples of CAN-17 labels with different derivations

11 Examples of CAN with different grades and derivation

12 YARA PROPOSAL N-67 Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) Homogeneous mixture of ammonium nitrate % NO 3 -N calcium carbonate (e.g. limestone) and/or 13.5% NH 4+ -N magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate 20% Ca (e.g. dolomite). No CAS# for entire mixture Calcium is not plant-available N-67 - Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) A dry fertilizer containing as its essential ingredients only ammonium nitrate and calcium carbonate (e.g. limestone) and/or magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate (e.g. dolomite), prepared as a homogeneous prill or granule, with a maximum combustible material content, expressed as carbon, of 0.4% by weight. The minimum content of such calcium and/or magnesium carbonates in CAN is 20% by weight and their purity level is 90% by weight minimum. Motion to tentative/passed

13 YARA PROPOSAL Current SUIP #6: Mixtures of Ammonium Nitrate and Limestone or Dolomite These shall not be designated as ammonium calcium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate or similar names which imply the presence of either calcium nitrate or ammonium carbonate in such mixture. Proposed SUIP #6: Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) In the CAN production process, the carbonates are added as a fine powder with a minimum of 80 percent of the powder smaller than 250 microns. Carbonates are either added directly to the CAN granulator or premixed with a concentrated ammonium nitrate solution to produce a homogeneous slurry that is fed into the granulation or prilling section. The solid CAN that is produced contains an intimate homogeneous mixture in which each single particle has a similar ammonium nitrate/carbonates ratio. Mixtures of Ammonium Nitrate and Limestone or Dolomite A physical blend of dry fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate granules or prills with carbonates (e.g., limestone granules or chips) giving the same average chemical composition as CAN does not qualify as CAN under this definition if any of its individual blended constituents containing ammonium nitrate.

14 YARA S PROPOSAL Homogeneous Mixture of ammonium nitrate with carbonate/dolomite = Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) Calcium ammonium nitrate double salt Calcium nitrate = Calcium Nitrate = Calcium Nitrate Liquid mixtures of NH 4 NO 3 + Ca(NO 3 ) 2 = CAN-?

15 CDFA S RECOMMENDATION If Yara s proposal is accepted, the problem of multiple distinctly different products with identical names is institutionalized. The acronym CAN for Yara s explosion-proof mixture is not suitable because CAN is neither exclusive nor descriptive and has been used for many different products in the market place. When incorrectly labelled products are re-packaged, the guarantors may not know what the material truly is. A unique name for Yara s explosion-proof mixture would be preferable. Do not accept Yara s N-67 proposition.

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