Keywords: coatings, anticaking agents, moisture repellents, dust prevention.

Fertilizers are handled and applied in vast quantities worldwide. Often they are prone to caking, water uptake and/or dust formation. It is of great importance to minimise these phenomena. The primary focus of the producer is mainly on optimisation of both the fertilizer composition and process parameters. However, to maintain the fertilizer quality over a long period of time, the application of coatings is vital.

This presentation describes the causes and consequences of caking, water uptake and/or dust formation. Secondly, ways to minimise these problems will be given, focusing on coatings. The composition of most commonly used coatings as well as relevant mechanisms will be discussed in detail. Last but not least new developments with respect to fertilizer coatings are presented.

Erik A Bijpost PhD and Jacco G Korver MSc BSc, Holland Novochem B.V., Villawal 15, 3432 NX Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.

24 pages, 21 figures, 20 references.