The Hindu Business Line : FACT devises new system to produce major fertiliser

Kochi, Dec. 6 Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd (FACT) has devised and implemented a new technology in the production of ammonium sulphate, a major fertiliser used in the country. Under the new process, ammonium sulphate is produced through the direct neutralisation in the Lactam Plant.

These plants were originally set up in such a way that for every tonne of caprolactam produced, 4.5 tonnes of ammonium sulphate was produced as a co-product. The new process enables FACT to produce ammonium sulphate as the main product, without resorting to the production of caprolactam. The slowdown in the global economy had resulted in a steep fall in the price of caprolactam in the global markets, forcing FACT to stop production of caprolactam. As a consequence, the production of ammonium sulphate had also been affected.

Moreover, the recent changes effected in the fertiliser subsidy policy announced by the Government has brought ammonium sulphate under the ambit of the subsidy scheme, which has made the independent production of this major fertiliser an economically viable proposition. Yet, FACT was not able to resume production of ammonium sulphate because the price of caprolactam had plunged to such lows, making the combined production of the two unviable.

Technical experts at FACT explored new avenues in the production process and with minimum modification in the software were able to make ammonium sulphate liquor by direct neutralisation in the Lactam Plant. With the support of the officers and employees, the ammonium sulphate liquor manufactured at the Petrochemical Division is now pumped to the Udyogamandal division, where it is crystalised, dried and bagged, a press release issued here has said.

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