Evaluation of the morphological and release characteristics of coated fertilizer granules produced in a Wurster fluidized bed

In the present study, coated fertilizer granules were produced in a Wurster chamber of a fluidized-bed equipment for controlled-release agrochemical applications. The coating material was a commercially available latex of poly(vinylidene-chloride). The influence of the process parameters (e.g., spray rate of the polymer latex, fluidization air velocity, distance of the partition from the air inlet and perforation percentage of the plate at the air inlet) on the morphology and quality of the coating was thoroughly investigated. The surface characteristics of the coated fertilizer granules were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The release rate of the fertilizer's nutrients from the coated granules was determined by kinetic-release experiments carried out in distilled water. Depending on the selected process conditions, the coating thickness could vary from 25 to 65 mum, while the surface of the coated granules changed from completely smooth to rough and porous. It was shown that by suitable selection of the coating conditions in the Wurster process, controlled-release fertilizers exhibiting prolonged release profiles could be produced. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.