Learn about the equipment needed to produce remineralizers

The growth of agricultural production in Brazil has opened up a new market for mining companies: the production of remineralizers. The topic has gained momentum over the last 20 years, expanding business.

Consumers want food with more natural ingredients. Farmers seek to reduce fertilizer costs. In this scenario, the mining industry diversifies its products.

In this post, the technical team at Máquinas Furlan lists the equipment required to generate the remineralizer, such as crushers, impactors, feeders, aerodynamic separators and screens. They also provide important tips to avoid unexpected plant shutdowns, such as maintenance monitoring.

Check it out.

Why is the consumption of remineralizers in the country only increasing?

First of all, it is important to remember that remineralizers have only recently been used on a large scale. Worldwide, the study of the use of rocks in agriculture dates back to the 1940s. In tropical countries, the topic gained momentum just over 20 years ago.

It was after the regulation of remineralizers and silicate fertilizers in 2016 that their application evolved in Brazil. Normative Instruction No. 5, from the Ministry of Agriculture, brought a set of rules for the sector.

Remineralizers are a category of silicate agrominerals. There are rocks rich in calcium, others in magnesium or potassium. Two of these elements can also be found in a single rock.

Federal Law No. 12,890 of 2013 defines remineralizers as “material of mineral origin that has undergone only size reduction and classification by mechanical processes and that alters soil fertility rates through the addition of macro and micronutrients for plants, as well as promoting the improvement of the physical or physicochemical properties or biological activity of the soil”.

For food consumers, its natural characteristics are a differentiator – we are basically talking about ground rock applied to planted areas. Meanwhile, quarries have seen their business grow with yet another product that previously took up space in the yard or covered dirt roads.

The farmer uses rock dust to increase soil fertility, which increases the amount harvested from the same area. He also wants to reduce production costs, such as imported fertilizers.

Crushing plant and remineralizers

Abrefen, the association of remineralizers and natural fertilizers industries, says that there are approximately 50 companies operating in the sector in Brazil. The annual consumption of 1.5 million tons represents only one third of the country's needs. In other words, there is a promising market, but one that requires action.

One of them is to follow the legislation on the subject, as there are criteria that mining companies must follow for registration, minimum guarantees and commercialization of these inputs.

It is also important that all equipment in the crushing plant is operating in optimal conditions, as each one plays a specific and crucial role in the process as a whole.

Therefore, if any of the equipment operates under adverse conditions, it can lead to increased energy and maintenance costs. In addition, the risk of unscheduled shutdowns also increases.

The Máquinas Furlan team also advises that it is important to check the adjustment of the screens in the quarries and to be aware of screen clogging. Working within the manufacturers' specifications is another basic requirement to avoid problems.

The supplier of equipment for the production of remineralizers

However, a look at the initial phase of the process shows that the operational success of the deposit is strongly linked to the assertive choice of the equipment and parts supplier.

Furlan has a vast portfolio of parts and equipment, which is a market differentiator. The company concentrates practically the entire production process in its factory in Limeira (SP). This is a factor of trust often mentioned by customers when they visit the factory.

Meet here the equipment present in Furlan’s portfolio.

With the certainty that the rock contains chemical elements that favor the growth of the plant, this rock must undergo a process of fragmentation or comminution.

In this way, the material acquires a granulometry that favors the absorption of nutrients by the plant. In this process, crushers, impactors, aerodynamic separators and vibrating equipment for feeding and classification play an important role.

Some of the projects developed by Furlan also used hammer and ball mills.

The mining company and the quarry must opt ​​for a strong brand in the equipment market, such as Furlan, also due to the fact that the remineralizer generation comes from a highly demanding crushing and classification process.

Machines need to be robust and productive. Maintenance shutdowns need to follow the plan. Otherwise, there are risks for the company - such as lower profitability.

The Furlan team emphasizes that there is a possibility of adaptations in plants already in operation. In many cases, the project involves adding a high-frequency screen to the installation, which results in the generation of rock dust and the expansion of the mining company's portfolio.

Since it is a product with a particle size below 2 mm, a highly recommended classification equipment is the high-frequency sieve. Learn more about this and other Furlan products designed for companies that want to serve the agribusiness sector in the video.

So, your entry into the promising market of remineralizer suppliers must go through Máquinas Furlan. Find out more by talking to us here .