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Agronomic Value of Alkylation‐Acid Superphosphate as Indicated by Greenhouse and Laboratory Experiments 1
Author(s) -
Miller Eilif V.,
Jacob K. D.
Publication year - 1944
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1944.00021962003600040002x
Subject(s) - chemist , fertilizer , citation , value (mathematics) , mathematics , miller , library science , political science , agricultural science , chemistry , computer science , environmental science , biology , organic chemistry , ecology , statistics
T HE alkylation process for the manufacture of aviation gasoline (5, 6, 7),~ which involves reacting isobutane with butylene in the presence of a catalyst (usually sulfuric acid) was first introduced the development stage in ~939. Under the stimulus of war demands, the process was rapidly developed and is now used by a number of plants throughout the country. In the operation of the process, sulfuric acid is introduced into the system at a concentration of 98 to ~oo% H2SO4 and is discharged as spent acid which contains about 88 to 9~% H2SO4 by weight, is very dark in color, and is contaminated with hydrocarbons. In its characteristics and in the nature of its contaminants, the alkylation spent acid differs from the spent sulfuric acid ("sludge" acid) commonly obtained in the refining of petroleum products by acid-treatment processes (2). Inasmuch as it appeared likely that a considerable tonnage of alkylation spent acid would be available for use in the manufacture of superphosphate, it was considered desirable to make a study of the agronomic value of superphosphate produced with such acid. Accordingly, an extensive series of laboratory, greenhouse, and field experiments was undertaken, the last principally in cooperation With the Division of Fruit and Vegetable Crops and Diseases and with several state .agricultural experiment stations. The results of the laboratory and greenhouse studies are reported in the present paper. 4