Support for Food Production

Support for Food Production As pressure on global food supply grows daily, efficient and sustainable agriculture has become more important than ever. Nynas offers a broad product range to the agricultural industry, from fertilizer coatings to hydraulic systems in tractors and other farm equipment. Disruptions in food production and supply chains caused by the Covid pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine, combined with a rising global population, are driving rapid price increases for many food commodities. Given the fact that deforestation must be stopped urgently to reverse carbon dioxide emissions, high agricultural yields emerge as a top priority. But how can we feed more people using less land and fewer resources? One important piece of the puzzle is industrial fertilizers, which form the foundation of modern agriculture by supplying essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that crops need to grow. When crops are harvested, soil is depleted of these nutrients, so farmers need fertilizers to maintain productivity. To deliver fertilizer from factory to field, anti-caking agents are needed that protect nutrient granules against caking, dusting and moisture absorption. According to recent research, it is possible to significantly improve and enhance fertilizer coatings through the use of Nynas NYTEX® and NYFLEX® naphthenic oils. Solid fertilizers tend to absorb moisture, which can cause caking and handling problems. Fertilizers can also generate dust, creating a hazardous work environment. However, both issues can be overcome through the use of anti-caking and anti-dusting coatings. Coatings can be formulated as pure process oil or as formulated products that may contain process oil, wax and hydrophobic amines.

"The Results Are Highly Significant for Coating and Fertilizer Manufacturers"

The unique properties of NYTEX® 820 and other naphthenic oils allow fertilizer coating to be sprayed at lower temperatures compared to paraffinic products. This offers a clear advantage to manufacturers looking to reduce costs. Moreover, research shows that a fertilizer coated with NYTEX 840 exhibits significantly lower caking tendency compared to untreated fertilizers and those treated with paraffinic oils. Gaia Franzolin, Global Marketing Director at Nynas, stated: "These results are of great importance for coating and fertilizer manufacturers because they demonstrate the effectiveness of Nynas naphthenic process oils in such formulations and provide a better alternative to Group I oils, which are under pressure from global supply constraints."

Base Oils Make it onto the Farmer's Shopping List

The transformation in agriculture alongside technology has increased production and improved product quality. Among the most commonly used farm machines are combines, rotavators, ploughs, levelers, sprinkler irrigation machines, rippers and harrows. Many of these are mounted on a tractor and controlled via its hydraulic system. Nynas base oils with high solvency are widely used in specialist lubricants for tractors, work machines and farm vehicles, as well as in transmissions, hydraulic systems, final drive units and wet brakes in agricultural machinery. The excellent low-temperature properties of highly refined naphthenic oils mean they can be used even in the most demanding climates. High solvency power is of great importance for high-viscosity hydraulic fluids. Nynas base oil portfolio includes a range of products suitable for use in agricultural applications: • NYNAS NS 3 (cold climates only) • NYNAS NS 8 • NYNAS T 9 • NYNAS BT 12 • NYNAS BT 22

* Emma Öberg, Chemical Manufacturing Industry Development Engineer at Nynas Naphthenics

Emma Öberg* Development Engineer Chemical Industry Nynas Naphthenics