Fertilizer International 500 Jan-Feb 2021
31 January 2021
CRU Phosphates 2021 goes virtual!
CONFERENCE PREVIEW
CRU Phosphates 2021 goes virtual!
During this time of disruption, keeping connected nd informed has never been more important. While the in-person events the industry usually relies on are not possible, CRU’s Phosphates 2021 Virtual Conference, 23-25 March, offers exceptional information sharing and networking opportunities.
CRU Phosphates, the annual international meeting for the global phosphates industry, has reinvented itself this year as a virtual event. In normal times, this well-established and must-attend event regularly attracts more than 400 delegates from over 40 countries.
Running this year’s phosphates sector gathering as a virtual event has more advantages than disadvantages, as Nicola Coslett, CEO of CRU Events explains:
“We have had to completely reimagine our conference offerings in light of the pandemic. Many of our clients – when they see what these events have to offer – are shocked and surprised by how good the virtual conference experience can be.”
“In fact, as word has spread, we are actually seeing the size of our audiences growing. It’s been great to see how the convenience, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of virtual participation means that we are able to reach new delegates from across the fertilizer industry.”
Attending virtually and flexibly
In the last six months, CRU Events have successfully run more than a dozen virtual conferences. One of the primary benefits of the virtual event format is its flexibility and the bespoke, tailor-made experience it offers.
Virtual delegates can schedule their attendance around work and home commitments, while still taking full advantage of all the conference has to offer. That includes a mix of on-demand presentations and live interactive sessions such as Q&A and panel debates.
Having access to content on-demand for 30 days after the conference is also an added benefit – as presentations can be viewed at your leisure whenever most convenient.
CRU Events know that attending the exhibition is an essential part of the conference experience, for the networking it provides and the chance to meet with technical experts. The immersive virtual platform therefore offers networking at any time throughout the event. Attendees can search or browse the delegate list and interact with other delegates via chat, video call or by scheduling a private meeting.
“Many participants cite the speed networking function as the highlight of our virtual conferences. By joining a large video call and being placed into smaller break-out chats with a handful of other participants, you can catch up with old friends and make new contacts,” comments Nicola.
Timed for convenience
Spread over three days, presentations at CRU Phosphates 2021 will primarily run between 14:00-18:00 CET – as this time zone allows European- and US-based attendees to engage in the scheduled interactive live sessions. The virtual platform still provides 24/7 accessibility for all delegates, though, offering full access to ondemand content and the ability to network at all times – not only throughout the three-day conference but for 30 days afterwards.
A typically strong commercial agenda
Uniquely, CRU Phosphates 2021 combines a commercial agenda with a technical agenda in one single event. This enables the conference to cover the entire value chain of the phosphate industry – including the fertilizer, feed and industrial segments – from both an operational and market perspective.
This year’s conference features a typically strong commercial programme, including market outlooks from CRU’s leading analysts and presentations from the world’s major phosphates producers. Project updates and key insights on phosphates production, trade, and products will also feature strongly. Notably, in-house analyst Glen Kurokawa will provide the ‘CRU View’ on key factors likely to shape phosphate market supply, demand and prices globally in 2021 and beyond.
While the agenda provides a truly global market perspective, this year’s event is devoting a special spotlight session to China. CRU analyst Isabel Chen will highlight the latest in Chinese fertilizer supply and demand, while Rosa Wang, an analyst with Shanghai JC Intelligence, will cover developments in Chinese agricultural commodity markets.
Technical programme for production professionals
The event also offers a separate but equally strong technical and operational programme. This has been put together with operations, maintenance and production professionals in mind. At least 15 presentations will be devoted to operational experience and new developments in phosphates technology, processes, materials and equipment.
The technical agenda provides industry operatives with an ideal opportunity for professional development. Attendees will also have plenty of chances to share their practical experiences with other operators, and meet with leading technology and engineering suppliers in our large-scale exhibition.
CRU are also pleased to announce that personnel working in an operations, maintenance, engineering or plant management role may be eligible to attend free of charge! This offer applies to employees of phosphate rock, fertilizer and feed producers. Please visit the conference website for full details and information on how to apply.
Technical programme highlights
A selection of CRU Phosphates 2021 abstracts from the conference’s technical and operational programme.
Gemini collectors – novel phosphate flotation surfactants
Results are presented for a novel family of anionic Gemini surfactants from Nouryon. These environmentally-friendly dimeric compounds have been developed and evaluated as collectors in the direct flotation of apatite from carbonate-rich and siliceous phosphate ores. Using these novel dimeric collectors, it was found that a significant reduction in dosage (half or more) is achievable, in comparison to currently-used monomeric collectors. Gemini surfactants are not only more dose-efficient, they also show outstanding selectivity for apatite in phosphate/carbonate/silicate systems.
Beneficiation of phosphate rock by X-Ray sorting
TOMRA Sorting shares the lessons learnt from two-years of operational experience at the Ma’aden Wa’ad al Shamal Phosphate Company (MWSPC). TOMRA’s sorting machines are installed at MWSPC’s 13.5 million t/a capacity beneficiation plant where they pre-process run-of-mine (ROM) ore using XRT (X-Ray transmission) technology. TOMRA’s machines can treat 1,800-2,000 t/h of feed material, about 50-60 percent of the total ROM. The machines, which recognise and separate materials based on differences in atomic density, reduce silicon content by removing unwanted chert from phosphate (apatite). Importantly, XRT technology achieves a high apatite recovery during the sorting process. Eliminating chert also realises substantial cost savings for MWSPC – by reducing flotation reagent consumption and downstream equipment wear and maintenance.
What is eco-friendly and sustainable?
In fertilizer production, it is important to understand exactly what being sustainable or eco-friendly entails. In this presentation, Arkema-ArrMaz take a deep dive into sustainable chemistry – what it is, how it can be applied, and what it means for the fertilizer industry. Case study results are presented for eco-friendly Arkema-ArrMaz coatings. These renewable and biodegradable coatings generate zero or minimal waste during production. They are suitable for phosphates and other industry substrates such as nitrogen- and potash-based fertilizers.
Solving foaming problems in phosphoric acid production
Managing the formation of foam is a common challenge in the phosphate production process. It can decrease production output and be a safety concern. Although foaming is a notable reactor problem, it can also occur in other parts of the process. Its downstream effects can also be widespread, with consequences for beneficiation, evaporation and granulation. In this presentation, Nalco Water will discuss its recent experience of solving foam problems in the phosphate production process. An effective approach that combines advanced chemistries with advanced application technologies is described.
Other technical presentations
Smartchem Technologies, a subsidiary of Deepak Fertilisers, will report on the importance of optimising reaction and filtration sections at phosphoric acid plants in their presentation. Sweden’s EasyMining, meanwhile, will describe the Ash2Phos ® process for recovering clean phosphate from sewage sludge ash.
