Method of manufacturing fertilizers by evaporating slurries containing fertilizer constituents

Claim 1

IN A NITRIC PHOSPHATE PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FERTILIZER FROM MATERIALS COMPRISING PHOSPHATE ROCK, NITRIE ACID, AND AMMONIA WHEREIN A SLURRY CONTAINING ABOUT 20 TO 40 PERCENT AMMONIUM NITRATE, ABOUT 16 TO 24 PERCENT DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, ABOUT 1 TO 4 PERCENT MONOAMMONIUM PHOSPHATE, 0 TO ABOUT 16 PERCENT CALCIUM SULFATE, 0 TO ABOUT 3 PERCENT CALCIUM NITRATE, 0 TO ABOUT 11 PERCENT POTASSIUM NITRATE, ABOUT 1 TO 4 PERCENT ACID INSOLUBLE MATERIALS, AND ABOUT 30 TO 36 PERCENT WATER IS PRODUCED AND THE SLURRY IS DRIED, THAT IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES INTRODUCING SUCH SLURRY INTO AN EVAPORATING ZONE WITHOUT ADDITION OF POTASSIUM CHLORIDE; THEREIN AGITATING AND INTIMATELY CONTACTING SAID SLURRY WITH HOT COMBUSTION GASES AT TEMPERATURES IN THE RANGE FROM ABOUT 2500*F. TO ABOUT 400*F.; AND WITHDRAWING A RESULTING FLUID SLURRY CONTAINING FROM LESS THAN 1 PERCENT TO ABOUT 15 PERCENT MOISTURE.