Two Rivers Terminal, Pasco, Wash., has licensed Shell Thiogro Technology to produce a highly concentrated sulfur enhanced fertilizer (11-0-0-75) at its facility at Moses Lake, Wash., to be marketed to growers in the Pacific Northwest and California, according to a Sept. 25 announcement from Shell and Two Rivers.
“Two Rivers Terminal is excited to begin production of this product as soon as possible,” said Steve Peot, general manager of Two Rivers. “We feel there is a great fit within the Pacific Northwest and California for a product that can provide a controlled release of sulfur over a single growing season.”
The product, which will be produced on IPCO Rotoforms at the Two Rivers location, uses Shell Thiogro Urea-ES technology, a patented process to incorporate micronized elemental sulfur in a matrix of urea. In addition to this technology, Shell will also be providing technical expertise and sulfur through an offtake agreement from its Puget Sound refinery. The technology is expected to be commissioned in the second quarter of 2019.
Jason Wong, vice president of Shell Global Bitumen and Sulfur, said the product’s small particle size, coupled with its grade of 11-0-0-75, can not only be used as a replacement to bentonite, but also as a viable replacement to ammonium sulfate. Wong also said the product addresses nutrient leaching, saying it will “provide continuous, season-long sulfur nutrition while minimizing losses from leaching.”
Two Rivers is a diversified chemical formulator, distributor, and importer, with facilities in Pasco, Moses Lake, and Umatilla, Ore. These facilities have bulk storage capacity of more than 15,000 tons of liquid and 18,000 tons of dry products. In addition, the company operates two packaged goods warehouses used for the storage of packaged specialty chemicals and imported products.