First Tidal Acquisition Corp T.AAA

MOP / SOP Info

[aaa-ftw]

repost from IHub. May help explain why our resource is special.



A little more info on MOP/SOP

Muriate of Potash (MOP)

Potassium chloride (commonly referred to as Muriate of Potash or MOP) is the most common potassium source used in agriculture, for about 95% of all potash fertilisers used worldwide.

Its nutrient composition is approximately:
Potassium: 50%
Chloride: 46%

MOP has a high nutrient concentration and is therefore relatively competitive with other forms of potassium. The chloride content of MOP can also be beneficial where soil chloride is low. Recent research has shown that chloride improves yield by increasing disease resistance in crops. In circumstances where soil or irrigation water chloride levels are very high, the addition of extra chloride with MOP can cause toxicity. However, this is unlikely to be a problem, except in very dry environments, since chloride is readily removed from the soil by leaching.

Sulfate of Potash (SOP)

Potash fertilisers other than MOP are used where special crop or soil needs exist.

Potassium sulfate (referred to as Sulfate of Potash or SOP) is used in crops that are sensitive to chloride or fertiliser burn like tobacco, pineapple or avocado, or where sulfur is deficient.

Its nutrient composition is approximately:
Potassium: 41%
Sulfur: 18%


The Allana contains Kainite & Sylvinite (Kainite is not present in Saskatchewan). On the p.84 of Allana's technical report it describes the production SOP (from Kainite).

https://www.allanapotash.com/i/pdf/reports/Allana43101reportMarch09.pdf

Most SOP producers use the Mannheim process, mixing potassium chloride (KCl), purchased on the open market, with sulfuric acid in a big furnace. Some fancy chemistry goes on when it heats up, and SOP comes out the other end along with some byproducts.

SOP is produced by quite a few different companies. In China, 2.8 million tons are produced. Most of this is KCl conversion. KCl conversion is expensive, as sulfuric acid has increased in price significantly. In Germany, 1.4 million tons are produced and this is through KCl and Keiserite conversion. Belgium produces 1.2 million tons through KCl conversion. There are another 1.05 million tons produced in various other countries and almost all of them convert KCl.

If Allana is able to produce SOP and skip the secondary processing, it will put them at an even bigger advantage when selling the more expensive SOP.

On average, SOP receives a 50% premium to MOP!