Lime Residual Management

Nutrien is a global leader in the production of fertilizers, soil nutritional supplements, and soil amendments. Within this framework, Nutrien operates the Carseland Nitrogen Operation (Nutrien CNO), which produces ammonia and urea fertilizer products that require high purity water for their processes. To achieve this, an onsite treatment facility purifies raw water by removing suspended solids and dissolved ions using lime, coagulant, and flocculant. This process yields treated process water and a lime residual containing suspended solids and dissolved ions from the raw water.

The lime residual boasts a high purity of calcium carbonate. Through analytical characterization, SYLVIS determined that this residual can serve as an effective liming agent to improve buffering capacity and pH levels in acidic agricultural soils.

Since 2020, SYLVIS has provided technical expertise and qualified professional support to Nutrien CNO, assisting in securing regulatory approval for land application of their lime residuals on qualifying agricultural lands near the facility. This collaboration offers Nutrien CNO a cost-effective, sustainable solution that not only buffers acidic agricultural soils but also increases crop yields.