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Olin Mathieson Expands Fertilizer Output Addition to Pasadena, Tex., high analysis fertilizer plant ups capacity 40% to 500,000 tons a year With an eye on growing demand for high analysis fertilizers, Olin Mathieson started up $1.5 million worth of additions to its Pasadena, Tex., fertilizer plant last week. The expansion lets the company add several new grades of high analysis fertilizer to its line and also increases total production at Pasadena by 40% to 500,000 tons a year. More plant nutrient per pound of fertilizer is Olin Mathieson's objective in adding such grades as 15-15-15, 16-48-0, 14-28-14, and 13-39-13 (N-P-K ratios) to its output. These higher analysis fertilizers (the industry considers 30 units of plant food the break point between low and high
analysis) mean less handling for the same amount of fertilization. This, the company points out, can be important, for example, in spreading fertilizer by plane. Acceptance of high analysis materials continues to increase, Olin Mathieson says. In 1949, they accounted for 12% of fertilizer consumption. Last year, 41% of the 25 million tons of fertilizer used in the U.S. was high analysis. Location Advantages. Olin Mathieson figures the location Df its plant on the Houston Ship Channel gives it an "ideal" spot for fertilizer production. Raw materials can be easily shipped in and finished products shipped out
NERVE CENTER. Production of high analysis fertilizer at Olin Mathieson's new facilities at Pasadena, Tex., is controlled from
by rail or water. Fertilizer made at Pasadena sells competitively as far away as Baltimore, Md., and is barged economically up the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio Rivers to midwestern farm regions. Some also is shipped to Latin America and the Orient. Phosphate rock for the operation comes by water from the Tampa area of Florida. The plant makes its own sulfuric acid—used to produce wet process phosphoric acid—from liquid sulfur Obtained by barge from nearby domes. ( Some spent refinery acid also is used.) Potash comes by rail from around Carlsbad, N.M. Most of the ammonia used to ammoniate phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid is supplied by rail from Olin Mathieson's plant at Lake Charles, La., 150 miles to the east. The Pasadena plant was built by the Government during World War II and bought by Olin Mathieson in 1947. Equipment added during the justcompleted expansion program is used for actual fertilizer manufacture. Included are* a neutralizer, a granulator, a dryer, and auxiliary equipment. The plant's phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid units have not been expanded, however.
this panel. Fertilizer is pelletized in equipment on left, prior to being dried, screened, and sent to storage before shipment MAY
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