Optimization of Fluidized-Bed Process Parameters for Coating Uniformity and Nutrient-Release Characteristics of Controlled-Release Urea Produced by Modified Lignocellulosic Coating Material

Controlled-release fertilizers are employed in precision agriculture to optimize technology-enabled farming without environmental deterioration. In this study, almond-shell lignocellulosic waste particles chemically processed synthesize a coating suspension for the production of controlled-release urea (CRU) Wurster fluidized-bed reactor. The interactive effect process parameters such as atomizing air pressure (Pair), temperature (Tfb), spray rate (Rspray), and fluidizing-air flow (Qair) on (i) coating-film uniformity CRU (ii) longevity nutrient-release from is reported. CCRD used with RSM design experiments optimization performance terms coefficient-of-variance (CoV) film thickness. regression models indicate good prediction time, R2 = 0.971 0.98, respectively. optimum conditions determined be Pair 3.5 bar, Tfb 80 °C, Rspray 0.15 mL/s, Qair 72 m3/h, predicted CoV thickness 11.5%. Similarly, 3.2 78 0.125 75 m3/h performance, time 56 h. experimental validation yields 12.6% 49.5 h, indicating agreement between values. addition, appears most significant parameter.