US Huntsman, Pursell win Polyurethane Innovation Award

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Huntsman and Pursell Agri-Tech won on Thursday the Polyurethane Innovation Award for a fertilizer coated with polyurethanes.

The fertilizer is called PurActive, and it is made with Huntsman’s RIMLINE system. It substantially reduces the amount of nitrogen and phosphate that runs off of farmland, a phenomenon that causes fish-killing algae blooms in bays, gulfs and oceans.

The coating allows for the controlled release of fertilizer to the plant.

The rate of the release of the fertilizer can be customised for the crop and the growing conditions. It can be 30 days, 60 days or 90 days.

As a result, farmers can apply the fertilizer at the right time, the right spot and the right rate, increasing the proportion of the fertilizer that gets to the plant.

The finalists for the award include a graphene-containing polyurethane foam developed by Ford Motor. BASF’s Elastopan 42320 is made with a plant-based polyol. Sports-equipment manufacturer Xenith used the foam to make its LOOP helmet for nontackle US-style football.

The Polyurethanes Technical Conference runs through Thursday. It is hosted by the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI).