Patent Application
20220348518
Plant nutrients are classified as either macronutrients (N, P, K), secondary nutrients (Ca, S, Na, Mg), or micronutrients (Cu, Mn, Zn, B, etc.), in regards to traditional fertilizers. Fertilizers are often referred to by the macronutrient value, NPK, although there is often a need for other nutrients and/or biostimulants to yield optimal crop growth and production. This has become a growing need in the industry.
Some producers will add nutrients during granulation to make a homogeneous granulated product. The issue here is that this is usually done with one component of the NPK (i.e. MAP), and thus the micronutrient will be diluted when the final blend is prepared. Another option is to blend micronutrient granules with the NPK granules; this, however, can be problematic due to the broad particle size range, variation in granule strength, and even possible increased caking tendencies, resulting in a negative downstream impact of not providing a homogeneous distribution of fertilizer over crop fields. Additionally, biostimulants are sometimes used to enhance plant root uptake of these nutrients, which has become a growing need in the industry.
Based on the foregoing, it is desirable to provide an alternative option: “sticking” a fine micronutrient product to the granule surface at the warehouses and elsewhere by combining a coating containing micronutrients and/or biostimulants with the fertilizer granules and tumbling/mixing together. This may allow for a higher concentration of micronutrients and/or biostimulants on all components of the NPK, thus ensuring a more homogeneous distribution.
It is further desirable for the coating to offer dust control and/or caking control.
In general, in a first aspect, the invention relates to a fertilizer coating comprising: a carrier; one or more micronutrient dispersants; and one or more micronutrients.
The carrier may be an aqueous-based carrier. The fertilizer coating may further comprise one or more biostimulants in an aqueous media. The aqueous-based carrier, the one or more micronutrient dispersants, and the one or more micronutrients and the one or more biostimulants in the aqueous media may be emulsified with an oil-based media.
Alternately, the carrier may be an oil-based carrier. The fertilizer coating may further comprise one or more aqueous media with or without one or more biostimulants, where the oil-based carrier, the one or more micronutrient dispersants, and the one or more micronutrients and the one or more aqueous media with or without biostimulant(s) are emulsified.
In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method of providing micronutrients and/or biostimulants to fertilizer while reducing dust production and/or reducing caking tendencies. The method may comprise applying the coating described above to a fertilizer substrate. The coating may be applied to the fertilizer substrate by dosing a controlled amount of the coating onto the fertilizer substrates and tumbling or any desired mixing technique such as but not limited to, drum, ribbon blender, pug mill mixing. Alternately, the coating may be applied to the fertilizer substrate by applying the coating onto the fertilizer substrate as a top coat, without mixing.
The devices and methods discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific manners in which to make and use this invention and are not to be interpreted as limiting in scope.
While the devices and methods have been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be noted that many modifications may be made in the details of the construction and the arrangement of the devices and components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the devices and methods are not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification.
In general, in a first aspect, the invention relates to a fertilizer coating that provides nutrients and/or biostimulants, as well as added dust control and/or caking control.
The fertilizer coating may be an aqueous-based micronutrient and/or biostimulant coating. The aqueous-based coating may comprise an aqueous-based carrier, one or more micronutrient dispersants, and one or more micronutrients, which may form an aqueous-based coating. The micronutrient dispersants may comprise anything that is effective in dispersing micronutrients in a carrier, whether labeled as a micronutrient dispersant or not. The coating may further comprise one or more biostimulants in an aqueous media, which may be mixed with the aqueous-based coating.
The aqueous-based micronutrient and/or biostimulant coating may then be emulsified with an oil-based media so that the final coating is either an oil-in-water emulsion or a water-in-oil emulsion. The coating may also potentially have solids added, which can help produce a pickering emulsion. The coating may also comprise rheology modifiers, colorants, inhibitors, biocides, pH modifiers, and/or biostimulants loaded onto substrates. The oil-based fertilizer coating may have a rheology modifier such as xanthane gum, guar gum, bentonite, fumed silica, or other solids. Aqueous-based coating may also have solids added, which can help produce a pickering emulsion. This can be achieved by adding xanthane gum, guar gum, bentonite, fumed silica, or other solids to help improve dispersion stability.
Alternately, the fertilizer coating may be an oil-based micronutrient and/or biostimulant coating. The oil-based coating may comprise an oil-based carrier, one or more micronutrient dispersants, and one or more micronutrients. The coating may further comprise one or more aqueous media that may or may not contain biostimulants, where the one or more aqueous media, the oil-based carrier, micronutrient dispersants, and micronutrients may be emulsified into the coating. The resulting emulsion may either be an oil-in-water or a water-in-oil emulsion. The oil-based fertilizer coating may have a rheology modifier such as xanthane gum, guar gum, bentonite, fumed silica, or other solids. Aqueous-based coating may also have solids added, which can help produce a pickering emulsion. This can be achieved by adding xanthane gum, guar gum, bentonite, fumed silica, or other solids to help improve dispersion stability.
The fertilizer coating of the present invention may lead to the even distribution of a micronutrient and/or biostimulant on all components of an NPK or single mineral or organic substrate blend. It may also lead to the ability to add higher concentrations of one or more micronutrients and/or provide one or more biostimulants.
In addition to delivery of micronutrient and/or biostimulants to fertilizers, the coating may also provide dust control and/or anticaking properties.
The fertilizer coating may be applied by producers, such as in fertilizer plants, or by blenders, such as in warehouses, by dosing a controlled amount of coating onto fertilizer granules and tumbling or any desired mixing technique such as but not limited to, drum, ribbon blender, pug mill mixing. Alternately, the coating may be applied as a top coat, without mixing.
Aqueous carriers may be water or a solution of water, which may include, but are not limited to: water, mineral water, glycols or polyglycols, alcohols and acids, or any combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, a water solution with 10-90% glycol or polyglycol and 10-90% water may be beneficial for suspension of micronutrients. In particular, the aqueous carrier may be a water solution with 67% technical grade glycerin and 33% water; a combination of 62% technical grade glycerin and 38% water; a combination of 67% PEG 400 and 33% water; technical grade glycerin; other polyols, diols, triols, fatty acids, saponified fatty acids, or any other desired aqueous carrier. The aqueous carrier may be present in an aqueous-based micronutrient and/or biostimulant coating at a rate of 0% by weight to 75% by weight. In particular, the aqueous carrier may be present in the aqueous-based micronutrient and/or biostimulant coating at a rate of 16% by weight to 75% by weight.
Oil-based carriers may include, but are not limited to, any natural or modified oils or derivatives thereof such as naphthenic, paraffinic, triglycerides oils, triglycerides, tall oil or any plant or animal based oil, or any combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, a combination of 20% to 80% of any natural or modified plant-based oils such as canola oil and 20 to 80% tall oil pitch may be beneficial for suspension of micronutrients. In particular, the oil-based carrier may be a combination of 80% canola oil and 20% tall oil pitch or any other desired oil-based carrier. The oil-based carrier may be present in an oil-based micronutrient and/or biostimulant coating at a rate of 0% by weight to 75% by weight. More particularly, the oil-based carrier may be present in an oil-based micronutrient and/or biostimulant coating at a rate of 1% by weight to 99% by weight, or more specifically 38% by weight to 68% by weight.
Additionally or alternately, the oil-based carriers may comprise bitumen, including natural bitumen and bitumen from crude oil. The oil-based carrier may be a bituminous emulsion formed by using bitumen directly or by using a modified bitumen. The modified bitumen may be cutback bitumen, oil extended asphalt, or wax extended asphalt. Specifically, the bituminous emulsion may be formed by using resins, specifically waxes. The combination may be emulsified with water to form the final product. In particular, the bitumen, cutback bitumen, or combination of bitumen and cutback bitumen prior to emulsification may comprise 20 to 100% bitumen, or more preferably 50 to 90% bitumen. Specifically, in one embodiment, the combination may comprise 50 to 100% bitumen, and 0 to 50% cutback diluent. The combination may then be mixed with water and an emulsifier to produce the oil-based carrier. The solid content of the composition may be from about 20% to about 70% by weight of the total weight of the carrier. The carrier may specifically exclude polyvinyl acetate butyl acrylate.
Micronutrient dispersants may include, but are not limited to, Rheocin, polyglycerol polyricinoleate, polyhydroxystearic acid, ethoxylated phosphate ester, acrylic acid/methacrylic acid, sodium dodecyl sulfate, polycondensed fatty acid, tall oil heads and rosin adduct (10% maleic anhydride), maleic acid/diisobutylene copolymer, lecithin, BOC polyhydroxystearic acid, BTC bentonite, any other desired micronutrient dispersants, or combinations thereof. To one skilled in the art, the micronutrient dispersants are better suited in the aqueous-based or the oil-based fertilizer coatings. The micronutrient dispersant may be present in the coating at a rate of 0.01% by weight to 5.00% by weight. More particularly, the micronutrient dispersant may be present in the coating at a rate of 0.34% by weight to 5.00% by weight.
Micronutrients may include, but are not limited to, zinc, copper, boron, and magnesium, or any other desired micronutrients. The micronutrients may be present in the coating at a rate of 20% by weight to 70% by weight.
If the fertilizer coating is an aqueous-based coating emulsified with oil, the oil may be, but is not limited to, any modified or natural desired oil or derivatives thereof, such as naphthenic, paraffinic, soy, triglycerides, tall oil, or any plant-based oil or any combination thereof. The oil may be present in the coating at a rate of 0 to 25% by weight. In particular, the oil may be present in the coating at a rate of 9-15% by weight. Additionally or alternately, the oil may comprise bitumen, including natural bitumen and bitumen from crude oil. The oil may be a bituminous emulsion formed by using bitumen directly or by using a modified bitumen. The modified bitumen may be cutback bitumen, oil extended asphalt, or wax extended asphalt. Specifically, the bituminous emulsion may be formed by using resins, specifically waxes. The combination may be emulsified with water to form the final product.
Emulsifiers may include, but are not limited to, natural or modified fatty acids and polycondensed fatty acids, fatty acid esters and polyesters, petroleum/hydrocarbon based, and any derivatives or combination thereof. In preferred embodiment, ethoxylated phosphate ester may be used. The emulsifiers maybe present in the coating at a rate of 0.5% to 5.0% by weight, more particularly at a rate of 0.5 to 2.5% by weight, and even more particularly at a rate of 1% by weight.
Biostimulants may be any material that contains a substance(s), microorganism(s), or mixtures thereof, that, when applied to seeds, plants, the rhizosphere, soil or other growth media, acts to support a plant's natural nutrition processes independently of the material's nutrient content, thereby improving nutrient availability, uptake or use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, and consequent growth, development, quality or yield. For example, the biostimulant may be a biocatalyst or biochemical. Biostimulants may include, but are not limited to, plant and other extracts, microbial agents, living organisms such as, for example, endophytes, fungi, yeasts, and bacteria, metabolites, plant hormones, or other desired biochemical, biostimulants, or biologicals. Examples of biocatalysts may include one or more species from bacterial genu, such as, but not limited to, bacillu thizobium, azobacter, and azospirillu, one or more species from fungal genus or fungi such as aspergillus, mycorhizzae, beauveria, metarhzium, and Trichoderma, and/or one or more species from a yeast genus such as saccharomyces, schizosaccharomyces, sporobolomyces, candida, trichosporon, and thodosporidium. Other biologicals may not be microorganisms but rather may be small molecule and peptide-based compositions such as metabolites, peptides, lipopeptides, hormones, peptide hormones, siderophores, glycopeptides, humates, surfactants, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, and amino acid derivatives, and nucleic acids and nucleic acid derivatives. In particular, biocatalysts may include bacillus linchniformus (>0.01%) and may be present in the coating at a rate of 1% to 50% by weight, or more specifically 20% by weight, or alternately 4.13% by weight to 11.26% by weight. Other possible components may include anticaking agents, dispersants, colorants, odeur modifiers, or combinations thereof
In particular, by way of example, the fertilizer coating may be an aqueous-based micronutrient and/or biostimulant coating with one of the following compositions:
Alternately, by way of further example, the fertilizer coating may be an emulsified aqueous-based micronutrient and/or biostimulant coating with the following compositions:
Alternately, by way of further example, the fertilizer coating may be an oil-based micronutrient and/or biostimulant coating with one of the following compositions:
In a specific example, the fertilizer coating may be produced in a four-part system. First, the dispersant may be produced. For example, if the dispersant is stearyl stearamide, molten stearyl amine and stearic acid may be mixed together. The formula may be 47.37% stearyl amine and 52.63% stearic acid. The mixture may be placed in an oven. For example, the oven may be set to 160 C and the mixture may be left overnight. The moisture content and amine number may be checked; if they are high, the mixture may be left in the oven and rechecked and stirred every two to four hours, or overnight again if necessary. The final specifications of the dispersant may be less than 1% moisture content at 60 C.
Second, the oil phase may be produced. The dispersant and oil carrier may be heated and mixed. One or more emulsifiers may also be added. For example, the oil phase may comprise 71% oil, such as Renoil 1700 W; 12.8% dispersant, such as stearyl steramide; and 16.2% emulsifier, such as 1.8% Span 85 and 14.4% Ethfac 1018. The Renoil, stearyl steramide, and Ethfac may be heated to 85-90 C. The Renoil may be added to a container and slowly mixed, which may produce a slight vortex. The stearyl steramide, Ethfac, and Span may be added, and everything may be mixed for 30 minutes. The temperature may be maintained if the material if to be used within 24 hours, or the oil phase may be cooled and reheated for later use.
Third, the aqueous phase may be produced. Biocatalyst and water may be heated and mixed. A surfactant may also be added. For example, the aqueous phase may comprise 56.2% biocatalyst, such as SoilBuilder MC; 36.0% water; 2.7% surfactant, such as Tween 20; and 5.1% KOH (22%). The biocatalyst may be mixed and heated to 80 C in a sealed container to prevent water loss. The water, Tween, and KOH may be added while heating. The final pH may be greater than 9.
The final phase may be emulsification, where the oil phase and aqueous phase are emulsified together. The final product may comprise 55.5% oil phase and 44.5% aqueous phase, or any other desired ratio. The oil phase may be heated to 85 C while the aqueous phase is heated to 70 C. The aqueous phase may be added to a vessel where the emulsification will take place. While vigorously stirring to produce a deep vortex, the oil phase may be slowly added to the aqueous phase. The order of addition may be important. Once all of oil phase has been added, the heat may be removed and the coating slowly cooled. The pH may be measured, and additional KOH or HC1 may be added until the pH is 7 to 8. When the temperature is 50 C, the pH may be measured again and adjusted as necessary. Once the pH is as desired and the temperature is 50 C or less, stirring may be stopped and the coating may be poured into a storage container. The final product may have a pH 7 to 8 and a moisture content at 60 C of 44.5% to 46.5%.
Applying a tailor-made coating that comprises a formulated micronutrient and/or biostimulant package may allow higher levels of micronutrient loading per granule of fertilizer, as well as more nutrient and micronutrient adsorption, while also reducing the handling of dusty micronutrients at the warehouse and reducing dust throughout the supply chain. It may also reduce caking tendencies, which are commonly associated with mixing various mineral species that occurs by a decrease in critical relative humidity.
Whereas, the devices and methods have been described in relation to the drawings and claims, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.
This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/180,761 filed Apr. 28, 2021. This invention relates generally to a fertilizer coating, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a fertilizer coating providing nutrients, biostimulants, dust control, and/or caking control.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63180761 | Apr 2021 | US |
