WO1996004221A1 - Encapsulated fertilizer with neutralizing capacity - Google Patents
Encapsulated fertilizer with neutralizing capacity Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1996004221A1 WO1996004221A1 PCT/DK1995/000322 DK9500322W WO9604221A1 WO 1996004221 A1 WO1996004221 A1 WO 1996004221A1 DK 9500322 W DK9500322 W DK 9500322W WO 9604221 A1 WO9604221 A1 WO 9604221A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- fertilizer
- particulate
- urea
- encapsulated
- plaster
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000003337 fertilizer Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 60
- 230000003472 neutralizing effect Effects 0.000 title abstract description 19
- XSQUKJJJFZCRTK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Urea Chemical compound NC(N)=O XSQUKJJJFZCRTK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 73
- 239000004202 carbamide Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 40
- 239000011777 magnesium Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 35
- 239000011505 plaster Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 31
- 239000002425 soil liming agent Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 28
- 229910052749 magnesium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Magnesium Chemical compound [Mg] FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 239000012752 auxiliary agent Substances 0.000 claims abstract 2
- 239000010459 dolomite Substances 0.000 claims description 19
- 229910000514 dolomite Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 19
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 14
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 235000019738 Limestone Nutrition 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000006028 limestone Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 235000013619 trace mineral Nutrition 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000011573 trace mineral Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- NWONKYPBYAMBJT-UHFFFAOYSA-L zinc sulfate Chemical compound [Zn+2].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O NWONKYPBYAMBJT-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052796 boron Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052748 manganese Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052750 molybdenum Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052725 zinc Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000005469 granulation Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000003179 granulation Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002344 surface layer Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910019142 PO4 Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 2
- 150000003868 ammonium compounds Chemical class 0.000 claims 2
- 150000002823 nitrates Chemical class 0.000 claims 2
- 235000021317 phosphate Nutrition 0.000 claims 2
- 150000003013 phosphoric acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 claims 2
- 150000003467 sulfuric acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 claims 2
- 235000013877 carbamide Nutrition 0.000 description 35
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 16
- 239000005864 Sulphur Substances 0.000 description 11
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 11
- NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfur Chemical compound [S] NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 10
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 10
- 239000002689 soil Substances 0.000 description 9
- CPLXHLVBOLITMK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Magnesium oxide Chemical compound [Mg]=O CPLXHLVBOLITMK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 8
- VTYYLEPIZMXCLO-UHFFFAOYSA-L Calcium carbonate Chemical compound [Ca+2].[O-]C([O-])=O VTYYLEPIZMXCLO-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 7
- 235000008733 Citrus aurantifolia Nutrition 0.000 description 7
- 235000011941 Tilia x europaea Nutrition 0.000 description 7
- 239000004571 lime Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 7
- WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Formaldehyde Chemical compound O=C WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- ZCCIPPOKBCJFDN-UHFFFAOYSA-N calcium nitrate Chemical compound [Ca+2].[O-][N+]([O-])=O.[O-][N+]([O-])=O ZCCIPPOKBCJFDN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 239000011575 calcium Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 5
- -1 nitrate ions Chemical class 0.000 description 5
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 5
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 description 4
- 229910002651 NO3 Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 229910052791 calcium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000002386 leaching Methods 0.000 description 4
- 235000015097 nutrients Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium Chemical compound [Ca] OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon monoxide Chemical compound [O+]#[C-] UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- NHNBFGGVMKEFGY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nitrate Chemical compound [O-][N+]([O-])=O NHNBFGGVMKEFGY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229910000019 calcium carbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000003546 flue gas Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 3
- 235000010755 mineral Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 239000000618 nitrogen fertilizer Substances 0.000 description 3
- ODINCKMPIJJUCX-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium oxide Chemical compound [Ca]=O ODINCKMPIJJUCX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 235000014653 Carica parviflora Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 244000132059 Carica parviflora Species 0.000 description 2
- FRWLNLKLBMLLGN-UHFFFAOYSA-N [Mg].NC(N)=O Chemical compound [Mg].NC(N)=O FRWLNLKLBMLLGN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000008186 active pharmaceutical agent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000001408 amides Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- NGLMYMJASOJOJY-UHFFFAOYSA-O azanium;calcium;nitrate Chemical compound [NH4+].[Ca].[O-][N+]([O-])=O NGLMYMJASOJOJY-UHFFFAOYSA-O 0.000 description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000006227 byproduct Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005538 encapsulation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000003864 humus Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910000021 magnesium carbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910001862 magnesium hydroxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000746 purification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052717 sulfur Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 244000025254 Cannabis sativa Species 0.000 description 1
- CSNNHWWHGAXBCP-UHFFFAOYSA-L Magnesium sulfate Chemical compound [Mg+2].[O-][S+2]([O-])([O-])[O-] CSNNHWWHGAXBCP-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 206010039509 Scab Diseases 0.000 description 1
- MMDJDBSEMBIJBB-UHFFFAOYSA-N [O-][N+]([O-])=O.[O-][N+]([O-])=O.[O-][N+]([O-])=O.[NH6+3] Chemical compound [O-][N+]([O-])=O.[O-][N+]([O-])=O.[O-][N+]([O-])=O.[NH6+3] MMDJDBSEMBIJBB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005054 agglomeration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002776 aggregation Effects 0.000 description 1
- XKMRRTOUMJRJIA-UHFFFAOYSA-N ammonia nh3 Chemical compound N.N XKMRRTOUMJRJIA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000004061 bleaching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001354 calcination Methods 0.000 description 1
- AXCZMVOFGPJBDE-UHFFFAOYSA-L calcium dihydroxide Chemical compound [OH-].[OH-].[Ca+2] AXCZMVOFGPJBDE-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 239000000920 calcium hydroxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910001861 calcium hydroxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- ZOMBKNNSYQHRCA-UHFFFAOYSA-J calcium sulfate hemihydrate Chemical compound O.[Ca+2].[Ca+2].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O.[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O ZOMBKNNSYQHRCA-UHFFFAOYSA-J 0.000 description 1
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007872 degassing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 201000010099 disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000037265 diseases, disorders, signs and symptoms Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 239000008393 encapsulating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052564 epsomite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001747 exhibiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004720 fertilization Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005243 fluidization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 125000002485 formyl group Chemical class [H]C(*)=O 0.000 description 1
- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000227 grinding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003673 groundwater Substances 0.000 description 1
- BHEPBYXIRTUNPN-UHFFFAOYSA-N hydridophosphorus(.) (triplet) Chemical compound [PH] BHEPBYXIRTUNPN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000002484 inorganic compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- NLYAJNPCOHFWQQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N kaolin Chemical compound O.O.O=[Al]O[Si](=O)O[Si](=O)O[Al]=O NLYAJNPCOHFWQQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052928 kieserite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- VTHJTEIRLNZDEV-UHFFFAOYSA-L magnesium dihydroxide Chemical compound [OH-].[OH-].[Mg+2] VTHJTEIRLNZDEV-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 239000000347 magnesium hydroxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- WRUGWIBCXHJTDG-UHFFFAOYSA-L magnesium sulfate heptahydrate Chemical compound O.O.O.O.O.O.O.[Mg+2].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O WRUGWIBCXHJTDG-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- BMQVDVJKPMGHDO-UHFFFAOYSA-K magnesium;potassium;chloride;sulfate;trihydrate Chemical compound O.O.O.[Mg+2].[Cl-].[K+].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O BMQVDVJKPMGHDO-UHFFFAOYSA-K 0.000 description 1
- PALNZFJYSCMLBK-UHFFFAOYSA-K magnesium;potassium;trichloride;hexahydrate Chemical compound O.O.O.O.O.O.[Mg+2].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].[K+] PALNZFJYSCMLBK-UHFFFAOYSA-K 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003801 milling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000002894 organic compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000008188 pellet Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005325 percolation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008635 plant growth Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003389 potentiating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229940088417 precipitated calcium carbonate Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 238000001556 precipitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011241 protective layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002893 slag Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012798 spherical particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- SMDQFHZIWNYSMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N sulfanylidenemagnesium Chemical compound S=[Mg] SMDQFHZIWNYSMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- ISIJQEHRDSCQIU-UHFFFAOYSA-N tert-butyl 2,7-diazaspiro[4.5]decane-7-carboxylate Chemical compound C1N(C(=O)OC(C)(C)C)CCCC11CNCC1 ISIJQEHRDSCQIU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003643 water by type Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
- C05G—MIXTURES OF FERTILISERS COVERED INDIVIDUALLY BY DIFFERENT SUBCLASSES OF CLASS C05; MIXTURES OF ONE OR MORE FERTILISERS WITH MATERIALS NOT HAVING A SPECIFIC FERTILISING ACTIVITY, e.g. PESTICIDES, SOIL-CONDITIONERS, WETTING AGENTS; FERTILISERS CHARACTERISED BY THEIR FORM
- C05G5/00—Fertilisers characterised by their form
- C05G5/30—Layered or coated, e.g. dust-preventing coatings
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an encapsulated fertilizer with neutralizing capacity and containing a balanced amount of nitrogen, sulphur and liming agents and optionally other components for land cultivation purposes.
- a liming agent is most often carried out in the form of a separate liming with agricultural lime, i.e. crushed or comminuted dolomite lime, bryozo- and coral lime, white chalk, silty limestone, marl, etc.
- Such liming is typically carried out every four years depending i.a. on the solubility of the liming agent supplied.
- Liming is desirable since it renders the soil more porous and a number of nutrients become more readily obtainable to the plants.
- a high soil pH also increases the leaching of in particular nitrate ions to water streams, inshore waters and ground water.
- the state of the art liming practice where the liming agent is typically supplied every four years, also referred to as "interval liming", there is a risk of the liming effect being too powerful immediately following the supply with entailing leaching of e.g. phosp ⁇ horus and nitrate. This recent knowledge has resulted in a substantial reduction in the consumption of lime for agricul ⁇ tural purposes.
- Dolomite lime is a preferred liming agent for agricultural and horticultural uses due to its high contents of magnesium which is an important plant nutrient in addition to being a potent soil neutralizer.
- Urea (NH 2 CNH 2 ) is commercially available as a nitrogen fertilizer containing 46% of N in the form of amide nitrogen.
- Urea is readily soluble and a readily available nutrient for plants, and prior to use it may be dissolved in water and sprayed onto the soil or the crop. Urea may furthermore be distributed in a solid state, e.g. as pellets or granules, directly onto the soil.
- urea is highly hygroscopic since it absorbs moisture from the environment. This renders urea fertilizers more susceptible to fluidization and therefore it is less shelf stable than other solid fertili ⁇ zers.
- the magnesium carbamides formed are sticky and the calcium carbonate, CaC0 3 , remaining from the selective calcination sticks to the magnesium carbamide particles to form a solid protective layer.
- the water formed in the reaction is to be eliminated to avoid the formation of Mg(OH) 2 which may drive off NH 3 from urea.
- a non-hygroscopic inert fertilizer is obtained wherein nitrogen is protected against leaching and degassing and which may be stored and sown along with grain.
- the fertilizer may be mixed with other fertilizers containing P, K and trace elements. Said fertilizer will be sulphur-free unless sulphur is added separately.
- the present invention which is characterized in that it relates to an encapsulated particu ⁇ late fertilizer with neutralizing capacity and consisting of particulate urea or derivatives thereof encapsulated in a combination of a magnesium-containing liming agent and plaster and further optional fertilizer components.
- the encapsulated fertilizer according to the invention is preferably prepared from a mixture of from 20 to 80 percent by weight of particulate and substantially anhydrous urea, preferably such urea which contains about 46% of N, pre ⁇ ferably a granulated or pelleted formaldehyde-treated urea (sometimes referred to as "urea-form") , from 15 to 70 percent by weight of a particulate magnesium-containing liming agent, such as dolomite, dolomite limestone or magnesium limestone with a varying moisture content of from about 3 to about 17 percent by weight of water, and from 4 to 30 percent by weight of plaster, preferably powdered plaster.
- a particulate magnesium-containing liming agent such as dolomite, dolomite limestone or magnesium limestone with a varying moisture content of from about 3 to about 17 percent by weight of water
- plaster preferably powdered plaster.
- plaster is a naturally occuring sulphur compound but it may also be obtained as a side product in industrial processes and flue gas purification.
- the sulphur content is typically 20% and due to its contents of calcium, plaster has a neutralizing capacity of about 60% which is comparable to dolomite that has a neutralizing capacity of about 90%, cf. Table 1.
- plaster is not applicable for agricultural uses as a liming agent, since it solidifies and forms lumps and crusts. This further renders its contents of sulphur non-obtainable for the crops.
- An ideal sulphur content in fertilizers for use in conditions such as in Denmark is estimated to be about 2% of S.
- the magnesium- containing liming agent is bonded as a layer around the urea particles and the particles thus produced are moist and sticky thereby allowing admixed particulate, preferably powdered plaster to be bonded to the surface. This also makes the particles dry, and free-flowing encapsulation of the urea particles is obtained.
- One possible explanation of the apparent loss of water may be the absorption of free water in the plaster powder as hydrate water. It is consequently preferred that the plaster used is completely or partially dehydrated.
- the invention further relates to a method for the production of an encapsulated fertilizer, said method being charac ⁇ terized in that particulate urea or a derivative thereof is mixed with a magnesium-containing liming agent which is bonded to the urea particles while forming a moist and sticky surface layer optionally by addition of water as granulating liquid, following which the admixture of particulate plaster provides a free-flowing, particulate, encapsulated fertili ⁇ zer.
- the desired product may be obtained independently of particular temperature conditions, e.g. at a preferred temperature in the mixture of from 5* to 30*C. The conversion rate is increased at increasing temperatures.
- the particulate components have a natural moisture or water content of from about 3 to about 17 percent by weight.
- the mixing is preferably carried out as a drum coating or a drum encapsulation of a pelleted urea or urea-form product with an average particle diameter of from about 1 mm to about 3 mm to obtain a coated or encapsulated product with an average particle diameter of from about 1.5 to about 4 mm and a shell thickness of about 0.5 mm.
- N calcium (Ca) , magnesium (Mg) and sulphur (S) in a balanced ratio and in one operation, and minimization of the leaching of nutrients from the soil;
- plaster provides a number of advantages since the admixture of from 4 to 30 percent by weight of plaster as an encapsulating agent along with e.g. dolomite forms a thin micro-porous shell around the urea particles.
- plaster powder is finely distributed over the magnesium-containing liming agent in the fertilizer production process it will not form hard lumps upon drying.
- the plaster in the fertilizer will not solidify in the same manner as will be the case following usual addition of water and drying.
- the plaster which is otherwise a waste product difficult to utilize, is rendered useful for agricultural purposes.
- a combined liming and fertilizing agent according to the invention having a neutralizing capacity of e.g. 41% (cal ⁇ culated) and having at the same time a high content of N, Mg and S of 24%, about 4% and 3%, respectively, one annual distribution in addition to basic fertilization is all that is needed for grain crops and in particular for winter crops.
- the fertilizer according to the invention is inexpensive since a liming effect and a supply of Mg and S are additionally obtained at the same cost as a corresponding N-fertilizer with calcium nitrate or calcium ammonium nitrate. Finally a nitrate-free N-fertilizer contributes to building up the humus content of the soil.
- Table 1 illustrates different mixing ratios for the fertili ⁇ zer according to the invention. The neutralizing capacity is given as a theoretically calculated value (non-analytical) .
- Encapsulated fertilizer means a particulate fertilizer encapsulated in a shell of an encapsulating material.
- the encapsulating material may occur e.g. as a granulation or an agglomeration.
- Urea means NH 2 -C-NH 2 and corresponding amide compounds and derivatives thereof, including urea aldehyde condensates, such as urea-form (urea + formaldehyde or other aldehydes) which may be reacted with the magnesium-containing liming agent to obtain the fertilizer according to the invention.
- urea aldehyde condensates such as urea-form (urea + formaldehyde or other aldehydes) which may be reacted with the magnesium-containing liming agent to obtain the fertilizer according to the invention.
- Magnetic-containing liming agent as used herein means a particulate product with a mesh size curve (particle size distribution) authorized for land cultivation uses, e.g. a product wherein 100 percent by weight of the particles are 4,0 mm or below, about 50 percent by weight thereof being 0,1 mm or below, and containing varying amounts of CaC0 3 , CaO, Ca(OH) 2 , MgC0 3 , MgO and Mg(0H) 2 and optional trace elements.
- the liming agent may thus be selected from among e.g.
- dolomite, dolomite limestone, magnesium limestone and combinations of calcium carbonate-containing minerals and products such as bleaching chalk, bryozo lime, coral lime, white chalk, Thomas slag and precipitated calcium carbonate, and magnesium-containing minerals and products, such as kieserite, carnallite, epsomite and kainite, preferably MgC0 3 - or MgO-containing minerals and products.
- the liming agent is preferably non-treated except from optional milling or grinding.
- plaster as used herein is used to designate completely or partially dehydrated plaster, viz. naturally occuring or synthetic calcium sulphate hemihydrate (CaS0 4 «ijH 2 0) and an ⁇ hydrite (CaS0 4 ) , including by-products, such as flue gas plaster from desulphurization plants and phosphorous plaster from the production of phosphorous acid.
- the plaster used in the invention is preferably powdery and capable of absorbing and bonding free water.
- Further fertilizer components include all natural and synthetic inorganic and organic compounds exhibiting fertili ⁇ zing performance, including trace elements.
- trace elements include the elements Mn, Fe, Mo, B, Co, Cu, Zn and salts or complex compounds thereof.
- Neutralizing capacity as used herein means the calculated percentage of calcium carbonate on the basis of a chemical standard basicity determination of a weighed sample of the liming agent.
- “Land cultivation uses” as used herein means every activity in connection with the cultivation and maintenance of agricultural, silvicultural, horticultural and park areas, including also private gardens as well as nurseries.
- the encapsulated fertilizer according to the invention preferably consists of rounded or spherical particles with a preferred particle size distribution of from about 1.2 to about 4 mm. This may readily be obtained by the method according to the invention for producing the fertilizer.
- the fertilizer may be distributed manually, but for large areas mechanical distribution is preferred, e.g. using a centrifugal-type spreader for which the fertilizer is particularly suitable due to its granular form.
- the fertilizer according to the invention may be used for all crops and for garden, grass and park areas and for all possible land cultivation uses as it replaces known in- dividual fertilizers. Moreover, the fertilizer according to the invention may form a part of an NPK-fertilizer whereby an NPK-fertilizer with neutralizing capacity may be obtained. Such an NPK-fertilizer may be mixed mechanically.
- Nitrate nitrogen, N (DS 230/241) (1) 0,2% Amide nitrogen, N (2, 6, 2) (1) 28,0%
- This fertilizer will be suitable for mechanical admixture to produce an NPK- fertilizer with neutralizing capacity, e.g. NPK 23-3-7.
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Abstract
An encapsulated particulate fertilizer with neutralizing capacity consisting of particulate urea or derivatives thereof encapsulated in a combination of a magnesium-containing liming agent and plaster and optionally further fertilizer components and/or auxiliary agents.
Description
1 Encapsulated fertilizer with neutralizing capacity
The present invention relates to an encapsulated fertilizer with neutralizing capacity and containing a balanced amount of nitrogen, sulphur and liming agents and optionally other components for land cultivation purposes.
When cultivating land, including in particular areas with winter crops, it will be advantageous to distribute only one fertilizer supply a year thereby providing nitrogen to the crop which is important for plant growth, and simultaneously supplying the liming agent necessary to maintain the soil pH (acidity) of the soil.
The supply of a liming agent is most often carried out in the form of a separate liming with agricultural lime, i.e. crushed or comminuted dolomite lime, bryozo- and coral lime, white chalk, silty limestone, marl, etc. Such liming is typically carried out every four years depending i.a. on the solubility of the liming agent supplied.
Liming is desirable since it renders the soil more porous and a number of nutrients become more readily obtainable to the plants. However, a high soil pH also increases the leaching of in particular nitrate ions to water streams, inshore waters and ground water. Moreover, there is an increased risk of percolation of humus. With the state of the art liming practice, where the liming agent is typically supplied every four years, also referred to as "interval liming", there is a risk of the liming effect being too powerful immediately following the supply with entailing leaching of e.g. phosp¬ horus and nitrate. This recent knowledge has resulted in a substantial reduction in the consumption of lime for agricul¬ tural purposes. However, it is not a practical option to supply a sufficient amount of liming agent to cultivated lands once a year as the doses involved are relatively small (about 250 kg per hectare) and it is not possible with the
apparatus available to dosage such small doses correctly. It is therefore common practice to supply about 1 ton of liming agent per hectare every four years.
Dolomite lime is a preferred liming agent for agricultural and horticultural uses due to its high contents of magnesium which is an important plant nutrient in addition to being a potent soil neutralizer. Q
Urea (NH2CNH2) is commercially available as a nitrogen fertilizer containing 46% of N in the form of amide nitrogen.
Urea is readily soluble and a readily available nutrient for plants, and prior to use it may be dissolved in water and sprayed onto the soil or the crop. Urea may furthermore be distributed in a solid state, e.g. as pellets or granules, directly onto the soil. However, urea is highly hygroscopic since it absorbs moisture from the environment. This renders urea fertilizers more susceptible to fluidization and therefore it is less shelf stable than other solid fertili¬ zers.
From US patent No. 3,684,476 it is known to produce a granular fertilizer containing N, Mg and Ca, wherein solid particulate urea is reacted in the absence of added water with selectively calcinated (burnt) solid particulate dolomite or dolomite limestone. The reaction occurs according to the following equations:
MgO + 2(NH2)2-CO → Mg(NH-CO-NH2)2 + H20 and urea magnesium dicarbamide MgO + (NH2)2-CO → Mg(NH)2-C0 + H20 urea magnesium carbamide
The magnesium carbamides formed are sticky and the calcium carbonate, CaC03, remaining from the selective calcination sticks to the magnesium carbamide particles to form a solid protective layer. The water formed in the reaction is to be
eliminated to avoid the formation of Mg(OH)2 which may drive off NH3 from urea.
Thus, a non-hygroscopic inert fertilizer is obtained wherein nitrogen is protected against leaching and degassing and which may be stored and sown along with grain. Moreover, the fertilizer may be mixed with other fertilizers containing P, K and trace elements. Said fertilizer will be sulphur-free unless sulphur is added separately.
It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a sulphur- and magnesium-containing fertilizer which may be supplied to the cultivated areas once a year and containing a combination of nitrogen fertilizer in the form of urea or derivatives thereof, liming substances and plaster, and which may be produced in a less costly and more resource-friendly process. It is a further object of the invention to provide an encapsulated (coated) urea product which is stable and sprinkable. It is preferred that the fertilizer does not harden or form lumps during storage within normal shelf life.
This object is achieved with the present invention which is characterized in that it relates to an encapsulated particu¬ late fertilizer with neutralizing capacity and consisting of particulate urea or derivatives thereof encapsulated in a combination of a magnesium-containing liming agent and plaster and further optional fertilizer components.
The encapsulated fertilizer according to the invention is preferably prepared from a mixture of from 20 to 80 percent by weight of particulate and substantially anhydrous urea, preferably such urea which contains about 46% of N, pre¬ ferably a granulated or pelleted formaldehyde-treated urea (sometimes referred to as "urea-form") , from 15 to 70 percent by weight of a particulate magnesium-containing liming agent, such as dolomite, dolomite limestone or magnesium limestone with a varying moisture content of from about 3 to about 17
percent by weight of water, and from 4 to 30 percent by weight of plaster, preferably powdered plaster.
In recent years, the reduced amount of sulphur in precipita- tion and in the atmosphere due to flue gas purification has resulted in an increased need to supply sulphur to crops, i.a. grain and rape. Plaster is a naturally occuring sulphur compound but it may also be obtained as a side product in industrial processes and flue gas purification. The sulphur content is typically 20% and due to its contents of calcium, plaster has a neutralizing capacity of about 60% which is comparable to dolomite that has a neutralizing capacity of about 90%, cf. Table 1. However, plaster is not applicable for agricultural uses as a liming agent, since it solidifies and forms lumps and crusts. This further renders its contents of sulphur non-obtainable for the crops. An ideal sulphur content in fertilizers for use in conditions such as in Denmark is estimated to be about 2% of S.
Mixing of the particulate magnesium-containing liming agent having a natural moisture content and urea or a derivative thereof produces a loss of heat in the mixture simultaneously with a certain amount of water separating off, which results in a slaking mixture. Whether a chemical reaction occurs and, in the affirmative, how it proceeds is uncertain. However, it may be assumed that, similarly to the reactions disclosed in US-A-3,684,476 between urea and selectively calcined dolomi¬ te, i.e. the MgO-portion, bonding occurs of carbamide from urea to magnesium which is present in the form of MgC03 in untreated dolomite and the like magnesium-containing mi¬ nerals, resulting in the formation of H20. The magnesium- containing liming agent is bonded as a layer around the urea particles and the particles thus produced are moist and sticky thereby allowing admixed particulate, preferably powdered plaster to be bonded to the surface. This also makes the particles dry, and free-flowing encapsulation of the urea particles is obtained. One possible explanation of the
apparent loss of water may be the absorption of free water in the plaster powder as hydrate water. It is consequently preferred that the plaster used is completely or partially dehydrated.
During subsequent normal storage of the fertilizer under pressure no lumping or NH3-evaporation has been observed.
The invention further relates to a method for the production of an encapsulated fertilizer, said method being charac¬ terized in that particulate urea or a derivative thereof is mixed with a magnesium-containing liming agent which is bonded to the urea particles while forming a moist and sticky surface layer optionally by addition of water as granulating liquid, following which the admixture of particulate plaster provides a free-flowing, particulate, encapsulated fertili¬ zer. The desired product may be obtained independently of particular temperature conditions, e.g. at a preferred temperature in the mixture of from 5* to 30*C. The conversion rate is increased at increasing temperatures. It is preferred that the particulate components have a natural moisture or water content of from about 3 to about 17 percent by weight. The mixing is preferably carried out as a drum coating or a drum encapsulation of a pelleted urea or urea-form product with an average particle diameter of from about 1 mm to about 3 mm to obtain a coated or encapsulated product with an average particle diameter of from about 1.5 to about 4 mm and a shell thickness of about 0.5 mm.
The fertilizer according to the invention provides the following advantages:
a liming agent with a neutralizing capacity of up to
70% and nitrate-free nitrogen fertilizer in a product which may cover the total needs of a crop for nitrogen
(N) , calcium (Ca) , magnesium (Mg) and sulphur (S) in a
balanced ratio and in one operation, and minimization of the leaching of nutrients from the soil;
furthermore the use of plaster provides a number of advantages since the admixture of from 4 to 30 percent by weight of plaster as an encapsulating agent along with e.g. dolomite forms a thin micro-porous shell around the urea particles. Hereby the readily soluble urea becomes obtainable for the crop through slow seepage. A porous shell results which will decompose over time while releasing magnesium, calcium and sulphur. Since the plaster powder is finely distributed over the magnesium-containing liming agent in the fertilizer production process it will not form hard lumps upon drying. Furthermore, the plaster in the fertilizer will not solidify in the same manner as will be the case following usual addition of water and drying. Hereby the plaster, which is otherwise a waste product difficult to utilize, is rendered useful for agricultural purposes.
With a combined liming and fertilizing agent according to the invention having a neutralizing capacity of e.g. 41% (cal¬ culated) and having at the same time a high content of N, Mg and S of 24%, about 4% and 3%, respectively, one annual distribution in addition to basic fertilization is all that is needed for grain crops and in particular for winter crops.
Moreover, the fertilizer according to the invention is inexpensive since a liming effect and a supply of Mg and S are additionally obtained at the same cost as a corresponding N-fertilizer with calcium nitrate or calcium ammonium nitrate. Finally a nitrate-free N-fertilizer contributes to building up the humus content of the soil.
Table 1 illustrates different mixing ratios for the fertili¬ zer according to the invention. The neutralizing capacity is given as a theoretically calculated value (non-analytical) .
"Encapsulated" fertilizer means a particulate fertilizer encapsulated in a shell of an encapsulating material. The encapsulating material may occur e.g. as a granulation or an agglomeration.
"Urea" means NH2-C-NH2 and corresponding amide compounds and derivatives thereof, including urea aldehyde condensates, such as urea-form (urea + formaldehyde or other aldehydes) which may be reacted with the magnesium-containing liming agent to obtain the fertilizer according to the invention.
"Magnesium-containing liming agent" as used herein means a particulate product with a mesh size curve (particle size distribution) authorized for land cultivation uses, e.g. a product wherein 100 percent by weight of the particles are 4,0 mm or below, about 50 percent by weight thereof being 0,1 mm or below, and containing varying amounts of CaC03, CaO, Ca(OH)2, MgC03, MgO and Mg(0H)2 and optional trace elements. The liming agent may thus be selected from among e.g. dolomite, dolomite limestone, magnesium limestone and combinations of calcium carbonate-containing minerals and products, such as bleaching chalk, bryozo lime, coral lime, white chalk, Thomas slag and precipitated calcium carbonate, and magnesium-containing minerals and products, such as kieserite, carnallite, epsomite and kainite, preferably MgC03- or MgO-containing minerals and products. The liming agent is preferably non-treated except from optional milling or grinding.
"Plaster" as used herein is used to designate completely or partially dehydrated plaster, viz. naturally occuring or synthetic calcium sulphate hemihydrate (CaS04«ijH20) and an¬ hydrite (CaS04) , including by-products, such as flue gas plaster from desulphurization plants and phosphorous plaster
from the production of phosphorous acid. The plaster used in the invention is preferably powdery and capable of absorbing and bonding free water.
Further fertilizer components include all natural and synthetic inorganic and organic compounds exhibiting fertili¬ zing performance, including trace elements. In particular such trace elements include the elements Mn, Fe, Mo, B, Co, Cu, Zn and salts or complex compounds thereof.
"Neutralizing capacity" as used herein means the calculated percentage of calcium carbonate on the basis of a chemical standard basicity determination of a weighed sample of the liming agent.
"Land cultivation uses" as used herein means every activity in connection with the cultivation and maintenance of agricultural, silvicultural, horticultural and park areas, including also private gardens as well as nurseries.
The encapsulated fertilizer according to the invention preferably consists of rounded or spherical particles with a preferred particle size distribution of from about 1.2 to about 4 mm. This may readily be obtained by the method according to the invention for producing the fertilizer.
The fertilizer may be distributed manually, but for large areas mechanical distribution is preferred, e.g. using a centrifugal-type spreader for which the fertilizer is particularly suitable due to its granular form.
The fertilizer according to the invention may be used for all crops and for garden, grass and park areas and for all possible land cultivation uses as it replaces known in- dividual fertilizers. Moreover, the fertilizer according to the invention may form a part of an NPK-fertilizer whereby an
NPK-fertilizer with neutralizing capacity may be obtained. Such an NPK-fertilizer may be mixed mechanically.
Example 1
Mixing of 60% of urea (supplied by Landbrugets Storkøb A/S, DK-9260 Gistrup) , 30% of dolomite with about 10% of Mg and 10% of plaster (stucco plaster, supplied by P. Brøste A/S, DK-7000 Fredericia) yields a fertilizer having the following contents: N=28, Mg=3, S=2 and a neutralizing capacity of 34%. This fertilizer will be able to replace nitrate-containing individual fertilizers, such as calcium nitrate, and calcium ammonium nitrate.
Analysis result:
Total nitrogen, N (2,6,1) (1) 28,4%
Ammonium nitrogen, N (DS 230/241) (1) 0,2%
Nitrate nitrogen, N (DS 230/241) (1) 0,2% Amide nitrogen, N (2, 6, 2) (1) 28,0%
Total magnesium (Mg) (8,1-7) (1) 2,7%
Total sulphur (S) (8,1) (1) 2,3%
Neutralizing capacity (CaC03) * 29,8%
*Neutralizing capacity is given as the mean value of 10 determinations, of which the lowest was 24,2% and the highest 33,0%.
(1) Laid down by the Danish Ministry of Agriculture,
Example 2
Mixing of 50% of urea, 37,5% of dolomite and 12,5% of plaster yields a fertilizer having the following contents: N=23, Mg=4 and S=3 and a neutralizing capacity of 42%. This fertilizer will be suitable for mechanical admixture to produce an NPK- fertilizer with neutralizing capacity, e.g. NPK 23-3-7.
Example 3
Mixing of 33% of urea, 57% of dolomite and 10% of plaster yields a fertilizer having the following contents: N=15, Mg=6 and S=2 and a neutralizing capacity of 58%. This fertilizer is a suitable replacement for the nitrate-containing calcium nitrate with the same nitrogen content.
Example 4
Mixing of 75% of urea, 15% of dolomite and 10% of plaster yields a fertilizer having the following contents: N=35, Mg=2 and S=2 and a neutralizing capacity of 20%. This fertilizer will be able to replace pure urea having N=46 and will be very suitable for continuous wheat-growing wherein attacks of take-all disease are avoided.
Claims
1. An encapsulated, particulate fertilizer with neutrali¬ zing capacity, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it consists of particulate urea or derivatives thereof encapsulated in a combination of magnesium-containing liming agent and plaster and optionally further fertilizer components and/or auxiliary agents.
2. An encapsulated, particulate fertilizer with neutrali¬ zing capacity according to claim l, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that that it comprises from 20 to 80 percent by weight of urea or a derivative thereof, from 15 to 70 percent by weight of the liming agent and from 4 to 30 percent by weight of plaster.
3. An encapsulated, particulate fertilizer with neutrali¬ zing capacity according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that the liming agent is selected from among dolomite, dolomite limestone and magnesium-containing limestone or mixtures thereof.
4. An encapsulated, particulate fertilizer according to claim 1, 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it contains further fertilizer components selected from among phosphates, sulphates, ammonium compounds, nitrates and the trace elements Mn, Fe, Mo, B, Co, Cu and Zn in the form of their salts and/or complex compounds.
5. A method for the production of an encapsulated, particulate fertilizer according to claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that particulate urea of a derivative thereof is mixed with a particulate magnesium-containing liming agent which is bonded to the urea particles while forming a moist and sticky surface layer optionally by supply of water as a granulation liquid, whereupon admixture of particulate plaster yields a free-flowing particulate fertilizer.
6. A method according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d in that from 20 to 80 percent by weight of urea or a derivative thereof is mixed with from 15 to 70 percent by weight of the liming agent and from 4 to 30 percent by weight of plaster.
7. A method according to claim 5 or 6, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that the liming agent is selected from among dolomite, dolomite limestone and magnesium-containing limestone or mixtures thereof.
8. A method according to claim 5, 6 or 7, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that further fertilizer components are admixed which are selected from among phosphates, sulphates, ammonium compounds, nitrates and the trace elements Mn, Fe, Mo, B, Co, Cu and Zn in the form of their salts and/or complex compounds.
9. Use of the fertilizer according to claims 1 through 4 for for fertilizing cultivated lands.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU31087/95A AU3108795A (en) | 1994-08-05 | 1995-08-04 | Encapsulated fertilizer with neutralizing capacity |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DK0919/94 | 1994-08-05 | ||
DK091994A DK171130B1 (en) | 1994-08-05 | 1994-08-05 | Encapsulated fertilizer with neutralizing ability |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1996004221A1 true WO1996004221A1 (en) | 1996-02-15 |
Family
ID=8099024
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/DK1995/000322 WO1996004221A1 (en) | 1994-08-05 | 1995-08-04 | Encapsulated fertilizer with neutralizing capacity |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU3108795A (en) |
DK (1) | DK171130B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1996004221A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9090884B2 (en) | 2005-09-08 | 2015-07-28 | Advanced Biological Marketing Incorporated | Formulations of viable microorganisms and their methods of production and use |
US9102893B2 (en) | 2005-09-08 | 2015-08-11 | Advanced Biological Marketing | Equipment lubricating microbial compositions |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1183938A (en) * | 1966-09-21 | 1970-03-11 | Fisons Ltd | Prilling |
US3684476A (en) * | 1969-11-03 | 1972-08-15 | Marden Anstalt | Process for production of n,mg and ca fertilizer |
US3976467A (en) * | 1975-08-25 | 1976-08-24 | Seferian Rupen B | Urea gypsum addition product and method |
-
1994
- 1994-08-05 DK DK091994A patent/DK171130B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1995
- 1995-08-04 AU AU31087/95A patent/AU3108795A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1995-08-04 WO PCT/DK1995/000322 patent/WO1996004221A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1183938A (en) * | 1966-09-21 | 1970-03-11 | Fisons Ltd | Prilling |
US3684476A (en) * | 1969-11-03 | 1972-08-15 | Marden Anstalt | Process for production of n,mg and ca fertilizer |
US3976467A (en) * | 1975-08-25 | 1976-08-24 | Seferian Rupen B | Urea gypsum addition product and method |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9090884B2 (en) | 2005-09-08 | 2015-07-28 | Advanced Biological Marketing Incorporated | Formulations of viable microorganisms and their methods of production and use |
US9102893B2 (en) | 2005-09-08 | 2015-08-11 | Advanced Biological Marketing | Equipment lubricating microbial compositions |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DK171130B1 (en) | 1996-06-24 |
DK91994A (en) | 1996-02-06 |
AU3108795A (en) | 1996-03-04 |
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