FERTILIZER COMPOSITION CONTAINING MICRONUTRIENTS AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME

• US 20110214465A1
• Filed: 02/25/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Mosaic Company
• Original Assignee: The Mosaic Company
• Inventors: McLaughlin, Michael, Stacey, Samuel, Peacock, Lawrence Alan
• Granted Patent: US 9,199,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 71/28
• CPC Class Codes: C05B 1/04 Double-superphosphate; Triple-superphosphate; Other fertilisers based essentially on monocalcium phosphate
• CPC Class Codes: C05B 7/00 Fertilisers based essentially on alkali or ammonium orthophosphates C05B11/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C05C 9/00 Fertilisers containing urea or urea compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C05D 9/00 Other inorganic fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: C05D 9/02 containing trace elements
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 5/30 Layered or coated, e.g. dust-preventing coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 5/37 layered or coated with a polymer

Abstract

A fertilizer composition including a base fertilizer granule with a barrier coating and one or more micronutrients. The base fertilizer material is coated with a barrier coating, and then a coating of one or more micronutrients. Alternatively, the base fertilizer material is coated with a barrier coating having discrete particles of micronutrients dispersed throughout. The barrier coating acts to physically and chemically isolate the micronutrient particles from the underlying fertilizer composition such that more of the micronutrient is available to the soil solution, and ultimately to the root zone of the plant.

Claims

1. A fertilizer composition comprising:

a base fertilizer granule;

a barrier coating covering at least a portion of an outer surface of the base fertilizer granule; and

one or more micronutrients covering at least portion of the barrier coating such that the one or more micronutrients are isolated from the base fertilizer granule.

2. The fertilizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the base fertilizer is a phosphate.

3. The fertilizer composition according to claim 2, wherein the base fertilizer is selected from monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, single superphosphate, triple superphosphate, and combinations thereof.

4. The fertilizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the barrier coating is a material that is non-reactive with the base fertilizer and the one or more micronutrients.

5. The fertilizer composition according to claim 4, wherein the barrier coating comprises a material including urea, langbeinite, ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, calcium sulfate, elemental sulfur, silicates, respective hydrates, and combinations thereof.

6. The fertilizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the one or more micronutrients is selected from boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, chlorine, cobalt, sodium, nickel, selenium, and combinations thereof.

7. The fertilizer composition according to claim 1, further comprising a polymer coating covering at least a portion of the barrier coating, wherein the one or more micronutrients are adhered to an outer surface of the polymer coating.

8. The fertilizer composition according to claim 7, wherein the polymer coating comprises a polymer from a polyethyleneimine (PEI) family of polymers.

9. A fertilizer composition comprising:

a base fertilizer granule;

a barrier coating covering at least a portion of an outer surface of the base fertilizer granule; and

one or more micronutrients dispersed within the barrier coating such that the one or more micronutrients are isolated from the base fertilizer granule.

10. The fertilizer composition according to claim 9, wherein the base fertilizer is a phosphate.

11. The fertilizer composition according to claim 10, wherein the base fertilizer is selected from monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, single superphosphate, triple superphosphate, and combinations thereof.

12. The fertilizer composition according to claim 9, wherein the barrier coating is a material that is non-reactive with the base fertilizer and the one or more micronutrients.

13. The fertilizer composition according to claim 12, wherein the barrier coating comprises a material including urea, langbeinite, ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, calcium sulfate, elemental sulfur, silicates, respective hydrates, and combinations thereof.

14. The fertilizer composition according to claim 9, wherein the one or more micronutrients is selected from boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, chlorine, cobalt, sodium, nickel, selenium, and combinations thereof.

15. The fertilizer composition according to claim 10, further comprising a polymer coating covering at least a portion of the barrier coating, and one or more additional micronutrients covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the polymer coating.

16. The fertilizer composition according to claim 15, wherein the polymer coating comprises a polymer from a polyethyleneimine (PEI) family of polymers.

17. A method of making a fertilizer composition, the method comprising:

providing a base fertilizer granule;

coating at least a portion of the base fertilizer granule with a barrier coating; and

adding one or more micronutrients to the barrier coating.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the base fertilizer is a phosphate.

19. The fertilizer composition according to claim 18, wherein the base fertilizer is selected from monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, single superphosphate, triple superphosphate, and combinations thereof.

20. The fertilizer composition according to claim 17, wherein the barrier coating is a material that is non-reactive with the base fertilizer and the one or more micronutrients.

21. The fertilizer composition according to claim 20, wherein the barrier coating comprises a material including urea, langbeinite, ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, calcium sulfate, elemental sulfur, silicates, respective hydrates, and combinations thereof.

22. The fertilizer composition according to claim 17, wherein the one or more micronutrients is selected from boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, chlorine, cobalt, sodium, nickel, selenium, and combinations thereof.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein adding the one or more micronutrients to the barrier coating comprises:

coating at least a portion of the barrier coating with a hot polymer coating;

adhering one or more micronutrients to the hot polymer coating; and

cooling the hot polymer coating.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein hot polymer coating comprises a polymer from a polyethyleneimine (PEI) family of polymers.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein adding the one or more micronutrients to the barrier coating comprises:

dispersing the one or more micronutrients within the barrier coating before coating the base fertilizer granule with the barrier coating.