BIOSOLID STORAGE AND DISPERSAL

• US 20130123103A1
• Filed: 03/14/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Andersons, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Andersons, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, Charles W., Birthisel, Timothy D.
• Granted Patent: US 11,332,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 504/102
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 3/44 for affecting solubility
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 17/40 containing mixtures of inorganic and organic compounds

Abstract

A particle is provided that includes 5 wt % to 90 wt % of agricultural biomass, combustion residues, biosolids, or a combination thereof. A binder intermixed with the agricultural biomass, combustion residues, biosolids, or a combination thereof retains the mixture in the form of a particle. The resultant particle creates a use for existing waste streams while also improving soil quality. A process of stabilizing agricultural biomass, combustion residues, biosolids, or a combination thereof particles is also provided that includes combining agricultural biomass, combustion residues, biosolids, or a combination thereof with mineral and/or synthetic chemical fragments having a bulk density of greater than about 40 pounds per cubic foot and a sizing of about 100% passing through a 30 mesh screen and about 50% or more passing through a 200 mesh screen. By adding binder, a particle is formed that is deodorized and/or stabilized. Through the choice of binder, the particle can be rendered dispersible to rapidly disintegrate into soil.

Claims

1. A stabilizing particle comprising:

5 wt % to 90 wt % of agricultural biomass, combustion residues, biosolids, or a combination thereof; and

a binder to retain said one or more agricultural biomass, said combustion residues, and said biosolids in the form of a particle.

2. The particle of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of mineral or synthetic chemical fragments, the plurality of mineral fragments or synthetic chemical fragments having a bulk density of greater than about 40 pounds per cubic foot.

3. The particle of claim 1 wherein said binder is water soluble and renders the particle dispersible into at least 100 pieces upon contact with water.

4. The particle of claim 1 wherein said plurality of mineral fragments are dolomite, limestone, gypsum, pelletized lime, or combinations thereof.

5. The particle of claim 1 wherein said binder is lignin, bentonite clay, carbohydrate, protein, lipid, synthetic polymer, glycolipid, glycoprotein, lipoprotein, or combinations thereof.

6. The particle of claim 1 further comprising at least one active agent present from about present from 1×

10<sup>−

5</sup> to 10 total weight percent of the mineral fragments.

7. The particle of claim 6 wherein said active agent is algicide, bacteriocide, defoliant, desiccant, fungicide, herbicide, insecticide, insect growth regulator, miticide, nematicide, ovicide, pheromone, repellent, rodenticide, plant growth hormone, or plant growth regulator.

8. The particle of claim 6 wherein said active agent is a pesticide.

9. The particle of claim 6 wherein said active agent is a powder having a mean particle size less than 20 percent of the mean mineral granule size.

10. The particle of claim 6 wherein said active agent is a powder having a mean particle size less than 2 percent of the mean mineral granule size.

11. The particle of claim 6 wherein said active agent is a liquid coating.

12. The particle of claim 1 wherein said biosolid is from municipal source, animal source, or combinations thereof.

13. The particle of claim 1 wherein said agricultural biomass, combustion residues, and/or biosolids is dewetted.

14. The particle of claim 1 wherein said granule disperses upon contact with water into at least from about 100 pieces to 1,000 pieces in a time period of less 24 hours.

15. The particle of claim 1 wherein said granule disperses upon contact with water into from at least 100 to 1,000 pieces in a time period of less than 15 minutes.

19. A process of delivering biosolids to the environment comprising:

spreading the particles of claim 1 to an environmental area.

16. A process of stabilizing agricultural biomass, combustion residues, and/or biosolids comprising:

combining agricultural biomass, combustion residues, and/or biosolids with a plurality of mineral or synthetic chemical fragments having a bulk density of greater than about 40 pounds per cubic foot and a sizing of about 100% passing through a 30 mesh screen and about 50% or more passing through a 200 mesh screen; and

adding a binder to form a particle.

17. The process of claim 16 wherein said granule reduces odor by 25% or greater.

18. The process of claim 16 further comprising intermixing biochar with said biosolid, said plurality of mineral fragments, or a combination thereof.