Alternative method for the manufacture of granulated nutrients

• US 9,394,209 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2014
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NutriChem Marketing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NutriChem Marketing, Inc.
• Inventors: McCoy, Paul E. Jr., McCoy, Shawn
• Primary Examiner(s): LANGEL, WAYNE A
• Application Number:
  US14/561,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20160159706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/163 Sugars; Polysaccharides
• CPC Class Codes: C05D 9/00 Other inorganic fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: C05D 9/02 containing trace elements
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 11/00 Other organic fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 5/12 Granules or flakes

Abstract

Method of making a soil dispersible and water dispersible granular nutrient for use in fertilizers or animal feeds. A sulfuric acid solution is sprayed onto a mixture of reducible nutrient compounds and dry carbohydrates. The sulfuric acid converts the carbohydrates to their reducing forms. The reducing saccharides then react with the reducible nutrient compounds to form a carboxylated nutrient. The carboxylated nutrient is bound by polysaccharides and rolled up on itself to form a granule. The sulfuric acid also acts on the nutrient compounds directly to create sulfated nutrients. The process results in a product containing both carboxylated and sulfated metal nutrients.

Claims

1. A method for producing granulated nutrients for plants, the method comprising:

a. blending powdered oxide nutrients;

b. mixing the powdered oxide nutrients with a dry carbohydrate source; and

c. adding a sulfuric acid solution to the powdered oxide nutrients and the dry carbohydrate source to form carboxylate and sulfate nutrients.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the process does not include the use of molasses.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising drying the product.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the final product is less than 5% water by weight.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

screening the granules to sort the granules by size.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

screening the product to sort the granules by size.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

curing the product.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

curing the product.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

curing the product.

10. A method of producing granulated nutrients comprising:

a. mixing powdered oxide nutrients with a dry carbohydrate source, creating a mixture;

b. spraying the mixture with a sulfuric acid solution to react the powdered oxide nutrients, the dry carbohydrate source, and the sulfuric acid solution to create carboxylate and sulfate nutrients;

c. continuing to mix to form granules;

d. drying the granules;

e. screening to separate granules by size;

f. curing the granules; and

g. optionally, crushing or recycling granules.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of continuing to mix to form granules is performed for 10 to 20 minutes.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of continuing to mix to form granules is performed for 5 to 10 minutes.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of continuing to mix to form granules is performed for 1 to 5 minutes.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the sulfuric acid solution is of a 10% or greater concentration.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein screening is carried out using a sieve.

16. A method of producing granulated nutrients comprising the steps of:

a. mixing dry oxide nutrients with a dry carbohydrate source, creating a mixture;

b. spraying the mixture with a sulfuric acid solution to facilitate the formation of carboxylate and sulfate nutrients;

c. continuing to mix to form granules;

d. screening to separate the granules by size;

e. curing the granules;

f. recycling the granules that are smaller than −

6 to +16 mesh size by adding back into the mixing step;

g. crushing the granules larger than −

6 to +16 mesh size before adding back into the mixing step; and

h. packaging the granules.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of continuing to mix to form granules is performed for 1 to 5 minutes.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of continuing to mix to form granules is performed for 5 to 10 minutes.