Water-dispersible pellets containing a isobutylene diurea and a lignin binder

• US 8,574,631 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Andersons, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Andersons, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, Charles W., Tornberg, Kenneth, Lynch, James R., Birthisel, Timothy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): AZPURU, CARLOS A
• Application Number:
  US11/327,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20060135368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,860 Days
• Field of Search: 504/116.1
• US Class Current: 424/501
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/14 wettable
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 33/18 Nitro compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 47/34 containing the groups , e.g. biuret; Thio analogues thereof; Urea-aldehyde condensation products

Abstract

Water-dispersible particles are provided that disperse into more than 100 pieces upon contact with water. Particles include from 5% to 99.9% of a nitrogen-containing ingredient bioavailable to a targeted desirable organism and 1% to 95% of a bentonite binder component.

Additionally provided is a process for making a water-dispersible particle, the process including the steps of mechanically aggregating particle components into a pellet. Particle components include a bioavailable nitrogen-containing ingredient and a binder, the components being such that a product particle is dispersed into more than 100 pieces upon contact with water. In a further step of a process for making a water-dispersible particle, the pellet is dried to form a particle. Following administration of a described particle, water is allowed to contact the particle, dispersing it into pieces and thereby delivering a nutrient.

Claims

1. A water-dispersible particle comprising:

an isobutylidene diurea present in an amount ranging from 5% to 99.9% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle; and

a lignin derivative binder component, present in an amount ranging from 1% to 95% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle, the particle having a mean particle domain size from 0.1 millimeter to 30 millimeters;

the pellet dried such that the isobutylidene diurea and the binder component are present in a form such that contact with water causes particle dispersion into more than 100 pieces.

2. The particle of claim 1 further comprising an active ingredient.

3. The particle of claim 1 wherein the isobutylidene diurea is present in an amount ranging from 30% to 99.5% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle.

4. The particle of claim 1 wherein the binder component is present in an amount ranging from 5% to 75% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle.

5. The particle of claim 1 further comprising an adhesive.

6. The particle of claim 2 wherein the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of:

a fertilizer, a soil nutrient, an amendment material, and a combination thereof.

7. The particle of claim 6 wherein the active ingredient is a soil nutrient is selected from the group consisting of:

calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, copper, zinc;

oxides thereof;

salts thereof, and a combination thereof.

8. The particle of claim 6 wherein the amendment material is a natural organic product.

9. The particle of claim 8 wherein the natural organic product is selected from the group consisting of humic acid, blood meal, bone meal, seed meal, feather meal, soy meal, meat meal, animal waste, activated sludge, hydrolyzed animal hair, a fish byproduct, chitin, composts and combinations thereof.

10. The particle of claim 1 wherein the biological factor is selected from the group consisting of:

an algicide, a bacteriocide, a defoliant, a desiccant, a fungicide, an herbicide, an insecticide, an insect growth regulator, a miticide, a nematicide, an ovicide, a pesticide, a pheromone, a repellent and a rodenticide, and a combination thereof.

11. The particle of claim 10 wherein the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of:

a biological factor and a biostimulant with the proviso that when said biological factor is a pesticide, said pesticide is present in an amount ranging from 0.05% to 5% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle.

12. The particle of claim 11 wherein the biostimulant is selected from the group consisting of a plant growth hormone and a plant growth regulator, and a combination thereof.

14. The particle of claim 1 wherein said particle disperses into between 1,000 and 10,000 pieces upon contact with water.

15. The particle of claim 1 wherein said particle disperses within 24 hours of water contact.

16. A process of nutrient delivery comprising:

(a) administering a water-dispersible particle of claim 1; and

(b) then allowing water to contact the particle.

17. The process of nutrient delivery of claim 16 wherein the particle further comprises an active ingredient.

18. The process of nutrient delivery of claim 16 wherein the administering is selected from the group consisting of:

broadcast scattering, subsurface placement and surface placement.

21. The particle of claim 1 wherein the lignin derivative binder component is calcium lignosulfonate.

22. The particle of claim 1 wherein the lignin derivative binder component is selected from the group consisting of sodium lignosulfonate and complex carbohydrate-based lignin compositions containing organic and inorganic ingredients.

13. A water-dispersible particle comprising:

an isobutylidene diurea present in an amount ranging from 5% to 99.9% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle; and

a lignin derivative binder component, present in an amount ranging from 1% to 95% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle, the particle having a mean particle domain size from 0.1 millimeter to 30 millimeters;

the pellet dried such that the isobutylidene diurea and the binder component are present in a form such that contact with water causes particle dispersion into more than 100 pieces;

a biostimulant;

wherein the biostimulant is selected from the group consisting of;

a cytokinin, an auxin, a gibberellin, ethylene and absisic acid, and a combination thereof.

19. A process for making a water-dispersible particle comprising:

(a) mechanically aggregating into a pellet;

isobutylidene diurea present in an amount ranging from 5% to 99.9% by weight of dry weight of the particle and

a lignin derivative binder component, present in an amount ranging from 1% to 95% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle;

said particle having a mean particle domain size from 0.1 millimeter to 30 millimeters, the isobutylidene diurea and the binder present in a form such that contact with water causes particle dispersion into more than 100 pieces; and

(b) drying the pellet.

20. The process for making a water-dispersible particle of claim 19 further comprising the step of screening the particles to obtain a mean particle domain size ranging from 0.1 millimeter to 30 millimeters.