# US 12,595,394 B2 · PLA / PHA biodegradable coatings for seeds and fertilizers

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- Number: US 12,595,394 B2
- Document ID: US12595394B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/880,083
- Filed: 2020-05-21
- Published: 2020-11-26
- Granted: 2026-04-07
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-24
- Assignees: Danimer IPCo, LLC
- Applicants: Danimer IPCo, LLC
- Inventors: Joe B. Grubbs, III; Jason John Locklin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12595394B2

## CPC

- C09D 167/04: Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids, e.g. lactones (C09D167/06 takes precedence)
- C08G 63/06: derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids
- A01C 1/06: Coating or dressing seed
- A01N 25/12: Powders or granules (A01N25/26 takes precedence)
- A01N 25/26: in coated particulate form
- C05G 5/37: {layered or coated with a polymer}
- C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D)
- C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
- A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00)
- A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
- 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 (organic fertilisers containing added bacterial cultures, mycelia, or the like C05F11/08; organic fertilisers containing plant vitamins or hormones C05F11/10); FERTILISERS CHARACTERISED BY THEIR FORM

## Abstract

A granular composition for agricultural is disclosed. The granular composition is made up of a plurality of granulates having a biodegradable coating applied over the granulates. The granulates are selected from the group consisting of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. The biodegradable coating is made up of polylactic acid and polyhydroxyalkanoates. A method for making the coated granular composition and a method for controlled release of the granular material in the field are also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A granular composition for agricultural use comprising:
a plurality of granulates having a biodegradable coating applied over the granulates,
wherein the granulates comprise a material selected from the group consisting of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, and
wherein the biodegradable coating comprises from about 5 to about 75 weight percent polylactic acid and from about 25 to about 95 weight percent polyhydroxyalkanoates,
wherein the biodegradable coating is annealed at 150-170° C. or exposed to solvent vapors after application to form a continuous phase of polylactic acid having globules of the polyhydroxyalkanoates homogeneously dispersed within the continuous phase, wherein the globules have an average size of from about 2 nm to about 10 micron.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The granular composition of claim 1, wherein the granulates comprise seeds.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The granular composition of claim 1, wherein the granulates comprise fertilizer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The granular composition of claim 1, wherein the granulates comprise pesticide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The granular composition of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable coating comprises polylactic acid having a weight average molecular weight from about 10,000 to about 250,000 Daltons.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The granular composition of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable coating comprises polyhydroxyalkanoates having a weight average molecular weight from about 50,000 to about 2.5 million Daltons.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The granular composition of claim 1, wherein the granulates have an average particle size, before coating, from about 1 to about 25 mm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The granular composition of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable coating comprises from about 10 to about 50 weight percent polylactic acid and from about 50 to about 90 weight percent polyhydroxyalkanoates.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The granular composition of claim 1, wherein the polyhydroxyalkanoates comprise from about 70 to about 99 mole percent monomer residues of 3-hydroxybutyrate and from about 1 to about 30 mole percent monomer residues of 3-hydroxyhexanoate.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The granular composition of claim 1, wherein the polyhydroxyalkanoates comprise three or more different types of hydroxyalkanoate monomer residues, each having from 5 to 22 carbon atoms.

### Claim 11

A method for making a coated granular composition, comprising the steps of:
mixing polylactic acid and a polyhydroxyalkanoate, optionally in the presence of a solvent, at a temperature from about 25° C. to about 180° C. to provide a coating mixture;
applying the coating mixture over outer surfaces of a plurality of granulates comprising a material selected from the group consisting of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides;
solidifying the coating mixture to create a biodegradable coating over the outer surfaces of the plurality of granulates, and
annealing the biodegradable coating in order to form a continuous phase of polylactic acid having globules of the polyhydroxyalkanoates homogeneously dispersed within the continuous phase, wherein the globules have an average size of from about 2 nm to about 10 micron, wherein the annealing comprises thermal annealing at 150-170° C. or solvent annealing by exposing the biodegradable coating to solvent vapors.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the granulates comprise seeds.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the granulates comprise fertilizer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the granulates comprise pesticide.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the biodegradable coating comprises polylactic acid having a weight average molecular weight from about 10,000 to about 250,000 Daltons.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the biodegradable coating comprises polyhydroxyalkanoates having a weight average molecular weight from about 50,000 to about 2.5 million Daltons.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the granulates have an average particle size, before coating, from about 1 to about 25 mm.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the solid biodegradable coating comprises from about 10 to about 30 weight percent polylactic acid and from about 70 to about 90 weight percent polyhydroxyalkanoates.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the polyhydroxyalkanoates comprise from about 70 to about 99 mole percent monomer residues of 3-hydroxybutyrate and from about 1 to about 30 mole percent monomer residues of 3-hydroxyhexanoate.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the polyhydroxyalkanoates comprise three or more different types of hydroxyalkanoate monomer residues, each having from 5 to 22 carbon atoms.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

A method for controlled release of a granular material, comprising the steps of:
providing a granular composition according to claim 1;
dispersing the granular composition over a plot of soil;
dissolving at least the polyhydroxyalkanoates in the biodegradable coating by exposing the plot of soil, and the granular composition dispersed therein, to moisture,
wherein dissolution of the polyhydroxyalkanoates forms a plurality of channels in the biodegradable coating through which the granulate material may be released into the soil.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the biodegradable coating comprises from about 10 to about 30 weight percent polylactic acid and from about 70 to about 90 weight percent polyhydroxyalkanoates.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the polyhydroxyalkanoates comprise from about 70 to about 99 mole percent monomer residues of 3-hydroxybutyrate and from about 1 to about 30 mole percent monomer residues of 3-hydroxyhexanoate.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein at least about 50 percent of the polyhydroxyalkanoates in the biodegradable coating are dissolved after about 21 days exposure to moisture in the plot of soil.