# US 2017/0280644 A1 · Hydroponics growing medium

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- Number: US 2017/0280644 A1
- Document ID: US20170280644A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/625,587
- Filed: 2017-06-16
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2009-11-12
- Assignees: Knauf Insulation, Inc.; Knauf Insulation SPRL
- Applicants: Knauf Insulation, Inc.; Knauf Insulation Sprl
- Inventors: Roger JACKSON; Tony AINDOW; George BAYBUTT
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280644A1

## CPC

- A01G 24/18: containing inorganic fibres, e.g. mineral wool
- A01G 24/44: in block, mat or sheet form
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)

## Abstract

A hydroponics growing medium comprising mineral fibres and an organic binder, the growing medium has a Weathered Interlaminar Strength of at least 4 kilopascals and a phenol content of less than or equal to 0.01% by weight.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hydroponics growing medium comprising mineral fibres and an organic binder, the growing medium having a Weathered Interlaminar Strength of at least 4 kilopascals and a phenol content of less than or equal to 0.01% by weight.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A hydroponics growing medium in accordance with claim 1, in which the Weathered Interlaminar Strength is at least 5 kilopascals.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A hydroponics growing medium in accordance with claim 1, in which the phenol content is less than 0.005 by weight, preferably less than 0.001% by weight.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A hydroponics growing medium in accordance with claim 1, in which the binder is substantially phenol free.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A hydroponics growing medium in accordance with claim 1, in which the binder content is in the range 2 to 10% by weight.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A hydroponics growing medium in accordance with claim 1, in which the binder content is greater than 4% by weight.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A hydroponics growing medium in accordance with claim 1, in which the binder is based on a reducing sugar.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A hydroponics growing medium in accordance with claim 1, in which the binder comprises at least one Maillard reaction product.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A hydroponics growing medium in accordance with claim 1, in which the binder is based on reaction products obtained by curing an aqueous solution comprising citric acid, ammonia and dextrose.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A hydroponics growing medium in accordance with claim 1, in which the binder is derived essentially from natural and/or sustainable raw materials.

### Claim 11

A hydroponics growing medium comprising mineral fibres and an organic binder, the growing medium having a Weathered Interlaminar Strength of at least 4 kilopascals and the binder being derived essentially from natural and/or sustainable raw materials.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A plant grown in a hydroponics growing medium according to claim 1.

### Claim 13

Use of a mineral fibre product comprising mineral fibres and an organic binder and having a Weathered Interlaminar Strength of at least 75 g/g and a phenol content of less than or equal to 0.01% as a hydroponics growing medium.