Controlled release biodegradable coatings for seeds and fertilizers
AssigneeDanimer Bioplastics, Inc.
InventorsPhillip Van Trump, Joe B. Grubbs, III, Adam Johnson
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Abstract
A granular composition for agricultural coatings is disclosed. The granular composition is made up of a plurality of granulates having at least one 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 polyhydroxyalkanoates, such as monomer residues of 3-hydroxybutyrate and monomer residues of 3-hydroxyhexanoate. A method for making the coated granular composition and a method for controlled release of the granular material in the field are also disclosed.
Claims28
A granular composition for agricultural use comprising:
- a plurality of granulates having at least a first biodegradable coating layer applied over the granulates,
- wherein the granulates comprise a material selected from the group consisting of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, and wherein the polyhydroxyalkanoates comprising from about 70 to about 99 mole percent monomer residues of hydroxybutyrates and from about 1 to about 30 mole percent monomer residues of a different hydroxyalkanoate having from 5 to 22 carbon atoms.
A method for controlled release of a granular material, comprising the steps of:
- providing a granular composition comprising a plurality of granulates having a first biodegradable coating layer applied over the granulates, wherein the granulates comprise a material selected from the group consisting of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, and wherein the first biodegradable coating layer comprises polyhydroxyalkanoates, the polyhydroxyalkanoates comprising from about 70 to about 99 mole percent monomer residues of hydroxybutyrates and from about 1 to about 30 mole percent monomer residues of a different hydroxyalkanoate having from 5 to 22 carbon atoms;
- dispersing the granular composition over a plot of soil;
- dissolving at least the polyhydroxyalkanoates in the first biodegradable coating layer by exposing the plot of soil, and the granular composition dispersed therein, to moisture,
- wherein dissolution of the polyhydroxyalkanoates releases the granulate into the soil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.