Heated auger assembly and method of use

A process for coating a substrate with an additive, comprising:

• providing a heated auger assembly, the heated auger assembly comprising:
• a mixing auger, comprising, a first end, a second end, a substrate inlet, an additive inlet, and a product outlet, and
• a steam jacket surrounding at least a portion of an outer surface of the mixing auger,
• introducing the substrate into the mixing auger through the substrate inlet,
• softening the outer surface of the substrate by applying heat within the mixing auger, wherein steam is introduced to the steam jacket, elevating the temperature within the steam jacket, thereby causing the temperature within the mixing auger to increase to 150-240° F.;
• introducing a granular additive into the mixing auger;
• and
• coating the substrate with the granular additive via rotation of the mixing auger, wherein the softening of the outer surface of the substrate facilitates an increased adhesion of the granular additive on the outer surface of the substrate.

A process for coating a fertilizer substrate with an additive, comprising:

• providing a heated auger assembly, the heated auger assembly comprising:
• a mixing auger, comprising, a first end, a second end, a substrate inlet, an additive inlet, and a product outlet, and
• a steam jacket surrounding at least a portion of an outer surface of the mixing auger, and
• at least one of a steam injector;
• introducing the fertilizer substrate into the mixing auger through the substrate inlet,
• softening the outer surface of the fertilizer substrate by applying heat within the mixing auger, wherein steam is introduced to the steam jacket at 90 PSI at a feed rate of 5-10 tons per hour, elevating the temperature within the steam jacket, thereby causing the temperature within the mixing auger to increase to 150-240° F.;
• applying steam into the mixing auger through the at least one steam injector at a pressure of 10-15 PSI;
• introducing dicyandiamide (DCD) into the mixing auger at a rate of 20-25 lbs DCD per ton of fertilizer substrate;
• and
• coating the fertilizer substrate with the DCD for 0.5-5 minutes by rotating the mixing auger at a rate of 20-60 revolutions per minute, wherein the softening of the outer surface of the fertilizer granule facilitated by the increased heat within the mixing auger increases the coating reception of the DCD thereon.