Back to results
US 2026/0076316 A1Published application
Bentonite-containing hydrogels and related methods
OwnerTimothy Cuthbertson, Jonathan Romo +1inventors
InventorsTimothy Cuthbertson, Jonathan Romo, Isabel N. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Horticultural hydrogels are provided that include bentonite. Methods of increasing plant mass and processes for manufacturing/preparing horticultural hydrogels are also provided.
Claims17
A horticultural hydrogel comprising:
- about 90.0% w/w/to about 99.0% w/w water;
- about 0.50% w/w to about 5.0% w/w carrageenan;
- and
- about 0.50% w/w/to about 5.0% w/w bentonite,
- wherein, when used as a growth medium for a plant, the horticultural hydrogel results in an increase in plant mass of at least about 10% relative to a plant grown in a horticultural hydrogel without bentonite.
2 more elements
A method of preparing a horticultural hydrogel comprising the steps of:
- heating water to a temperature of from about 80° C. to about 90° C.;
- introducing one or more components to the heated water to form a mixture, the one or more components selected from the group consisting of carrageenan, bentonite, acidic activated carbon, calcium nitrate, and micronutrient fertilizer;
- introducing the mixture to plant plug mold;
- and
- cooling the mixture within the plug mold to form a solidified horticultural hydrogel.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.