Fertilizer compositions, processes of making them, and pocesses of using them
AssigneeMelamine Chemicals, Inc.
InventorsG. Graham Allan, Donald E. Freepons, George M. Crews
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Relates to a fertilizer product in granular form, to processes for making and using it. The granules have strength, sizes and weights suitable for mechanical dispensing and application to and into the soil. These granules combine particles of a nitrogen source of poor solubility in pH 7 water at 20.degree. C., that converts slowly to a useful form, together with a binder that holds these fine particles together.
Claims27
A granular fertilizer product that in the soil is a source of nitrogen fertilizer values, said granules of said product being suitable for mechanical dispensing for application to and into the soil, said granules consisting of a mixture comprising:
- particles of a material selected from the group consisting of melamine, the mineral acid salts of melamine, and mixtures thereof, said particles having individual particle sizes not above 10 mesh in largest dimension, and
- an effective amount by weight of the granules of a water soluble binder that binds said particles in said binder in a form which is granular,
- the relative proportions of said particles of material and of said binder in said granular product being from 10 parts to 90 parts by weight of said particles of material and from 90 parts to 10 parts by weight of said binder,
- said binder being selected from the group consisting of:
- ammonium sulphate, potassium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, potassium nitrate, potassium chloride, ammonium chloride, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, urea, and mixtures thereof,
- said binder, after distribution of the granules in the soil, being capable of undergoing disintegration with release of said particles, thus permitting the action of water and microorganisms on said particles,
- said granules being suitable in granule strength and weight for mechanical dispensing and for application to and into the soil, the average crush strength of a sample of said granules, selected to have sizes of 3 mm. to 4 mm., being at least one pound per granules.
A fertilizer product in granular, agglomerated form that is suitable in granule strength, size and weight for mechanical dispensing and for application to and into the soil, comprising:
- fine particles of melamine having individual particles sizes not substantially above 400 micrometers in largest dimension, and
- a small but effective amount by weight of the fertilizer granular agglomerates of a water soluble binder that binds said particles in said binder in a form which is granular.
- said binder having characteristics such that after distribution of the granules in the soil, it will undergo disintegration with release of said particles in the soil to permit the action of water and microorganisms on said particles.
A granular fertilizer product that in the soil is a source of nitrogen fertilizer values, said granules of said product being suitable for mechanical dispensing for application to and into the soil, said granules consisting of a mixture of:
- particles of a material selected from the group consisting of melamine, the mineral acid salts of melamine, and mixture thereof, said particles having individual particle sizes not above 10 mesh in largest dimension, and constituting up to 99% by weight of said granules,
- an effective binding amount by weight of the granules of a water-insoluble binder that binds said particles in a form which is granular, the amount of said binder being at least 1% by weight of said granules,
- said binder, after distribution of the granules in the soil, permitting the action of water and microorganisms on said particles,
- said granules being suitable in granule strength and weight for mechanical dispensing and for application to and into the soil, the average crush strength of a sample of said granules, selected to have sizes of 3 mm. to 4 mm., being at least one pound per granule.
A process for making a granular fertilizer product for use as a source of fertilizer nitrogen, to produce agglomerated granules of sufficient strength, proper size, and adequate weight to be suitable for mechanical dispensing and application to and into the soil, from fine particles of a nitrogen source that is characterized by poor solubility in pH 7 water at 20.degree. C. and by slow conversion in the soil to a form in which it is useful to plant life growing in the soil, said nitrogen source being selected from the group consisting of melamine, the mineral acid salts of melamine, and mixtures thereof, said particles having individual particle sizes not above 10 mesh in largest dimension, said particles being present in an amount to comprise from 10% to 90% by weight of said granules, comprising:
- applying to said particles a small but effective amount of a binder so as to bind said fine particles together upon hardening of the binder in the form of granular agglomerates, said binder after distribution of the granules in the soil being capable of permitting the action of water and microorganisms on said particles,
- hardening said binder, and screening the agglomerated granules to produce granular agglomerated product having sizes in the range from 1 mm. to 10 mm.,
- said binder being selected and applied so that the average crush strength of a sample of said granules, selected to have sizes of 3 mm. to 4 mm., is at least one pound per granule.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.