Fertilizer compositions and method of making such compositions
AssigneeVigoro Industries, Inc.
InventorsBobby E. Rehberg, William L. Hall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved fertilizer composition is disclosed, including particles of a sparingly soluble fertilizer source having porous outer surfaces (for example, IBDU.RTM.) which have been coated with a hard outer coating that substantially covers the surface of each of the particles and substantially fills the pores in the surface of each of the particles. The particles are thereby hardened by the coating and are given increased resistance to abrasion and dust formation. The hardened outer coating is preferably formed when a liquid binder (which preferably includes a mixture of urea and a lignosulfonate) is sprayed onto the particles and then allowed to harden or cure. A process for making such hardened fertilizer particles is also disclosed.
Claims12
A process for making a fertilizer composition comprising:
- providing particles of isobutylidene diurea, said particles having porous outer surfaces,
- substantially covering the surface of each particle and substantially filling the pores in the surface of each particle with an aqueous mixture of a lignosulfonate and urea, and
- allowing said solution to dry to form a hard, outer coating, whereby said particles are hardened and given increased resistance to dust formation.
A fertilizer composition comprising:
- (a) particles of an isobutylidene diurea fertilizer substrate, said particles having porous outer surfaces;
- and
- (b) a hard coating comprising a urea source composition comprising urea and a lignosulfonate substantially covering the surface and substantially filling the pores of each particle, the hard coating being formed by applying the urea source composition to the isobutylidene diurea fertilizer substrate particles and allowing the urea source composition to harden or cure;
- wherein said fertilizer composition has improved resistance to dust formation and wherein the urea source composition provides nutritive value in addition to the isobutylidene diurea fertilizer substrate such that the nutrient value of the coated isobutylidene diurea fertilizer composition is not significantly reduced or diluted.
A process for making a fertilizer composition comprising:
- (a) providing particles of an isobutylidene diurea fertilizer substrate, said particles having porous outer surfaces;
- (b) substantially coating the surface and filling the pores of each particle with a urea source composition comprising a urea composition and a lignosulfonate;
- and
- (c) allowing the urea source composition to harden or cure to form a hard, outer coating on said particles;
- wherein said coated particles have increased hardness and resistance to dust formation, and wherein said coating provides nutritive value in addition to the isobutylidene diurea fertilizer substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.