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US 6,582,637 B1Granted
Compost granulation method
AssigneeAgronomic Growth Industries Ltd.
InventorRobin Phinney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method of granulating compost for the formulation of fertilizers. In one embodiment, the compost is ground to dust and pan granulated. A variety of ancillary materials may be incorporated into the compost mix for a wide range of possible applications. An embodiment is provided where agricultural seeds may be encapsulated in compost to enhance the quality of seed and reduce wastage during planting.
Claims8
A method of granulating compost material, comprising the steps of:
- providing a source of dried pulverized compost material in a size distribution of 90% of less than −150 mesh;
- forming a moist mixture of dried pulverized compost and binder containing moisture, said mixture containing up to 11% by weight free moisture in said mixture;
- mixing said mixture sufficiently to invert the hydrophobicity of said pulverized compost material, where said pulverized compost material absorbs said moisture from said binder and forms a flowable compound;
- granulating said mixture into granules on a pan by contact of said mixture with additional binder material and a surfactant;
- and
- forming compost granules in a size distribution of 3 mesh to 12 mesh.
3 more elements
A method of granulating compost material, comprising the steps of:
- providing a souce of dried pulverized compost material in a size distribution of 90% of less than −150 mesh;
- forming a moist mixture of dried pulverized compost and binder containing moisture, said mixture containing up to 11% by weight free moisture;
- mixing said mixture sufficiently to invert the hydrophobicity of said pulverized compost material, where said pulverized compost material absorbs said moisture from said binder and forms a flowable compound;
- granulating in a first stage said mixture into granules on a pan by contact of said mixture with additional binder material and a surfactant, said granules being in a size distribution of between 3 mesh and 12 mesh;
- granulating said granules in said size distribution of between 3 mesh and 12 mesh in a second stage with said mixture and additional binder;
- and
- forming compost granules in a size distribution of between −3 mesh and +8 mesh.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.