Micronutrient fertilizers and methods of making and using the same
AssigneeAgtec Innovations, Inc.
InventorChandrika Varadachari
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A water insoluble micronutrient fertilizer, methods of producing, and methods of using the same are provided. The fertilizer may comprise at least one first micronutrient selected from the group consisting of chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc; a polyphosphate; and optionally at least one second micronutrient selected from the group consisting of boron, chlorine, iodine, molybdenum or selenium. The fertilizer compounds are preferably water insoluble, dilute acid soluble, and free-flowing powders.
Claims40
A method of producing micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition, the method comprising (i) dissolving a metal containing-compound in phosphoric acid to form a reaction mixture containing phosphoric acid and cations other than protons, the cations comprising metal cations of the dissolved metal containing-compound, the amount of phosphoric acid in the reaction mixture being less than the stoichiometric amount required for the complete conversion of the cations to the corresponding dihydrogen phosphate, the metal containing-compound comprising a micronutrient metal selected from the group consisting of chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc, (ii) heating the reaction mixture, (iii) adding water to the heated reaction mixture, (iv) polymerizing the phosphoric acid and dissolved micronutrient metal cations to form the micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition, and (iv) neutralizing the micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition with a neutralizing base, the solubility of the neutralized micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition in water, 2 wt. % citric acid and 0.1 N HCl being such that (a) in a 10 minute period and at room temperature, a 50 mg sample of the neutralized micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition immersed in 50 ml of water at neutral pH releases no more than 15% of its micronutrient metal content and (b) in a 1 hour period and at room temperature, a 50 mg sample of the neutralized micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition immersed in 25 ml of 2 wt % citric acid is capable of releasing at least 70% of the amount of the micronutrient metal released by a 50 mg sample of the neutralized micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition immersed in 25 ml of 0.1 N HCl.
A fertilizer comprising a micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition, the micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition comprising at least one primary micronutrient metal selected from the group consisting of chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc, and optionally at least one second micronutrient selected from the group consisting of boron, chlorine, iodine, molybdenum and selenium, wherein (i) the micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition has a number average chain length in the range of about 1.5 to 30 phosphate units, (ii) the micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition is derived from a polymerization reaction mixture containing phosphoric acid and cations other than protons, the cations comprising metal cations of the primary micronutrient metal(s) wherein the amount of phosphoric acid in the polymerization reaction mixture is less than the stoichiometric amount required for the complete conversion of the cations to the corresponding dihydrogen phosphate, (iii) the solubility of the neutralized micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition in water, 2 wt. % citric acid and 0.1 N HCl is such that (a) in a 10 minute period and at room temperature, a 50 mg sample of the neutralized micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition immersed in 50 ml of water at neutral pH releases no more than 15% of its micronutrient metal content and (b) in a 1 hour period and at room temperature, a 50 mg sample of the neutralized micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition immersed in 25 ml of 2 wt % citric acid is capable of releasing at least 70% of the amount of the micronutrient metal released by a 50 mg sample of the neutralized micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition immersed in 25 ml of 0.1 N HCl, and (iv) the fertilizer is a free-flowing powder.
A fertilizer in solid form, the fertilizer comprising a micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition containing a micronutrient metal selected from the group consisting of chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, zinc and combinations thereof wherein (i) the ratio of the combined number of equivalents of the micronutrient metal(s), M, to the number of equivalents of phosphorous, P, in the micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition has a value of M:P that is greater than 0.23:1 and (ii) the solubility of the micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition in water, 2 wt. % citric acid and 0.1 N HCl is such that (a) in a 10 minute period and at room temperature, a 50 mg sample of the micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition immersed in 50 ml of water at neutral pH releases no more than 15% of its micronutrient metal content and (b) in a 1 hour period and at room temperature, a 50 mg sample of the micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition immersed in 25 ml of 2 wt % citric acid is capable of releasing at least 70% of the amount of the micronutrient metal released by a 50 mg sample of the micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition immersed in 25 ml of 0.1 N HCl.
A fertilizer in solid form, the fertilizer comprising a micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition, the micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition being water-insoluble and 2 wt. % citric acid soluble, the micronutrient metal polyphosphate comprising zinc and, optionally, one or more micronutrient metals selected from the group consisting of chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, and manganese as micronutrients wherein the micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition is characterized by having an X-ray diffraction reflection at one or more of the following positions:
- 8.72 (±0.09), 6.88 (±0.07), 4.834 (±0.025), 4.24 (±0.02), 4.20 (±0.02), 3.68 (±0.01), 3.58 (±0.01), 3.38 (±0.01), 2.848 (±0.009), 2.585(±0.007), 2.430 (±0.007), 2.071 (±0.005), 1.934 (±0.004), 1.80 (±0.003), 1.721 (±0.0029), 1.667 (±0.0028), 1.660 (±0.0027), 1.620 (±0.0027), 1.615 (±0.0026), 1.594 (±0.0025), and 1.564 (±0.0024) Å.
A fertilizer in solid form, the fertilizer comprising a micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition, the micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition being water-insoluble and 2 wt. % citric acid soluble, the micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition comprising iron, manganese or copper as micronutrients, wherein the micronutrient metal polyphosphate composition is characterized by having an X-ray diffraction reflection at one or more of the following positions:
- 8.17(±0.09), 5.16 (±0.03), 4.16(±0.02), 3.48 (±0.01), 3.44 (±0.01), 2.57 (±0.007), 2.15 (±0.005), 1.96 (±0.004), and 1.75 (±0.003) Å.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.