# US 9,517,974 B2 · Methods to convert mealworm castings to organic fertilizer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,974 B2 - Document ID: US9517974B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/186,324 - Filed: 2016-06-17 - Published: 2016-10-13 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-09 - Applicants: Joseph J. Caro - Inventors: Joseph J. Caro - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517974B2 ## CPC - C05F 1/005: {from meat-wastes or from other wastes of animal origin, e.g. skins, hair, hoofs, feathers, blood} - C05B 17/00: Other phosphatic fertilisers, e.g. soft rock phosphates, bone meal - C05F 3/00: Fertilisers from human or animal excrements, e.g. manure - C05F 17/05: Treatments involving invertebrates, e.g. worms, flies or maggots - C05G 5/20: Liquid fertilisers (layered or coated C05G5/30; incorporated into a matrix C05G5/40) - C05G 5/23: Solutions - Y02A 40/20: Fertilizers of biological origin, e.g. guano or fertilizers made from animal corpses - Y02P 20/145: the feedstock being materials of biological origin - Y02W 30/40: Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse - C05F: ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE - C05B: PHOSPHATIC FERTILISERS - C05G: MIXTURES OF FERTILISERS COVERED INDIVIDUALLY BY DIFFERENT SUBCLASSES OF CLASS C05; MIXTURES OF ONE OR MORE FERTILISERS WITH MATERIALS NOT HAVING A SPECIFIC FERTILISING ACTIVITY, e.g. PESTICIDES, SOIL-CONDITIONERS, WETTING AGENTS (organic fertilisers containing added bacterial cultures, mycelia, or the like C05F11/08; organic fertilisers containing plant vitamins or hormones C05F11/10); FERTILISERS CHARACTERISED BY THEIR FORM - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract Methods to convert the light and powdery mealworm castings into a suitable fertilizer product are disclosed. The methods can include saturating the mealworm castings using an infusion process with a liquid, such as water, until an elevated temperature is reached. The mealworm castings can be replenished and the infusion process can be repeated until the targeted N—P—K rating is achieved. The saturated mealworm castings or mealworm castings can be dried and formed into fertilizer pellets or into a granular soil-like product. In some examples, a binding agent such as dried mashed potato extract can be added to the saturated mealworm castings. In some examples, the fertilizer excludes artificially produced chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, and steroids. In some examples, the fertilizer has an N—P—K rating of 4-3-2. In some examples, the mealworm castings are produced by mealworms fed wheat bran and raw carrots. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for forming a fertilizer, the method comprising: heating a first liquid to an elevated temperature; pressurizing the heated first liquid with a pump; allowing the pressurized heated first liquid to pass through a pipe; transporting the pressurized heated first liquid using the pipe to a plurality of spray jets; spraying Tenebrio molitor castings with the pressurized heated first liquid using the plurality of spray jets; extracting nutrients from the Tenebrio molitor castings; and collecting a second liquid including the extracted nutrients. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: recirculating the second liquid with the pump through the pipe; recirculating the second liquid through the plurality of spray jets; spraying Tenebrio molitor castings with the second liquid using the plurality of spray jets; extracting additional nutrients from the Tenebrio molitor castings; and collecting a third liquid, the third liquid including the second liquid and the extracted additional nutrients. ### Claim 3 The method of claim of 2, further comprising: replacing the sprayed Tenebrio molitor castings with unexposed Tenebrio molitor castings prior to spraying with the second liquid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein pressurizing the heated first liquid includes injecting the first liquid at a pressure of 15 pounds per square inch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein pressurizing the heated first liquid includes injecting the first liquid at a pressure of 5 pounds per square inch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: filling a tank with the first liquid prior to heating the first liquid, the first liquid consisting of non-chlorinated or distilled water. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein filling the tank with the first liquid includes adding the first liquid to the tank until 66.6% of the tank is filled with the first liquid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: filling a first portion of a container with the Tenebrio molitor castings; positioning the plurality of spray jets in the container; and filling a second portion of the container with additional Tenebrio molitor castings. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein filling the first portion of the container includes adding the Tenebrio molitor castings until 50% of the container is filled with the Tenebrio molitor castings. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the elevated temperature is 120° F. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the elevated temperature is 90° F. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein extracting nutrients from the Tenebrio molitor castings includes creating a turbulence in the Tenebrio molitor castings. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein collecting the second liquid includes allowing the second liquid to pass through one or more openings of a container, the container including the Tenebrio molitor castings. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein extracting nutrients from the Tenebrio molitor castings includes: saturating the Tenebrio molitor castings with the pressurized heated first liquid; and mixing the nutrients with the pressurized heated first liquid to create the second liquid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a N—P—K value of the second liquid; and removing the second liquid from a tank when the N—P—K value greater than or equal to a targeted N—P—K value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a color of the second liquid; and removing the second liquid from a tank when the color of the second liquid is black and opaque. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: adding one part water to three parts of the second liquid to create the fertilizer, the fertilizer being a liquid fertilizer; and using the liquid fertilizer as a pest or mold deterrent. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: adding one part water to four parts of the second liquid to create the fertilizer, the fertilizer being a liquid fertilizer; and using the liquid fertilizer as a foliar spray. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: adding one part water to tens parts of the second liquid to create the fertilizer, the fertilizer being a liquid fertilizer; and using the liquid fertilizer for irrigation or in a drip-line system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the fertilizer is a bio-fertilizer including over 75 million microbes.