Synthetic gypsum fertilizer product and method of making
AssigneeSul4R-Plus, LLC
InventorsTerrell Dallas Ginn, Danny Lynn Gray
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention are directed to pelletized synthetic gypsum and methods and systems for producing pelletized synthetic gypsum. Synthetic gypsum is combined with a binder composition and pelletized to a desired size. The binder composition may include lignosulfonate. Additives may be included in the pellets such as various plant nutrients and micro-nutrients. An additive may include elemental sulfur. The resulting pellets may have a mean pellet size guide number (SGN) from approximately 150 to approximately 300 and a crush strength from approximately 2 lbf to approximately 12 lbf.
Claims12
A method of producing a fertilizer comprising:
- feeding synthetic gypsum to a drying device;
- drying the synthetic gypsum at a temperature below 262° F., wherein the synthetic gypsum is dried to less than 2% moisture;
- calcining the dried synthetic gypsum to convert the synthetic gypsum into either alpha-hemihydrate or beta-hemihydrate;
- feeding the calcined synthetic gypsum to a mixing device;
- feeding a binder composition to the mixing device;
- mixing the calcined synthetic gypsum and binder composition to form a mixture;
- feeding the mixture to a forming device, wherein the forming device comprises an extruder;
- and
- forming the mixture into pellets having a mean pellet size guide number (SGN) from approximately 150 to approximately 300, wherein the resulting pelletized synthetic pellets have a crush strength from approximately 2 lbf to approximately 12 lbf.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.