Water Discharge & Water Retention Group

Abstract

To provide a water absorption and retention system adapted to cultivated areas. [Solution] A water-retaining aggregate characterized by being made by mixing and kneading finely ground cellulose S1 and finely ground pectin-containing fruit peel 3 with water 4. Preferably, a water-retaining aggregate is made by mixing and kneading finely ground cellulose S1, cellulose L2 which is longer in size than cellulose S, and finely ground pectin-containing fruit peel 3 with water 4.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Water retention system for cultivated land.

Background Art

[0002] There are water-absorbing polymers made from petroleum, which are used as absorbents for diapers and sanitary products. Also, plant-derived fine cellulose powder is treated as an additive to foods such as ice cream.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Documents

[0004]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Using the EF polymer described above, we are conducting demonstration studies in grain-producing regions of India and the United States to maintain the moisture environment in arid farmland. The main material used for moisture retention is "fruit peels containing minerals" such as citrus fruits and bananas, but the amount that can be produced using only fruit peels is limited. A certain amount of material that can be obtained locally is necessary; otherwise, the cost of the product will be high. Another problem is that the EF polymer absorbs 50 times its own weight in water, but it cannot absorb more than that. Fine powdered cellulose "300 μm or less, mineral-free" has a water absorption capacity of more than 200 times its own weight (the finer it is, the greater the water retention capacity), so combining the two would create a water absorption and retention aggregate that can adapt to farmland with long periods of drought. Ideally, there would also be a water absorption and retention aggregate adapted to each farmland. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is not about the manufacture of μ·n diameter cellulose powder, but rather, "the main point is that by utilizing the 'strong' water absorption and water retention capacity of finely powdered cellulose S, the water retention capacity of cultivated land can be maintained." Furthermore, by adding finely ground pectin-containing fruit peel (3) to the finely powdered cellulose S (1) and water (4) and kneading it, not only is water absorption and retention capacity increased, but "minerals contained in fruit peel that are not present in cellulose can be added to the cultivated land." Alternatively, a "highly water-retaining aggregate" can be conceivable in which cellulose S (1) is mixed with water (4) and plant-derived thickening polysaccharides (6) such as bagasse (8), fruit peel (3), or mekabu, and moistened cellulose L (2) is intertwined with the inner layer of cellulose S (1) to create an "outer layer." The cellulose powder material to be "combined" with the material "thickening polysaccharides from fruit peels" or "polysaccharides and thickening polysaccharides derived from plants other than fruit peels" is mainly made from pulp materials such as wood scraps and Indian bamboo (6), bagasse (8) from coconut shells and sugarcane, corn stalks (7), and rice and wheat stalks (7), so the material can be supplied in abundance. Then, by forming an aggregate "made by mixing and kneading cellulose S (1) with polysaccharides or thickening polysaccharides and water" or "an aggregate made by layering cellulose L (2), which has the ability to regulate water retention and release, on a water-retaining inner layer made by adding polysaccharides or thickening polysaccharides and water to cellulose S (1)", a material is created that has both "water absorption and retention capacity" and "moderate water release capacity". [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] Firstly, mixing finely powdered cellulose S(1) with fruit peel (3) results in a "stronger" increase in water absorption and retention capacity compared to using only fruit peel. Alternatively, a composite material made by kneading cellulose S(1) with thickening polysaccharides (5) and water (4), and then layering cellulose L(2) on top, will have the following properties: "When the water retention environment of the cultivated land is sufficiently met, the cellulose L(2) suppresses the release of water contained in the composite material," and "during dry periods, it has the function of releasing the moisture contained in the composite material." When considering cellulose material for such a composite material, the "stalks" of wheat and corn cultivated in granaries come to mind, but in India, the production of bamboo (paper material) with narrow cavities and sugarcane is also thriving, and in America, the production of wheat and corn is thriving, so cellulose material can be made primarily from the "residues" of these plants, and timber scraps can also be obtained through local production and consumption, so "manufacturing costs can be significantly reduced." Furthermore, while the invention also requires mineral-containing polysaccharides and thickening polysaccharides, these can be easily obtained from materials such as bagasse, fucoidan, knotweed sap, banana peels (from India), California orange peels, and grape skins (produced worldwide). A key feature of the aggregate of this invention is that even in dry cultivated land, flooding can occur, but the aggregate can absorb a large amount of water, thus preventing topsoil collapse and maintaining a suitable level of soil moisture. Additionally, by sowing the aggregate with cellulose L applied to the outer layer in cultivated land, the aggregate mixes into the soil, creating spaces that allow plant roots to easily absorb air. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] An example of a simple manufacturing process for the aggregate of Example 1 [Figure 2] Comparison of water retention and water release effects between the simple manufacturing process of Example 2 and the aggregate of Example 1. [Figure 3] Example of a simple manufacturing process for Example 3 [Figure 4] Example of a simple manufacturing process for Example 3 [Figure 5] Comparison of water retention and water release effects of aggregates A, B, and C in Example 3 [Figure 6] A simple manufacturing process and example of structural form of aggregate D in Example 4 [Figure 7] An example of a simple manufacturing process using the thickening polysaccharide (5) of Example 5 [Figure 8] An example of a simple manufacturing process using the pulp material from Example 6 [Figure 9] An example of a simple manufacturing process using grain stalks from Example 7 [Figure 10] Example of a simple manufacturing process using bagasse from Example 8 [Figure 11] Diagram illustrating the aggregate to which natto bacteria were added in Example 9. [Figure 12] Diagram illustrating the porous material-added aggregate in Example 10 [Figure 13] Comparative form of products from each group in Example 12 [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] [Examples]

[0010] Currently, the drying out of grain-producing regions is a problem. Therefore, we are conducting demonstration experiments on moisture retention in grain-producing areas in India and the United States. The main material used is fruit peel (EF polymer), but using only fruit peel limits the amount of moisture-retaining product that can be produced. A sufficient quantity of the main material must be sourced locally; otherwise, the cost of the product will be high.

[0011] As the basic patent content of the present invention, "the main function of microcrystalline cellulose is that it has a great effect of absorbing and retaining water." It is an aggregate produced by adding water to the cellulose and mixing and kneading it with the finely divided material + the skin of the fruit (3) of pectin and thickening polysaccharides (materials with viscosity, minerals, and a certain water retention capacity). As an important point of the above-mentioned basic patent of 0011, although the skin of the fruit is rich in mineral components, its water retention capacity is weak and it is difficult to collect a large amount of the skin of the fruit. Microcrystalline cellulose has a large water absorption and water retention capacity, but it has no mineral components. Also, if only the fine particles of the fruit skin (3) and microcrystalline cellulose are used for production, it will not form a cohesive aggregate. Therefore, "when water (4) is used to connect the above-mentioned two, the skin of the fruit and microcrystalline cellulose, a cohesive aggregate can be produced." As the above-mentioned final products, "an aggregate containing moisture" and "a dried aggregate" can be considered. Although it is better to be "lighter" to "transport a large amount of the dried aggregate to the cultivated land", if there is no water source near the dried cultivated land, the effectiveness of this patent will be lost. "When there is no water source near the dried cultivated land", it is more optimal to sow the aggregate containing water on the cultivated land for the dried cultivated land. As an example of production, an aggregate A is produced by adding water (4) to cellulose S(1) with a water absorption and water retention capacity of 1000 μm or less produced by wet grinding, and the finely divided material of the pectin-containing fruit skin (3) and mixing and kneading them. As the production method of the above-mentioned cellulose S(1), microcrystalline cellulose S(1) can be obtained by using a "disk mill device" or rolling metal balls such as iron in hot water with cellulose raw materials. Figure 1 is an example of a simple manufacturing process of the aggregate in Example 1

Example

[0012] An aggregate B is made by adding water (4) to microcrystalline cellulose S(1), cellulose L(2) which is longer in size than cellulose S, and the finely divided material of the pectin-containing fruit skin (3), mixing and kneading them. Compared with the aggregate specified in Example 1, "the water release capacity of this aggregate is greater", and conversely, "the water absorption capacity of the aggregate B is greater than that of the aggregate A". Figure 2 shows the comparison of the water retention effect and water release effect between the simple manufacturing process of Example 2 and the aggregate A of Example 1

Example

[0013] In the inner layer of an aggregate formed by adding and mixing fine cellulose S(1) or a mixture of cellulose S(1), cellulose L(2), pectin-containing fruit skin (3), and water (4), an outer layer is formed by entangling wet cellulose L(2) with water, resulting in aggregates C1 and C2. The water retention capacity of aggregates C1 and C2 can be greater than that of aggregate A in claim 1. Also, by sowing the aggregate C of this example into the cultivated land, spaces are created in the soil of the cultivated land, improving air permeability, which enables plant roots to better take in air. Figure 3 shows an example of a simple manufacturing process for aggregate C1 in Example 3. Figure 4 shows an example of a simple manufacturing process for aggregate C2 in this example. Figure 5 shows a comparison of the water retention and water release effects of C, A, and B in this example.

Example

[0014] It is a columnar aggregate composed of cellulose and fruit skin with different sizes. The inner layer is made by finely mixing fine cellulose S(1) and pectin-containing fruit skin (3) and adding water (4) to form a columnar aggregate, which is then wrapped and formed with cellulose L(2) that is longer in size than cellulose S. In the manufacturing process, a columnar aggregate formed by placing a columnar aggregate on a bed of cellulose L(2) moistened with water (4) and entangling and rolling it into a ball is cut to an appropriate length to obtain aggregate D as the product. Figure 6 shows an example of a simple manufacturing process and a structural form in this example.

Example

[0015] The content of this invention uses plant-derived thickening polysaccharides (5) other than fruit skin instead of the fruit skin (3) specified in Examples 1 to 4. Aggregates A, B, C, and D are formed by mixing and kneading thickening polysaccharides (5) produced from fucoidan, Japanese knotweed sap, plants of the genus Acacia in the legume family, etc., cellulose S(1), cellulose L(2), and water (4). Figure 7 shows an example of a simple manufacturing process using the thickening polysaccharide (5) in this example.

Example

[0016] As an example of the manufacturing process in this embodiment, cellulose S(1), a fine powder with water absorption and retention properties produced by wet grinding, and cellulose L(2), which has water retention and water release properties, can be obtained from pulp materials (6) such as wood, "Indian bamboo," wood scraps, and recycled paper. Furthermore, cellulose L(2), which consists of wood scraps and other wood chips, is produced by hydrolyzing and grinding short pieces of wood. The papermaking method allows for the easy production of aggregates with a diameter of approximately 3 mm to 10 mm by using water (4) to improve the entanglement of cellulose S(1) and cellulose L(2), produced by hydrolysis or mechanical grinding, along with fruit peels (3) and thickening polysaccharides (5). Figure 8 shows an example of the manufacturing process using the pulp materials in this embodiment. [Examples]

[0017] The material for the cellulose in question is cellulose powder produced from grain stalks (7). The materials for cellulose S (1) and cellulose L (2) can be obtained from grain stalks such as corn, wheat, or rice stalks (straw) (7). In particular, cellulose L (2) can be produced by "beating" dried corn stalks or wheat or rice straw, then hydrolyzing and "grinding" them to produce cellulose S (1) and long cellulose L (2), or by papermaking means (cellulose L). These can be intertwined with water (4) to produce aggregates A, B, C, and D. Figure 9 shows an example of a simple manufacturing process using grain stalks from Example 7. [Examples]

[0018] Cellulose S(1), a fine powder with water absorption and retention properties produced by wet grinding, and cellulose L(2), which has water release and water retention properties, can be produced from bagasse(8), the residue of sugarcane containing polysaccharides. When bagasse(8), the residue of sugarcane, is used as the material, cellulose S(1) is produced by finely cutting the bagasse (as it is after pressing the sugarcane) and producing fine powder cellulose S by wet grinding. Cellulose L can be produced by finely cutting the bagasse(8), soaking it in water, and then grinding it or by papermaking methods. In the manufacturing process, aggregates with a diameter of approximately 5 mm can be produced by enclosing and intertwining moistened cellulose L(2) in an inner layer sphere formed by adding water to the cellulose S(1). Figure 10 shows an example of a simple manufacturing process using bagasse. [Examples]

[0019] Natto bacteria (9) are added to the aggregate. Specifically, natto bacteria (9) improve the soil environment by improving the soil. There are many types of natto bacteria (9), and either a single type of natto bacteria (9) or several types of natto bacteria (9) can be added to the aggregate. Also, since "natto bacteria need nutrients to proliferate," the pectin-containing fruit peels (3) and polysaccharide-containing bagasse (8) and plant-derived thickening polysaccharides (5) other than fruit peels, as specified in Examples 1 to 5 and Example 8, serve as food for natto bacteria (9) and can increase their numbers. Fructan, the sticky component of natto, can also be mixed into the aggregate. Figure 11 is an example of a cross-sectional view of the structural form of the embodiment. [Examples]

[0020] Porous material particles (10), such as volcanic ash, finely ground coral fossils, or finely ground foraminifera fossils, are added to the cellulose aggregate. By adding porous material particles (10) to cellulose S (1), cellulose L (2), and thickening polysaccharides, it is possible to "adsorb harmful substances and modify the soil into alkaline soil." Water (4) is required when manufacturing the aggregate. In the manufacturing process, porous material particles (10) are added to cellulose S (1) and cellulose L (2), and the aggregate made with water (4), fruit peel (3), and thickening polysaccharides (5) can improve the topsoil of cultivated land. Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram of the porous material-added aggregate in this example. [Examples]

[0021] The aim is to create a product with water retention characteristics suited to each cultivated land by varying the size of cellulose S(1) and cellulose L(2), as well as the ratio of S to L. By changing the ratio of fine powdered cellulose S(1) to long cellulose L(2) of 0.1 mm or more, it is possible to adapt to the characteristics of water absorption retention and sustained water release that are appropriate for each cultivated land. If there is a lot of fine powdered cellulose and little long cellulose L(2), the water retention capacity will be strong, and conversely, if there is a lot of cellulose L(2), the water retention capacity will be weak and the water release capacity will be strong. [Examples]

[0022] The aggregate products in question can be categorized into three types: "a product containing sufficient moisture (4) from the beginning of sowing," "a product with moist aggregate," and "a product with dry aggregate." The idea is that applying a sufficiently moist aggregate to the cultivated land along with the initial sowing reduces water usage compared to watering dry cultivated land. However, while lighter dry aggregates are preferable for transport, if there is no water source near the cultivated land, an aggregate that contains moisture at the time of manufacture is best. Also, although natto bacteria (9) do not die even when dry, they require moisture, nutrients, and oxygen for proliferation, so a product with moisture present from the beginning (moist aggregate) can promote faster improvement of the cultivated land. Figure 13 shows a comparative representation of the products of each group in Example 12. [Industrial applicability]

[0023] It is possible to reduce water usage while increasing crop yield. Furthermore, cultivated land can be improved into high-quality soil by using this aggregate (which creates spaces in the soil of the cultivated land), porous material, and natto bacteria. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0024] 1 Cellulose S 2 Long cellulose L 3. Fruit peel 4 water 5. Thickening polysaccharides derived from plants other than fruit peels. 6. Pulp materials 7. Stalks of grains 8 Bacchus 9. Natto bacteria 10 Porous material particles

Claims

1. A water-retaining aggregate A is characterized by being made by mixing and kneading finely powdered cellulose S (1) and finely ground pectin-containing fruit peel (3) with water (4).

2. A water-retaining aggregate B is made by mixing and kneading finely powdered cellulose S (1), cellulose L (2) which is longer in size than cellulose S, and finely ground pectin-containing fruit peel (3) with water (4), characterized in that it has a higher water-releasing effect than the aggregate of claim 1.

3. A water-retaining aggregate C is formed by mixing and kneading finely powdered cellulose S (1) or cellulose S (1) and cellulose L (2) and pectin-containing fruit peel (3) and water (4) together, and then covering the inner layer of the aggregate with water-moistened cellulose L (2) to form an outer layer, characterized in that it has a higher water retention effect than aggregate A of claim 1.

4. A water-retaining aggregate characterized by having the contradictory properties of water absorption / retention and water release, formed by adding water (4) to a cylindrical aggregate made by mixing and kneading finely powdered cellulose S (1) and finely ground pectin-containing fruit peel (3) in the inner layer, and then forming the aggregate D into a roll shape with water (4) moistened cellulose L (2).

5. The water-retaining aggregate according to one of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, characterized in that a thickening polysaccharide (5) derived from a plant other than the fruit peel (3) is used instead of the fruit peel (3).

6. The water discharge and water retention aggregate according to one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, characterized in that the cellulose material is cellulose powder produced from wood, Indian bamboo, recycled paper, or other pulp materials (6).

7. The water discharge and water retention aggregate according to one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, characterized in that the cellulose material is cellulose powder produced from the stalks (7) of grains.

8. The water discharge and water retention aggregate according to one of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, characterized in that the cellulose material is cellulose powder produced from bagasse (8), which is the residue of sugarcane containing polysaccharides.

9. A water discharge and water retention aggregate according to one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 8, characterized in that natto bacteria (9) are added to the aggregate in order to improve barren farmland and turn it into good farmland.

10. The water discharge and water retention aggregate according to one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, characterized in that porous material particles (10) such as volcanic ejecta, foraminifera fossils, or coral fossils are added to the aggregate.

11. The water discharge and water retention assembly according to one of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, characterized in that the assembly's products consist of a dry product, a wet product, and a product containing sufficient water.

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