Composition of suspended sulphur fertilizer based on urea-ammonium nitrate solution

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a composition of nitrogen-sulphur fertilizer concentrate containing 10-45% (w / w) of milled sulphur, 90-55% of (w / w) urea-ammonium nitrate solution, 0.1-2% (w / w) of sodium lignosulphonate, 0.01-1% (w / w) of xanthan gum, 0.1-1% (w / w) of clay material, preferably in a form of powdered attapulgite with particle size d90<30 μm, wherein 90% (w / w) particles have a size of less than 30 μm. The subject of the invention is also a composition of nitrogen-sulphur fertilizer concentrate containing 39% (w / w) of milled sulphur with particle size below 100 μm, 60% of aqueous urea-ammonium nitrate solution 28-32%, 0.5% (w / w) of sodium lignosulphonate, 0.1% (w / w) of xanthan gum, 0.3% (w / w) of clay material in the form of powdered attapulgite (magnesium and aluminum silicate), particle size d90<30 μm (90% (w / w) of the particles have a size smaller than 30 μm).

Description

[0001] COMPOSITION OF SUSPENDED SULPHUR FERTILIZER BASED ON UREA-AMMONIUM NITRATE SOLUTION

[0002] The subject of the invention is a new composition of suspended nitrogen-sulphur fertilizer based on urea-ammonium nitrate solution. Due to its properties, it will be possible to obtain a stabilised sulphur suspension, which will be used by farmers as an addition to liquid UAN fertilizer.

[0003] Sulphur is a very important component of soil. Sulphur increases protein and fat content in seeds, and also increases plant resistance to diseases, drought, temperature variations and pathogens. Any disturbances in availability of this element affect photosynthetic reactions. In the plant, sulphur is also responsible for capture and detoxification of heavy metal ions, and it is a component of mustard and essential oils, which provide natural protection against pathogens and pests. Additionally, elemental sulphur acts as a pesticide and / or fungicide against some soil pests and microorganisms. A good way to supply sulphur to the soil is to use liquid suspension fertilizers. Suspension fertilizers can be applied both to the soil and to the leaves. High fragmentation of a solid means better absorption of an ingredient by plants. The main disadvantage of suspension fertilizers is a sedimentation process that occurs in two-phase systems. When using liquid fertilizers, practical knowledge of their properties is important. Each product must be stable during use. When the ambient temperature drops, long-term storage of liquid fertilizers becomes problematic and accurate knowledge of the saturation temperature is necessary. In addition to problems with crystallization, a tendency to phase separation is also dangerous.

[0004] Liquid nitrogen fertilizers with added sulphur are known. In many of them, sulphur appears as a supplement to the main components (N, P, K). These are mainly sulphate fertilizers, which are a direct source of this nutrient for plants. Sulphate sulphur most often occurs as ammonium sulphate, but it can also occur as potassium, calcium or magnesium sulphate. Sulphate sulphur is found in most mineral fertilizers in amounts ranging from several percent to between ten and twenty percent [5], Solid ammonium sulphate contains about 24% of sulphur. Liquid fertilizers available on the market contain 6 and 3% of sulphur, respectively. These are fertilizers for soil application and are applied using coarse spraying or pouring into the ground.

[0005] The purpose of the invention is to obtain a fertilizer concentrate that does not sediment. The subject of the invention is a fertilizer concentrate containing 10-45% (w / w) of milled sulphur, 55-90% (w / w) of urea-ammonium nitrate solution, 0.1-2% (w / w) of sodium lignosulphonate, 0.01-1% (w / w) of xanthan gum, 0.1-1% (w / w) of clay material, preferably in a form of powdered attapulgite with particle size d90<30 pm, wherein 90% of the attapulgite particles are smaller than 30 pm.

[0006] The subject of the invention is also a fertilizer concentrate containing 39% (w / w) of milled sulphur with particle size below 100 pm, 60% of aqueous urea-ammonium nitrate solution 28-32%, 0.5% (w / w) of sodium lignosulphonate, 0.1% (w / w) of gum, 0.3% (w / w) of clay material in the form of powdered attapulgite (magnesium and aluminum silicate), particle size d90<30 pm (90% (w / w) of the particles have a size smaller than 30 pm).

[0007] Obtaining the desired effect of eliminating the sedimentation effect is possible due to properties of the individual ingredients: sodium lignosulphonate is an additive that allows wetting of sulphur particles, protecting against sulphur caking in contact with an aqueous urea-ammonium nitrate solution; xanthan gum is a viscosity regulator that slows down the falling motion of sulphur particles in suspension; clay material, bonding with sulphur particles, is responsible for reducing their density and preventing sedimentation. Binding with sulphur occurs as a result of swelling in an environment of high ionic strength and formation of gel structures.

[0008] The subject of the invention is presented in an embodiment in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows samples of fertilizer concentrates after 3 weeks of sedimentation test, and Fig. 2 shows sample solutions diluted 1 : 1 with an aqueous solution of 32% urea-ammonium nitrate after 3 days.

[0009] In the example embodiment, a fertilizer concentrate was prepared (sample 9d) of the following composition: 39% of sulphur milled below the particle size of 100 pm with the following parameters: Ntotal = 22.95% (w / w), sulphur (S) = 26.3% (w / w), Namonium = 8.11% (w / w), viscosity (4mm Ford cup) = 11.10 sec., Nnitrate = 5.79% (w / w), density at 20°C = 1.383 g / cm3, Namide = 9.05% (w / w), pH at 20°C is 6.56 and of the following grain composition: <3% 0.209 pm, <25% 3.585 pm, <50% 15.55 pm, <75% 35.48 pm, <97% 85.92 pm, 60% of aqueous urea- ammonium nitrate solution 28-32%, 0.5% (w / w) of sodium lignosulphonate, 0.1% (w / w) of xanthan gum, 0.3% (w / w) of clay material in the form of powdered attapulgite (magnesium and aluminum silicate), particle size d90<30 pm (90% (w / w) of the particles have a size smaller than 30 pm). Two other samples of fertilizer concentrate were also prepared, in which a lower content of clay material was used, from two different producers: sample no. 50b with a content of 0.27% (w / w) clay material in the form of powdered attapulgite and sample no. 51b with a content of 0.27% (w / w) clay material in the form of modified natural smectic clay (magnesium-aluminum silicate). The produced fertilizer concentrates No. 9d, 50b and 51b were analyzed and kept for observation for 3 weeks (Fig. 1). After 3 weeks, no changes in the appearance or sedimentation of the samples were observed.

[0010] After a week, when there were no changes in appearance, half of the contents of the cylinder was poured into another cylinder and diluted 1 : 1 with UAN32 urea-ammonium nitrate solution, thus checking the miscibility of sulphur suspensions with additives and liquid nitrogen fertilizer. The working solutions were left for further observation (Fig. 2). The working solutions were mixed without any problems, but the additives were calculated for a much smaller volume, so the separation of layers began very quickly. The key principle of preparing working fertilizer solutions / suspensions is to prepare them for use immediately before starting spray ing / spreading procedure. This effectively limits the deposition of substances at the bottom of the tank and in the sprayer elements (e.g. filters or inside the pipes).

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 14 January 2025 (14.01.2025)Claims

1. [Amended] A composition of nitrogen-sulphur fertilizer concentrate, characterized in that it contains 10-45% (w / w) of milled sulphur, 90-55% (w / w) of urea-ammonium nitrate solution, 0.1-2% (w / w) of sodium lignosulphonate, 0.01-1 % (w / w) of xanthan gum, 0.1-1 % (w / w) of clay material, preferably in a form of powdered attapulgite with particle size d90<30 pm, wherein 90% (w / w) of attapulgite particles are smaller than 30 pm.

2. [Amended] The composition of nitrogen-sulphur fertilizer concentrate according to claim 1 , characterized in that it contains 39% (w / w) of milled sulphur with particle size below 100 pm, 60% (w / w) of aqueous urea-ammonium nitrate solution UAN28%-UAN32%, 0.5% (w / w) of sodium lignosulphonate, 0.1 % (w / w) of xanthan gum, 0.3% (w / w) of clay material in the form of powdered attapulgite with particle size d90<30 pm.AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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