Amine-Stabilized DCD Solvent Systems for Fertilizer Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Nitrification and urease inhibitors, such as dicyandiamide and alkyl thiophosphoric triamide, face challenges due to low water solubility and instability at high temperatures, leading to difficulties in incorporating them into aqueous fertilizer compositions and maintaining their effectiveness in agricultural applications.

Innovation Solution

A liquid composition comprising a urease inhibitor, a solvent system, and an amine stabilizer, specifically monoalkanolamines like monoethanolamine, is used to enhance the solubility and stability of nitrification and urease inhibitors, allowing for better distribution and retention in fertilizer formulations, even at high temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If dicyandiamide and alkyl thiophosphoric triamide are incorporated into aqueous fertilizer compositions, then nitrification and urease inhibition effectiveness is improved, but solubility and stability at high temperatures deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinhibitor effectivenessVSAvoidsolubility and thermal stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses organic solvents as intermediary substances to dissolve dicyandiamide and alkyl thiophosphoric triamide, creating a liquid composition that can be uniformly applied to fertilizer granules. The organic solvent acts as a mediator between the hydrophobic inhibitors and the aqueous fertilizer system, enabling effective incorporation while maintaining inhibitor stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state and chemical environment parameters by using organic solvents to create a non-aqueous dissolution medium. This parameter change allows the inhibitors to maintain their chemical stability while achieving the desired solubility and uniform distribution in the fertilizer composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If inhibitors are stabilized at high temperatures, then storage and application reliability is improved, but formulation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage stabilityVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite liquid composition by combining organic solvents with dicyandiamide and alkyl thiophosphoric triamide. This composite formulation achieves high-temperature stability through the synergistic interaction of components, where the organic solvent matrix protects the inhibitors from thermal degradation without requiring complex stabilization mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution improves the solubility and stability of nitrification and urease inhibitors, ensuring they remain effective for longer periods, reducing nitrogen loss and enhancing crop yield and quality by maintaining the inhibitors' activity in agricultural applications.

Implementation Method 1

high temperature amine-stabilized DCD and/or alkyl thiophosphoric triamide solvent systems

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical stabilization:

Implementation Method 2

liquid compositions comprising dicyandiamide and/or an alkyl thiophosphoric triamide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP3337774B1High temperature amine-stabilized DCD and/or alkyl thiophosphoric triamide solvent systems and use in agricultural applications
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 SPECIALTY OPERATIONS FRANCE
  • EP3337774B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3337774B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3337774B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An inhibitor composition contains alkyl thiophosphonc triamide (or a mixture of alkyl thiophosphoric triamide and dicyandiamide), dissolved in a liquid medium comprising at least one organic solvent and at least one amine stabilizer, is useful in making fertilizer compositions and in a method of fertilizing target plants.