Biomass Coated Fertilizer Anti-Caking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fertilizer coatings are non-biodegradable, environmentally harmful, and contribute to caking issues during storage and handling, which affects flowability and are often made from synthetic, carbon-intensive materials.
Innovation Solution
A biomass composition comprising 5-35% plant-derived solid particles with specific particle size distribution and 65-95% oil or wax dispersants, which are biodegradable and environmentally friendly, is used to coat fertilizers and animal feed, improving flowability and anti-caking properties while minimizing environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional coating agents are used to prevent caking and improve flowability, then the anti-caking properties are improved, but the coating accumulates in the soil and causes environmental harm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the coating agent from conventional non-biodegradable materials to biodegradable biomass-based materials. Specifically, it uses coatings containing 1-60 wt% solid biomass particles with D50 between 0 and 150 μm and 99-40 wt% oil, where the oil component is selected to be biodegradable. This parameter change allows the coating to maintain anti-caking properties while being environmentally friendly and biodegradable, preventing accumulation in soil.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite coating materials consisting of solid biomass particles combined with biodegradable oils. This composite structure leverages the flowability-enhancing properties of the biomass particles while the biodegradable oil matrix ensures environmental compatibility. The composite nature allows the coating to provide effective anti-caking protection during storage and handling while decomposing naturally in the environment, thus resolving the contradiction between performance and environmental harm.
2Reliability
If highly purified and processed synthetic compounds are used for coating, then the coating performance is improved, but the carbon footprint increases and environmental sustainability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adopts biodegradable coating materials that are designed to decompose naturally after serving their protective function. Instead of using persistent synthetic compounds with high carbon footprints, the coating is formulated from renewable biomass resources that break down in the environment. This approach accepts that the coating is temporary (short-living in terms of persistence) but provides sufficient protection during storage and handling while eliminating long-term environmental harm and reducing carbon footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes naturally occurring biomass materials and biodegradable oils that require minimal processing compared to synthetic compounds. The coating system leverages the inherent properties of natural materials rather than requiring energy-intensive purification and processing steps. This self-service approach using readily available natural resources reduces the carbon footprint associated with material production while maintaining effective coating performance.
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 biomass composition effectively prevents caking, enhances flowability, and is biodegradable, reducing environmental harm and processing costs, with improved performance compared to refined oils and synthetic coatings.
Implementation Method 1
Caking is the agglomeration of fertilizer particles by adhesion at their point of contact to form a compact mass
Implementation Method 2
the known coating agents are slowly degradable. Therefore, the known coating agents are harmful for the environment
Data Source
AI summary
Coated fertilizer wherein the fertilizer and animal feed comprises particles coated with a biomass composition comprising 5-35 wt.% solid biomass particles with a D50 between 0 and 250 μm and a D90 of less than 400 μm and 95-65 wt.% oil, a biomass composition wherein the biomass composition comprises solid biomass particles with a D50 between 0 and 250 μm and a D30 of less than 400 μm and a process for the production of a biomass composition wherein a biomass composition comprising solid particles having a D50 between 100 and 1000 μm is filtrated and the residue is grinded until the solid particles have a D50 between 0 and 250 μm and a D90 of less than 400 μm.