Biosolids Fertilizer with Phosphorus Binding Agents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fertilizers fail to provide a simple, efficient, and practical way to utilize biosolids while limiting phosphorus availability to prevent environmental pollution, as they often add excessive phosphorus that can contaminate waterways.
Innovation Solution
A fertilizer blend using biosolids, calcium sulfate dihydrate, and phosphorus binding agents like iron or aluminum chemicals, which supplies nitrogen needs while minimizing phosphorus availability, using a ratio of biosolids to gypsum and adding potassium to meet crop requirements without increasing soil phosphorus levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If biosolids are applied to soil to meet nitrogen needs, then nitrogen requirements are satisfied, but phosphorus levels increase causing environmental pollution
Solution Approach 1:
Phosphorus binding agents (iron or aluminum chemicals) are introduced as intermediary substances that selectively bind phosphorus from biosolids, preventing its release into the environment while allowing nitrogen to remain available for plant uptake. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by decoupling nitrogen availability from phosphorus availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The phosphorus binding agents extract and immobilize phosphorus from the biosolids mixture, separating the harmful phosphorus component from the beneficial nitrogen component. This extraction process allows the fertilizer to provide nitrogen while removing the phosphorus pollution risk.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If phosphorus binding agents are added to biosolids to limit phosphorus availability, then environmental pollution is reduced, but fertilizer composition complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the fertilizer composition by incorporating phosphorus binding agents with specific chemical properties (iron or aluminum chemicals). These parameter changes enable phosphorus immobilization while maintaining a relatively simple two-component formulation (biosolids plus binding agent).
3Object-affected harmful factors
If gypsum is blended with biosolids to create fertilizer, then phosphorus availability is limited, but manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The phosphorus binding agents are pre-mixed with biosolids in controlled ratios before application, creating a ready-to-use fertilizer product. This preliminary action simplifies the manufacturing process by establishing fixed formulations that require minimal additional processing or field preparation.
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 blend effectively meets soil nitrogen and potassium requirements while maintaining low phosphorus levels, allowing for environmentally friendly fertilizer application that adheres to nutrient management plans and reduces pollution risks.
Implementation Method 1
phosphorus binding agents like iron or aluminum chemicals, which supplies nitrogen needs while minimizing phosphorus availability
Implementation Method 2
a fertilizer including biosolids
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a fertilizer utilizing the inexpensive waste and by-product materials of biosolids, gypsum, and/or other phosphorus binding agents, such as iron or aluminum chemicals or by-products with elevated levels of iron and aluminum. The combination of biosolids, gypsum and other phosphorus binding agents, such as iron or aluminum chemicals or by-products with elevated levels of iron and aluminum produces a fertilizer that provides for soil nitrogen needs while limiting the availability of phosphorous to minimize environmental pollution.