Fertilizer Core Particle with pH Buffering Agents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Continuous use of fertilizers leads to soil fertility decline and environmental issues like greenhouse emissions and groundwater contamination due to rapid hydrolysis and nitrification of urea, and existing solutions face challenges with thermal and pH sensitivity of inhibitors, requiring an improved fertilizer granule with enhanced application properties.
Innovation Solution
A fertilizer core particle comprising binders, pH buffering agents, and viscoelasticity agents, with a nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition, is developed, which is extruded to form a granule that stabilizes the active ingredients and controls nitrogen release, preventing degradation and improving soil pH balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If urea is applied to increase crop yield, then nitrogen availability improves, but rapid hydrolysis and nitrification cause soil health deterioration and environmental pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces pH buffering agents (such as calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide, or their mixtures) as intermediary substances that mediate between urea and the soil environment. These buffering agents maintain pH within 6.0-8.0, preventing the acidic conditions that trigger rapid nitrification and ammonia volatilization, thereby reducing greenhouse emissions and groundwater contamination while preserving nitrogen availability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pH parameter of the fertilizer composition by incorporating pH buffering agents. By maintaining pH within the optimal range of 6.0-8.0, the composition modifies the chemical environment to slow down hydrolysis and nitrification rates, transforming the harmful rapid-release mechanism into a controlled-release process that reduces environmental pollution
2Loss of substance
If inhibitors are added to control nitrification, then nitrogen loss is reduced, but thermal and pH sensitivity causes degradation of active ingredients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite fertilizer composition containing multiple components: nitrogen fertilizer (urea), pH buffering agents (calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide), viscoelasticity agents (starch, cellulose derivatives), and fertilization modifiers. This composite structure protects sensitive active ingredients by maintaining stable pH and providing a protective matrix that reduces thermal degradation during granulation and application
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the thermal and pH parameters of the fertilizer system by incorporating buffering agents that resist pH changes and control the thermal environment during processing. This creates a more stable parameter environment that prevents degradation of temperature-sensitive and pH-sensitive active ingredients while still allowing nitrification inhibition to occur
3Stability of the object's composition
If separate applications of micronutrient fertilizers and inhibitors are made, then soil fertility is improved, but application complexity and labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple fertilizer components (nitrogen fertilizer, micronutrients, pH buffering agents, viscoelasticity agents, and fertilization modifiers) into a single composite granule formulation. This unified composition eliminates the need for separate applications of different fertilizer types and inhibitors, reducing application complexity and labor while maintaining improved soil fertility and crop yield
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 effectively stabilizes fertilizer additives, reduces nitrogen loss, and maintains soil pH, enhancing crop yield while minimizing environmental impact by controlled nitrogen release and improved soil health.
Implementation Method 1
a method preparing a fertilizer core particle disclosed herein comprising the step of: a) extruding a mixture comprising one or more fertilizer additives, one or more binders, and one or more pH buffering agents
Implementation Method 2
fertilizer core particle having an outer surface and comprising one or more fertilizer additives, one or more binders, and one or more pH buffering agents
Implementation Method 3
one or more pH buffering agents, and wherein the fertilizer core particle comprises from about 10 wt % to about 99 wt % of the one or more binders
Implementation Method 4
b) granulating the core particle with a nitrogen containing fertilizer composition, thereby forming a fertilizer granule
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with the present invention, disclosed herein is a fertilizer core and fertilizer granule and methods related thereto. The fertilizer core particle has an outer surface and comprising one or more fertilizer additives, one or more binders, and one or more pH buffering agents, and wherein the fertilizer core particle comprises from about 10 wt % to about 99 wt % of the one or more binders.