Microbe-Enhanced Fertilizer Granulation with Pre-Cooled Microorganisms

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for delivering microorganisms with fertilizers are limited, as they are often ineffective at high temperatures and can be harmful to microorganisms, leading to reduced agricultural yields due to insufficient soil microorganisms.

Innovation Solution

The development of microbe-enhanced fertilizers that protect microorganisms from heat and chemical exposure, allowing them to be incorporated into fertilizer particles during the granulation process, ensuring their stability and efficacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If microorganisms are added to fertilizer during granulation at high temperatures, then production efficiency is improved and homogeneity is enhanced, but microorganism viability deteriorates due to heat exposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidmicroorganism viability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The microorganisms are pre-cooled to a temperature below 60°C before being introduced to the fertilizer granulation process. This preliminary temperature adjustment allows the microorganisms to survive the subsequent high-temperature granulation process while still benefiting from the efficient mixing and homogeneity achieved during the granulation stage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If microorganisms are protected from heat exposure by adding them after granulation, then microorganism viability is maintained, but production complexity increases and homogeneity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicroorganism viabilityVSAvoidproduction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The microorganisms are pre-cooled to a temperature below 60°C before being introduced to the fertilizer granulation process. This preliminary temperature adjustment allows the microorganisms to survive the subsequent high-temperature granulation process while still benefiting from the efficient mixing and homogeneity achieved during the granulation stage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If microorganisms are exposed to acidic or basic fertilizers, then fertilizer efficacy is improved, but microorganism survival deteriorates due to chemical harm

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefertilizer efficacyVSAvoidchemical harm to microorganisms

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The microorganisms are pre-cooled to a temperature below 60°C before being introduced to the fertilizer granulation process. This preliminary temperature adjustment allows the microorganisms to survive the subsequent high-temperature granulation process while still benefiting from the efficient mixing and homogeneity achieved during the granulation stage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250187996A1Microbe-enhanced fertilizers

Publication Date: 2025.06.12 SABIC AGRI NUTRIENTS CO

AI summary

Disclosed herein are methods for the production of microbe-enhanced fertilizers. In certain embodiments, creation of microbe-enhanced fertilizers comprises incorporation of conditioned and/or otherwise protected microorganisms prior to and/or during the fertilizer granulation process. In some embodiments, compositions disclosed herein and/or produced through methods described herein are more economical, have better shelf-life, and/or improved bioavailability relative to otherwise comparable fertilizers comprising microorganism.