Microbial Selenium Conversion in Biodegradable Polymer for Crop Uptake
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for increasing selenium levels in agricultural products, such as foliar applications, require high quantities of selenium and have not been fully satisfactory in achieving significant concentrations.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the incubation of biodegradable polymer material with inorganic selenium and microorganisms to reduce selenium to organic compounds, which are then extruded and incorporated into the polymer material, creating a more absorbable form that can be applied to plants, facilitating longer contact and enhanced absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high quantities of selenium are applied to agricultural crops, then selenium concentration in products increases, but the amount of selenium needed increases and absorption efficiency remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical form of selenium from inorganic salts to organic compounds through microbial fermentation. This parameter change in selenium's chemical state improves its bioavailability and absorption efficiency by plants, allowing lower application quantities to achieve the same or higher selenium concentration in crops.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces microorganisms as intermediaries that convert inorganic selenium into organic compounds during fermentation. These microorganisms act as mediators that transform selenium into a more absorbable form, improving the efficiency of selenium uptake by plants and reducing the total amount of selenium needed.
2Reliability
If inorganic selenium salts are used for foliar application, then selenium can be supplied to plants, but absorption efficiency is low and contact time is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms selenium from inorganic salt form to organic compound form through microbial action. This chemical parameter change enhances selenium's affinity for plant tissues, extending contact time on foliage and improving absorption reliability without requiring frequent reapplication.
3Reliability
If selenium fertilizers are applied to soil, then selenium availability to plants increases, but the quantity of selenium required increases and absorption remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies selenium in organic form produced through microbial fermentation rather than conventional inorganic fertilizers. This parameter change in selenium's chemical state significantly improves its uptake efficiency by plant roots, reducing the total quantity of selenium fertilizer needed while maintaining or enhancing selenium accumulation in crops.
Solution Approach 2:
Microorganisms serve as intermediaries that convert inorganic selenium into organic compounds during the fermentation process. This biological mediation transforms selenium into a form that plants can more efficiently absorb and retain, improving uptake reliability while reducing the amount of selenium fertilizer required.
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
This method allows for higher absorption efficiency of selenium by plants, reducing the amount needed and improving selenium retention, resulting in significantly higher selenium concentrations in crops compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
at least partially reduce the inorganic selenium (passing from a higher oxidation state to a lower oxidation state)
Implementation Method 2
partially degrade the biodegradable polymer material
Data Source
AI summary
A method for the preparation of a composition and composition thus obtained; the method comprises an incubation step, during which particles of a biodegradable polymer material, inorganic selenium and microorganisms are kept in contact with one another so as to at least partially degrade the biodegradable polymer material and obtain organic compounds with selenium; and an extrusion step, during which an intermediate composition obtained following the incubation step is extruded together with further inorganic selenium so that the organic compounds containing selenium are incorporated in the biodegradable polymer material.