Nitrification Inhibitor Coating with Urease Solution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current nitrogen fertilizer efficiency is low due to rapid conversion of urea to ammonia and nitrate by soil microbes, leading to nitrogen loss through volatilization and runoff, resulting in environmental pollution and increased costs for agriculture.

Innovation Solution

A Non-aqueous Organic Solvent Delivery System (NOSDS) is used to coat nitrification inhibitors with high concentrations of urease inhibitors, creating a stable and homogeneous solution that slows the conversion of urea to ammonia, thereby reducing nitrogen loss and improving fertilizer longevity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If urea is applied as nitrogen fertilizer, then nitrogen content is increased, but rapid conversion to ammonia and nitrate causes nitrogen loss through volatilization and runoff

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenitrogen contentVSAvoidnitrogen loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies nitrification inhibitors and urease inhibitors to urea granules before application to soil. The nitrification inhibitor is coated on the granule surface, and the urease inhibitor is incorporated into the coating layer, so that both protective actions are activated when the granule contacts soil moisture, preventing nitrogen loss before it occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary coating system consisting of nitrification inhibitor, urease inhibitor, and binder materials that mediate between the urea fertilizer and the soil environment. This coating layer controls the interaction between urea and soil microbes, preventing rapid conversion to ammonia and nitrate while still allowing controlled nitrogen release

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If nitrification inhibitors are coated with urease inhibitors, then nitrogen retention is improved, but coating process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenitrogen retentionVSAvoidcoating process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines nitrification inhibitor and urease inhibitor into a single integrated coating system applied to urea granules. The coating composition includes both types of inhibitors along with binder and fillier materials, allowing simultaneous delivery of both protective functions through one coating process rather than separate treatments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies particular parameter ranges for the coating process including binder content (5-50% of coating weight), fillier content (50-90% of coating weight), and granule size (1-5 mm diameter) to optimize both nitrogen retention effectiveness and manufacturing simplicity. These parameter specifications standardize the process and reduce complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If high concentration urease inhibitors are used in NOSDS, then coating efficiency is improved, but solution stability requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating efficiencyVSAvoidsolution stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies that the NOSDS contains urease inhibitor at concentrations of 50-90% by weight, with the solvent being a non-aqueous organic solvent such as esters, ethers, or ketones. These parameter specifications ensure both high coating efficiency and solution stability by selecting solvents that dissolve the urease inhibitor effectively while maintaining stability during storage and application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 extends the availability of nitrogen in the soil, reducing the frequency of fertilizer applications and environmental pollution, while maintaining consistent nitrogen levels and lowering agricultural costs.

Implementation Method 1

A Non-aqueous Organic Solvent Delivery System (NOSDS) is used to coat nitrification inhibitors with high concentrations of urease inhibitors, creating a stable and homogeneous solution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS20190248715A1Compositions and Methods for Coating of Nitrification Inhibitors with a Solution Containing a High Concentration of Urease Inhibitors and For Improved Retention of the Nitrogen Content of Soil Through the Administration of Liquid Delivery Formulations of (Aminomethylene)Phosphinic Acids and/or their Salts

Publication Date: 2019.08.15 SOILGENIC TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

The present invention relates to increasing and/or maintaining nitrogen content in soil by administration of granular or powdered nitrification inhibitors coated with urease inhibitors. In one embodiment, urease inhibitors are dispersed in an improved organo liquid delivery system at concentration levels of 50-90%. In another embodiment, urease inhibitors were applied in a non-aqueous, organo liquid delivery system coating solid nitrification inhibitors utilizing simple blending equipment at temperatures of 20°-70° C. Another embodiment discloses a dry, flowable additive containing a nitrification inhibitor coated with a urease inhibitor which can be administered directly to the soil, to a dry natural and/or a manmade fertilizer or to a liquid fertilizer which provides for the reduction of nitrogen loss from the soil.