Plant Ash Potassium Acetate Composition for Soluble Organic Fertilizer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing potassium fertilizers, such as potassium chloride, sulfate, and nitrate, are not suitable for chloride-sensitive plants, environmentally harmful to produce, or costly, and plant ash-derived nutrients are insoluble, limiting their effectiveness in foliar applications.
Innovation Solution
A method to convert plant ash, particularly sunflower ash, into water-soluble potassium acetate by mixing it with a C1-4 monocarboxylic acid, followed by filtration, to create a Certifiably Organic fertilizer composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If plant ash is used as a fertilizer, then it provides nutrients for plants, but the nutrients are water-insoluble and cannot be readily absorbed by plants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by converting the chemical form of potassium in plant ash from insoluble carbonate/sulfate forms to soluble acetate forms through chemical reaction with acetic acid. This transforms the solubility parameter while preserving the nutrient content, enabling plants to absorb the potassium efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
Acetic acid serves as an intermediary substance that reacts with the insoluble potassium compounds in plant ash to form water-soluble potassium acetate. This intermediary enables the transformation from an unusable form to a usable form without requiring direct plant interaction with the insoluble ash.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional potassium fertilizers like potassium chloride are used, then potassium is supplied to plants, but they are harmful to chloride-sensitive plants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful chloride component from the potassium fertilizer by using plant ash as the source material and acetic acid as the reacting agent. The resulting potassium acetate contains potassium without chloride, effectively separating the beneficial element from the harmful component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses plant ash, an agricultural waste product, as the source of potassium instead of conventional mined potash. This disposable waste material is converted into a useful fertilizer, replacing expensive and potentially harmful conventional fertilizers with an environmentally friendly alternative.
3Quantity of substance
If potassium sulfate is produced through conventional synthesis, then potassium fertilizer is obtained, but significant greenhouse gases are emitted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a self-service approach by using plant ash (agricultural waste) as the raw material source. The ash already contains potassium in a ready-to-use form that simply needs chemical conversion, eliminating the need for energy-intensive mining and high-temperature synthesis processes that generate greenhouse gases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts agricultural waste (plant ash), which would otherwise be discarded or burned, into a valuable fertilizer product. This transforms a harmful waste product into a beneficial resource, simultaneously reducing waste disposal issues and eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from conventional fertilizer production.
4Quantity of substance
If plant ash is directly applied to plants, then nutrients are provided, but the insoluble form limits plant uptake efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the potassium compounds from insoluble carbonates and sulfates to soluble acetates through reaction with acetic acid. This parameter change directly addresses the solubility issue, enabling efficient plant uptake while maintaining high nutrient availability.
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 resulting potassium acetate fertilizer enhances fruit yield by 5% or more in organic crop production, providing a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and soluble nutrient source for chloride-sensitive plants.
Implementation Method 1
mixing it with a C1-4 monocarboxylic acid to create a Certifiably Organic fertilizer composition
Data Source
AI summary
Compositions comprising Certified Organic potassium salts derived from plant ash are described herein. The compositions described herein include potassium acetate derived from acetic acid and sunflower ash. Such compositions can be used as a fertilizer component in organic farming and result in higher plant yields compared to plants treated with inorganic forms of potassium alone.