SiO2-Coated N-P-Ca-Mg Fertilizer for Sustained Nutrient Release
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fertilizers release nutrients rapidly, leading to inefficiency and soil contamination, and synthetic polymer coatings are difficult to degrade, limiting nutrient release and causing environmental pollution.
Innovation Solution
A slow-release fertilizer composition using magnesium ammonium phosphate and calcium ammonium phosphate encapsulated in silicon dioxide, which provides a sustained nutrient release profile without a polymer coating, utilizing olivine and calcium oxide with phosphoric acid to create a dehydrated silica gel scaffold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional non-coated fertilizers are used, then nutrients are rapidly released to the soil, but this leads to fertilizer inefficiency and soil contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses silicon dioxide gel with controlled porosity to encapsulate fertilizer nutrients. The porous structure allows gradual diffusion of nutrients from the interior to the exterior, enabling sustained release over time while preventing rapid nutrient loss and contamination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds fertilizer particles within the silicon dioxide gel matrix, creating a nested structure where the gel acts as a protective container. This nested configuration allows the fertilizer to be released gradually as the gel degrades, solving the contradiction between rapid availability and sustained effectiveness
2Duration of action of stationary object
If synthetic polymer coating is used to control nutrient release, then nutrient release is controlled, but the coating is difficult to degrade and causes environmental pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the coating material from synthetic polymer to silicon dioxide gel. This parameter change enables the coating to be environmentally benign and biodegradable while maintaining controlled nutrient release functionality through its gel structure and porosity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs silicon dioxide gel as a temporary, degradable coating that serves its protective and release-control function then naturally degrades. This replaces persistent synthetic polymers with a short-lived, environmentally safe material that does not accumulate in the environment
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 composition offers uniform plant nutrition, improved growth, reduced labor and application costs, and decreased fertilizer loss due to leaching, while being environmentally friendly.
Implementation Method 1
the silicon dioxide acts as a binder that imparts structural integrity to the fertilizer, and as a scaffold within which fertilizer nutrients are provided
Implementation Method 2
the silicon dioxide is a dehydrated silicon dioxide gel
Implementation Method 3
the silicon dioxide acts as a binder that imparts structural integrity to the fertilizer, and as a scaffold within which fertilizer nutrients are provided
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a slow-release fertilizer composition containing a mixture of calcium ammonium phosphate and magnesium ammonium phosphate. The fertilizer can further include silica, which contributes to the slow-release functionality by acting as a scaffold within which calcium ammonium phosphate and magnesium ammonium phosphate are provided. Methods of making and using the slow-release fertilizer composition are also disclosed.