Solid Fertilizer Sustained Release 5-ALA

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing method of fertilizing plants with 5-aminolevulinic acid in a solution is cumbersome and requires frequent applications to achieve a growth-promoting effect, which lasts only about two weeks.

Innovation Solution

Converting 5-aminolevulinic acid into a solid fertilizer form, combined with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, and coating it with petroleum wax to create a sustained-release formulation that can be easily applied, reducing the frequency of applications while maintaining a remarkable plant growth-promoting effect.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If 5-aminolevulinic acid is applied in liquid solution form, then the application method is simple, but the duration of growth promoting effect is short (about 2 weeks) and frequent administrations are needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication methodVSAvoidduration of growth promoting effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of 5-aminolevulinic acid from liquid solution to solid granular form by incorporating it into fertilizer granules. This parameter change enables the substance to be applied as a solid that releases gradually, extending the duration of effect from 2 weeks to covering the entire growing season, while maintaining ease of application through standard fertilizer spreading equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The solid fertilizer formulation provides continuous release of 5-aminolevulinic acid throughout the growing season, replacing the discontinuous repeated applications required by liquid solutions. The sustained-release mechanism ensures the plant growth-promoting effect continues without interruption, eliminating the need for frequent re-application

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Ease of operation

If 5-aminolevulinic acid is applied in liquid solution form, then the initial application is easy, but the number of applications must be large and the total effort is great

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication methodVSAvoidtotal effort and time for applications
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By transforming 5-aminolevulinic acid into solid granular fertilizer form, the patent enables single-season application instead of multiple liquid applications. The solid formulation maintains simplicity of application through conventional fertilizer spreaders while reducing the total number of application events from multiple times per season to once per season, significantly reducing time and labor investment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of moving object

If 5-aminolevulinic acid is converted to solid fertilizer form, then the duration of effect is extended and applications are reduced, but the formulation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of growth promoting effectVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite fertilizer material by incorporating 5-aminolevulinic acid into fertilizer granules that contain multiple nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other elements). This composite approach extends the duration of effect through sustained release while managing formulation complexity by integrating the active substance into a multi-component fertilizer system that can be produced using existing granulation and coating technologies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 solid fertilizer formulation provides a sustained release of 5-aminolevulinic acid, allowing fewer applications and achieving a significant plant growth-promoting effect, as demonstrated by increased dry weight and fresh weight in various plant species compared to traditional liquid fertilizer methods.

Implementation Method 1

the solid fertilizer of the present invention is excellent in sustained-release of a 5-aminolevulinic acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSustained-release:

Implementation Method 2

coating it with a coating material and, if necessary, coating it again with a molten waxy material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion barrier: Diffusion Barrier

Data Source

PatentEP2623486B15-aminolevulinic acid-containing solid fertilizer and process for producing same
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 COSMO TRADE & SERVICE CO LTD
  • EP2623486B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2623486B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2623486B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Provided is a means for achieving an excellent plant growth promoting effect of a 5-aminolevulinic acid easily even with a few applications thereof. A solid fertilizer comprising the following components (A) and (B): (A) a 5-aminolevulinic acid represented by the following general formula (I):         R2R1NCH2COCH2CH2COR3     (I) wherein R1 and R2 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryl group, or an aralkyl group; and R3 is a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyloxy group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyloxy group or an amino group, a derivative thereof or a salt of the acid or the derivative, and (B) a solid fertilizer raw material.