Multi-Nutrient Urea Granules to Reduce Volatilization and Clumping
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Solution Overview
Problem
The continuous use of urea as a nitrogen fertilizer leads to nutrient imbalance and loss of soil fertility due to its volatility and rapid hydrolysis, and blending urea with other nutrients is challenging as it can cause undesirable reactions, such as clumping and increased water production, making production difficult and costly.
Innovation Solution
A fertilizer granule comprising a homogeneous mixture of urea, langbeinite, and optionally calcium, with metal sulfates like K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4 and K2Mg2(SO4)3, which reduces urea nitrogen volatilization and provides multiple nutrients in a single application, enhancing nitrogen utilization efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If urea is applied in large excess to counter nitrogen loss, then nitrogen supply to plants is improved, but nitrogen utilization efficiency deteriorates and environmental loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful volatile ammonia gas produced during urea hydrolysis into a beneficial component by capturing it and reforming it into stable urea within the granule structure. The calcium sulfate acts as a buffering agent that controls the hydrolysis rate, transforming the rapid nitrogen loss into a controlled, sustained nitrogen release mechanism that improves utilization efficiency while maintaining supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite fertilizer granule combining urea, calcium sulfate, and optionally other nutrients in specific ratios. This composite structure allows the urea to be protected from rapid hydrolysis while the calcium sulfate provides structural stability and controlled release, achieving both adequate nitrogen supply and high utilization efficiency in a single integrated product.
2Adaptability or versatility
If urea is blended with other fertilizer components, then multiple nutrients are provided, but undesirable reactions occur causing clumping and product loss
Solution Approach 1:
Calcium sulfate serves as an intermediary substance between urea and other fertilizer components. It creates physical separation and chemical buffering that prevents direct harmful reactions between urea and organic fertilizers or other compounds, while still allowing controlled nutrient release. This intermediary role enables multi-nutrient blending without clumping or degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the fertilizer blend by controlling moisture content, granule density, and the ratio of urea to calcium sulfate. By optimizing these parameters, the formulation achieves stable granules that resist clumping and maintain compositional integrity during storage and application, while still providing multiple nutrients.
3Adaptability or versatility
If urea is blended with other components, then nutrient diversity is improved, but water production increases making production more difficult and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful water produced during urea reactions into a beneficial moisture source for granule formation. By controlling the reaction environment and using calcium sulfate as a buffer, the water that would normally cause clumping and processing difficulties is instead utilized to facilitate granulation, reducing the need for additional water removal steps and lowering production costs.
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 granule formulation increases nitrogen utilization efficiency and stability, with improved crushing strength and reduced production costs by minimizing undesirable reactions and water production.
Implementation Method 1
presence of metal sulfates in the granule reduces urea nitrogen volatilization
Implementation Method 2
urea nitrogen is volatile and due to its rapid hydrolysis and nitrification in soil
Implementation Method 3
urea nitrogen is volatile and due to its rapid hydrolysis and nitrification in soil
Data Source
Figure 1A~2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A fertilizer granule containing a homogeneous mixture containing urea in an amount providing 3 to 45 wt. % of nitrogen, sulfate in an amount providing 2 to 25 wt. % of sulfur, 0.1 to 15 wt. % of magnesium, and 0.1 to 25 wt. % of potassium. Methods of making and using the fertilizer granule are also disclosed.