The invention relates to a conditioning agent for reducing water absorption and dust formation of a particulate fertilizer, comprising 10 to 50 weight % of wax, 40 to 90 weight % of mineral oil and 1 to 15 weight % of a resin being mineral oil-soluble and miscible with wax and mineral oil, wherein the agent further comprises 0.1 to 1 weight % of a viscoelastic elastomer selected from the group of polyisobutylene and styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer which is soluble in mineral oil and has an average molecular weight of 30.000 to 5.000.000. The invention further relates to a particulate fertilizer composition, preferably a urea-ammonium sulfate (UAS) fertilizer, a urea fertilizer or a calcium nitrate fertilizer, comprising a particulate substrate, preferably an hygroscopic fertilizer, preferably a nitrogen-containing fertilizer, and 0.05 to 2 weight % of said coating thereon for reducing moisture uptake and dust formation of said fertilizer.

The invention relates to a conditioning agent for reducing water absorption and dust formation of a particulate fertilizer, comprising 10 to 50 weight % of wax, 40 to 90 weight % of mineral oil and 1 to 15 weight % of a resin being mineral oil-soluble and miscible with wax and mineral oil, wherein the agent further comprises 0.1 to 1 weight % of a viscoelastic elastomer selected from the group of polyisobutylene and styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer which is soluble in mineral oil and has an average molecular weight of 30.000 to 5.000.000. The invention further relates to a particulate fertilizer composition, preferably a urea-ammonium sulfate (UAS) fertilizer, a urea fertilizer or a calcium nitrate fertilizer, comprising a particulate substrate, preferably an hygroscopic fertilizer, preferably a nitrogen-containing fertilizer, and 0.05 to 2 weight % of said coating thereon for reducing moisture uptake and dust formation of said fertilizer.

A process for providing a water repellent substrate comprising: providing a dispersion in a liquid of discrete-length microfibers comprising a material adapted to be fluid under the processing conditions to be used; applying the dispersion to the substrate; optionally removing liquid from the microfibers and substrate or allowing the liquid to dry; and subjecting the microfibers to processing conditions under which the material is at least partly fluid, such that the microfibers deform to provide adhesion of microfibers with other microfibers, adhesion of the microfibers with the substrate or a mixture of adhesion with other microfibers and with the substrate.

A process for providing a water repellent substrate comprising: providing a dispersion in a liquid of discrete-length microfibers comprising a material adapted to be fluid under the processing conditions to be used; applying the dispersion to the substrate; optionally removing liquid from the microfibers and substrate or allowing the liquid to dry; and subjecting the microfibers to processing conditions under which the material is at least partly fluid, such that the microfibers deform to provide adhesion of microfibers with other microfibers, adhesion of the microfibers with the substrate or a mixture of adhesion with other microfibers and with the substrate.

The present invention provides granulated silica including water-granulated silica powders, each of the silica powders having a primary particle size of 5 to 50 nm and a surface hydrophobized with a silicon atom-containing hydrophobizing agent; the granulated silica having a degree of hydrophobization of 40 or more and a loose bulk density of 150 g/L or more. This provides granulated silica that is excellent in handleability and has good dispersibility.

Methods, processes, and apparatuses for preparing and transporting bitumen. Bitumen may be prilled such that a bitumen product comprising a prill core and a non-stick coating is produced. The non-stick coating may comprise asphaltenes and the prill core may comprise bitumen, deasphalted oil, or both bitumen and deasphalted oil. The resultant non-stick coated prills have reduced adhesion to transportation vessels and other non-stick coated prills at a temperature below an adhesion temperature, facilitating transport.

Methods, processes, and apparatuses for preparing and transporting bitumen. Bitumen may be prilled such that a bitumen product comprising a prill core and a non-stick coating is produced. The non-stick coating may comprise asphaltenes and the prill core may comprise bitumen, deasphalted oil, or both bitumen and deasphalted oil. The resultant non-stick coated prills have reduced adhesion to transportation vessels and other non-stick coated prills at a temperature below an adhesion temperature, facilitating transport.

The invention relates to a method for providing an inorganic coating to ammonium nitrate (AN) based particles, in particular to ammonium nitrate-based particles for use as a fertilizer, as well as to an inorganic coating for ammonium nitrate-based particles per se. The method comprises the steps of: a) applying a liquid concentrated mineral acid with a water content of less than 50 weight %, to the particles, in order to at least solubilize ammonium nitrate at the outer surface of the particles such that an acidified particle grasping layer is obtained, and b) applying a solid mineral alkaline in powder form to the particles of step a) in order to react with the grasping layer of the particles to coat the acidified particle surface; wherein the stoichiometric ratio of solid mineral alkaline in powder form to concentrated mineral acid is equal to or more than 5:1.

The invention relates to a method for providing an inorganic coating to ammonium nitrate (AN) based particles, in particular to ammonium nitrate-based particles for use as a fertilizer, as well as to an inorganic coating for ammonium nitrate-based particles per se. The method comprises the steps of: a) applying a liquid concentrated mineral acid with a water content of less than 50 weight %, to the particles, in order to at least solubilize ammonium nitrate at the outer surface of the particles such that an acidified particle grasping layer is obtained, and b) applying a solid mineral alkaline in powder form to the particles of step a) in order to react with the grasping layer of the particles to coat the acidified particle surface; wherein the stoichiometric ratio of solid mineral alkaline in powder form to concentrated mineral acid is equal to or more than 5:1.

A rosin-based sustainable dust and moisture control coating. The coating may be primarily comprised of rosin, and may further comprise NABS, soybean oil, and/or other sustainable oils.