The invention relates to a coated granular fertilizer, preferably wherein granules are sulfate-based or phosphate-based. When sulfate-based granules, as in ammonium sulfate, the coating substance is an inorganic salt of alkaline earth elements, preferably calcium, such that when applied to the surface of fertilizers, forms calcium sulfate, preferably a calcium sulfate-dihydrate, as a protective coating. For a reactive coating of a thiosulfate, free sulfuric acid present on the granule reacts to provide an elemental sulfur coating. For ammonium phosphate-based granules, coatings may comprise compounds of Ca.sup.++, Al.sup.+++ and/or Fe.sup.+++ salts thereby forming a calcium, an aluminum, an iron, or mixed cation phosphate protective coating. Thiosulfate is also effective with phosphate-based granules which are manufactured with sulfuric acid. Granules coated according to the disclosure have advantageous properties as the coating can be applied in a specified and sparing manner due to its tendency to adhere to surfaces during the reaction. Coated fertilizer granules of the disclosure are also advantageous in that, with regard to the applied amount of coating, they provide increased resistance to dusting in long term warehouse storage, to moisture uptake and to oxidative heating. Coating components also add nutrients to plants that can provide nutrients over a longer period of time such as a slow-release characteristic.

The invention relates to a coated granular fertilizer, preferably wherein granules are sulfate-based or phosphate-based. When sulfate-based granules, as in ammonium sulfate, the coating substance is an inorganic salt of alkaline earth elements, preferably calcium, such that when applied to the surface of fertilizers, forms calcium sulfate, preferably a calcium sulfate-dihydrate, as a protective coating. For a reactive coating of a thiosulfate, free sulfuric acid present on the granule reacts to provide an elemental sulfur coating. For ammonium phosphate-based granules, coatings may comprise compounds of Ca.sup.++, Al.sup.+++ and/or Fe.sup.+++ salts thereby forming a calcium, an aluminum, an iron, or mixed cation phosphate protective coating. Thiosulfate is also effective with phosphate-based granules which are manufactured with sulfuric acid. Granules coated according to the disclosure have advantageous properties as the coating can be applied in a specified and sparing manner due to its tendency to adhere to surfaces during the reaction. Coated fertilizer granules of the disclosure are also advantageous in that, with regard to the applied amount of coating, they provide increased resistance to dusting in long term warehouse storage, to moisture uptake and to oxidative heating. Coating components also add nutrients to plants that can provide nutrients over a longer period of time such as a slow-release characteristic.

The invention relates to a coated granular fertilizer, preferably wherein granules are sulfate-based or phosphate-based. When sulfate-based granules, as in ammonium sulfate, the coating substance is an inorganic salt of alkaline earth elements, preferably calcium, such that when applied to the surface of fertilizers, forms calcium sulfate, preferably a calcium sulfate-dihydrate, as a protective coating. For a reactive coating of a thiosulfate, free sulfuric acid present on the granule reacts to provide an elemental sulfur coating. For ammonium phosphate-based granules, coatings may comprise compounds of Ca.sup.++, Al.sup.+++ and/or Fe.sup.+++ salts thereby forming a calcium, an aluminum, an iron, or mixed cation phosphate protective coating. Thiosulfate is also effective with phosphate-based granules which are manufactured with sulfuric acid. Granules coated according to the disclosure have advantageous properties as the coating can be applied in a specified and sparing manner due to its tendency to adhere to surfaces during the reaction. Coated fertilizer granules of the disclosure are also advantageous in that, with regard to the applied amount of coating, they provide increased resistance to dusting in long term warehouse storage, to moisture uptake and to oxidative heating. Coating components also add nutrients to plants that can provide nutrients over a longer period of time such as a slow-release characteristic.

A compost according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied is a compost obtained by fermenting an organic waste, including: a first organic waste containing livestock or poultry dung; a second organic waste containing a fibrous organic waste different from the first organic waste; a first additive containing an iron compound; and a second additive containing at least one of boric acid and silicic acid, which are mixed and fermented. Such a compost can have a significantly reduced malodor and a good growth effect as compared with a conventional compost.

A compost according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied is a compost obtained by fermenting an organic waste, including: a first organic waste containing livestock or poultry dung; a second organic waste containing a fibrous organic waste different from the first organic waste; a first additive containing an iron compound; and a second additive containing at least one of boric acid and silicic acid, which are mixed and fermented. Such a compost can have a significantly reduced malodor and a good growth effect as compared with a conventional compost.

This present invention relates to compositions and methods of enhancing the dispersion of nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, the compositions and methods can be used for enhancing the performance and/or longevity of primers using biochemical-producing microbes and/or byproducts synthesized by the microbes. In certain embodiments, the addition of biosurfactants can enhance the dispersion of pigments and/or other nanoparticles, as well as inhibition of stain or color bleeding through the primer.

This present invention relates to compositions and methods of enhancing the dispersion of nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, the compositions and methods can be used for enhancing the performance and/or longevity of primers using biochemical-producing microbes and/or byproducts synthesized by the microbes. In certain embodiments, the addition of biosurfactants can enhance the dispersion of pigments and/or other nanoparticles, as well as inhibition of stain or color bleeding through the primer.

The invention relates to a method for producing sulphur-containing potash granules from fine-particle, potassium-chloride-containing raw materials and elementary sulphur, and to the sulphur-containing potash granules obtained with this method. The method comprises the following steps a) and b): a) mixing a potassium-chloride-containing, fine-particle raw material with a sulphur melt in a quantity of 2 to 30 wt. %, in particular 3 to 25 wt. %, preferably 5 to 23 wt. % and particularly preferably 8 to 20 wt. % in relation to the total amount of sulphur melt and fine-particle raw material, producing a mixture of fine-particle raw material and molten sulphur; and b) compacting the mixture of fine-particle raw material and molten sulphur obtained in step a). The invention also relates to the use of sulphur melts in the production of potassium chloride granules by compacting a potassium-chloride-containing, fine-particle raw material to reduce the pressing force during compacting, and to the use of sulohur melts to improve the mechanical strength of potash granules, containing potassium chloride, in particular potash granules obtained by compacting a sulphur- and potassium-chloride-containing, fine-particle raw material.

The invention relates to a method for producing sulphur-containing potash granules from fine-particle, potassium-chloride-containing raw materials and elementary sulphur, and to the sulphur-containing potash granules obtained with this method. The method comprises the following steps a) and b): a) mixing a potassium-chloride-containing, fine-particle raw material with a sulphur melt in a quantity of 2 to 30 wt. %, in particular 3 to 25 wt. %, preferably 5 to 23 wt. % and particularly preferably 8 to 20 wt. % in relation to the total amount of sulphur melt and fine-particle raw material, producing a mixture of fine-particle raw material and molten sulphur; and b) compacting the mixture of fine-particle raw material and molten sulphur obtained in step a). The invention also relates to the use of sulphur melts in the production of potassium chloride granules by compacting a potassium-chloride-containing, fine-particle raw material to reduce the pressing force during compacting, and to the use of sulohur melts to improve the mechanical strength of potash granules, containing potassium chloride, in particular potash granules obtained by compacting a sulphur- and potassium-chloride-containing, fine-particle raw material.

There is disclosed a water treatment system, a method of water treatment, and a fertilizer for use with the water treatment system and the method of water treatment. The water treatment system for hydroponic culture without pesticides comprises: an ionization device for the ionization of a culture water, the ionization device having at least one electrode for the release of divalent copper cations; a plant tray for the culture of plants; and a plurality of pipes fluidically connected to the ionization device and the plant tray, the culture water being in circulation through the water treatment system.