Provided is a method for manufacturing a spherical particle material in which the particle size distribution is easily controlled. This method has: a granulation step of granulating a raw particle material formed of an inorganic material having a D50 of not larger than 5 μm to form a granulated body; and a spherizing step of heating and melting the granulated body to form the spherical particle material having a D50 larger than a D50 of the raw particle material. A melting method is used as a basic method for manufacturing the spherical particle material having a necessary particle size distribution. The granulated body is used to manufacture the spherical particle material having the necessary particle size distribution by the melting method.

Raw material grains according to the present invention comprise, as components, 40 to 60% plant fiber powder, 20 to 30% starch, 10 to 20% vegetable gum powder obtained by fermenting starch, 2 to 15% water-soluble polymer glue, and 1 to 10% water-soluble cellulose derivative. The production process thereof primarily includes: a step of appropriately adjusting blending ratios in accordance with the production method, rotating and kneading for 10-40 minutes the fiber powder, starch, and vegetable gum powder, each in a separate kneader, and then batch stirring and kneading all of the blending components in a fourth kneader to thereby obtain a raw material; and a step of subsequently molding the mixed raw material into a plurality of strands in a molding device, cutting the strands into granular raw material grains via a cutting unit, cooling the raw material grains, and then packaging a raw material grain product.

Raw material grains according to the present invention comprise, as components, 40 to 60% plant fiber powder, 20 to 30% starch, 10 to 20% vegetable gum powder obtained by fermenting starch, 2 to 15% water-soluble polymer glue, and 1 to 10% water-soluble cellulose derivative. The production process thereof primarily includes: a step of appropriately adjusting blending ratios in accordance with the production method, rotating and kneading for 10-40 minutes the fiber powder, starch, and vegetable gum powder, each in a separate kneader, and then batch stirring and kneading all of the blending components in a fourth kneader to thereby obtain a raw material; and a step of subsequently molding the mixed raw material into a plurality of strands in a molding device, cutting the strands into granular raw material grains via a cutting unit, cooling the raw material grains, and then packaging a raw material grain product.

A method for manufacturing a pelletised mineral product, the method comprising: in a first mixing step, forming a first mixture by mixing the evaporite mineral with non- gelatinised starch under conditions that are insufficient to substantially gelatinise the starch; in a second mixing step, forming a second mixture by mixing the first mixture under conditions that are sufficient to substantially gelatinise the starch comprised within the first mixture; and forming the second mixture into pellets.

A method for manufacturing a pelletised mineral product, the method comprising: in a first mixing step, forming a first mixture by mixing the evaporite mineral with non- gelatinised starch under conditions that are insufficient to substantially gelatinise the starch; in a second mixing step, forming a second mixture by mixing the first mixture under conditions that are sufficient to substantially gelatinise the starch comprised within the first mixture; and forming the second mixture into pellets.

A method for capturing material extracted from biochar, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a biochar; (ii) contacting the biochar with a treating liquid, where the treating liquid causes the removal of solids from the pores and surface of the biochar, thereby creating a resulting solution comprised of the treating liquid and removed solids; and (iii) collecting the resulting solution.

A method for capturing material extracted from biochar, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a biochar; (ii) contacting the biochar with a treating liquid, where the treating liquid causes the removal of solids from the pores and surface of the biochar, thereby creating a resulting solution comprised of the treating liquid and removed solids; and (iii) collecting the resulting solution.

There is provided herein a process for the compaction of Polyhalite, comprising: mixing a feed of polyhalite with an inorganic binder in a mixer to yield a mixture; compacting said mixture in a compactor to yield masses; crushing said masses in a crusher to yield particles; and screening said particles in a screener to yield particles in three different sizes: oversized fine particles which undergo a second crushing process and are retuned to said screener for screening, undersized fine particles which are transferred to said mixer for further mixing and compacting, and desired size fine particles which are transferred to a polish screener for glazing and oiling.

There is provided herein a process for the compaction of Polyhalite, comprising: mixing a feed of polyhalite with an inorganic binder in a mixer to yield a mixture; compacting said mixture in a compactor to yield masses; crushing said masses in a crusher to yield particles; and screening said particles in a screener to yield particles in three different sizes: oversized fine particles which undergo a second crushing process and are retuned to said screener for screening, undersized fine particles which are transferred to said mixer for further mixing and compacting, and desired size fine particles which are transferred to a polish screener for glazing and oiling.

A method for capturing material extracted from biochar is provided comprising the steps of: (i) providing a biochar; (ii) contacting the biochar with an extraction media, where the extraction media causes the removal of residual compounds from the pores and surface of the biochar, creating a resulting extract comprised of the extraction media and removed compounds; and (iii) collecting the resulting extract. The method also can include other steps of extraction and purification. The method further comprises the step of applying the resulting extract to seeds, plants, soil, other agricultural products, or for use in other applications. A biochar having high levels of soluble signaling compounds is also provided, where the biochar is derived from a biomass source that together with predefined pyrolysis parameters produces resulting biochar having increased levels of soluble signaling compounds that are known to increase seed germination rates and early plant growth. Such soluble signaling compounds can then be collected in a biochar extract by contacting the biochar with an extraction media.