Biodegradable polymers on fertilizer nutrients

Abstract

This invention relates to the art of fertilizers and, more particularly, to a coated granular fertilizer in which the dissolution rates of water-soluble fertilizer components are controlled by coating or encapsulating a granular fertilizer. The coating for the timed-release fertilizer is derived from plant cellulose extracted from hemp cellulose, sugar cane cellulose, or other plant-based cellulose.

Claims

1. A controlled release fertilizer comprising plant nutrient particles coated with a biodegradable coating composition extracted from plant biomass, wherein the biodegradable coating composition consists essentially of cellulose, and the biodegradable coating composition is capable of forming a porous structure capable of releasing plant nutrients, wherein said porous structure can be created after extraction of the plant biomass, wherein the plant biomass is hemp biomass, sugar cane biomass, or other plant-based biomass.

2. The controlled release fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the plant biomass is plant cellulose extracted from hemp cellulose.

3. The controlled release fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the plant biomass is plant cellulose extracted from hemp cellulose having blended therein 5-30% by weight of wax.

4. The controlled release fertilizer of claim 1, wherein said porous structure can be created after extraction of the plant biomass.

5. A method of preparing a biodegradable controlled release plant fertilizer comprising applying at least one biodegradable coating composition according to claim 1 having blended therein up to 30% by weight of wax onto said fertilizer particles and allowing the coating to set.

6. The method of preparing a biodegradable controlled release plant fertilizer according to claim 5, wherein the wax is petroleum waxes, synthetic waxes, microcrystalline wax.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows the water vapor permeability test data and fitting for the regenerated cellulose films and Florikan samples. Thickness: Florikan Sample 1 (˜1100 μm); 4.5 wt % uncrosslinked regenerated cellulose film: 110 μm; 6 wt % crosslinked cellulose film: 150 μm.

(2) FIG. 2. shows a comparison of the water vapor permeability test data and fitting for all Florikan samples.

(3) In FIG. 1, the Black Square represents the Florikan Sample; the Red Circle represents 4.5% Uncrosslinked-RC; the Blue Triangle represents 6% Crosslinked-RC; the Black line represents Florikan Fit: 2.92E-6*x−5.78E-8; the Red line represents 4.5% UCL-RC Fit: 1.52E-5*x+2.17E-6; and the Blue line represents 6% CL-RC Fit: 2.43E-5*x+4.89E-6.

(4) In FIG. 2, the Black Square represents Florikan 1.sup.ST Sample; the Red Circle represents Control sample 1; the Blue Triangle represents Control sample 2; the Pink Upside Down Triangle represents Control sample 3; the represents Green Diamond: Control sample 4; the Black line represents 2.92E-6*x−5.78E-8; the Red line represents 5.74E-6*x−1.82E-6; the Blue line represents 2.22E-5*x−6.77E-20; the Pink line represents 6.18E-6*x+6.66E-7; and the Green line represents 2.41E-6*x+2.22E-6.

(5) While this invention has been disclosed with reference to specific embodiments, it is apparent that other embodiments and variations of this invention may be devised by others skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. The appended claims are intended to be construed to include all such embodiments and equivalent variations.