BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS ON FERTILIZER NUTRIENTS

Abstract

A controlled release fertilizer includes a core including plant nutrient particles and a biodegradable coating composition forming at least one layer surrounding the core, the composition comprising cellulose, the at least one layer being structured as a semi-permeable surface membrane configured to release the plant nutrients from the core in a linear manner.

Claims

1. A controlled release fertilizer comprising: a core including plant nutrient particles; and a biodegradable coating composition forming at least one layer surrounding the core, the composition comprising cellulose, the at least one layer being structured as a semi-permeable surface membrane configured to release the plant nutrients from the core in a linear manner.

2. The fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the coating further includes about up to 30 wt. % wax.

3. The fertilizer of claim 2, wherein the wax is a natural wax.

4. The fertilizer of claim 1 further comprising an outermost layer including a high temperature point microcrystalline wax.

5. The fertilizer of claim 1 further comprising calcium composites in the biodegradable coating.

6. The fertilizer of claim 1 further comprising carbon dioxide gas in the biodegradable coating.

7. The fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the plant nutrient particles include urea.

8. A biodegradable fertilizer comprising: a nutrient substrate encapsulated in a cellulosic coating including a plant-based cellulose and having a micro-porous structure including release channels arranged to release nutrients from the substrate in a controlled manner, the substrate and the cellulosic coating being biodegradable.

9. The fertilizer of claim 8, wherein the nutrient substrate includes a biostimulant.

10. The fertilizer of claim 8, wherein the nutrient substrate includes urea.

11. The fertilizer of claim 8, wherein the plant-based cellulose includes hemp cellulose.

12. The fertilizer of claim 8, wherein the cellulosic coating is a multi-layer coating.

13. The fertilizer of claim 8, wherein the cellulosic coating includes a mixture of cellulose and wax.

14. The fertilize of claim 8, wherein the microporous structure includes calcium composites.

15. A controlled release fertilizer comprising: nutrient particles, each enclosed in a cellulose-based semi-permeable biodegradable coating, the nutrient particles being structured to diffuse from the fertilizer via the coating, the coating structured to degrade after diffusion of the nutrients is complete.

16. The fertilizer of claim 15, wherein the coating is a multi-layer coating.

17. The fertilizer of claim 16, wherein each layer of the multi-layer coating includes cellulose.

18. The fertilizer of claim 15, wherein the coating includes diffusion channels.

19. The fertilizer of claim 15, wherein the cellulose-based coating includes wax blended with cellulose.

20. The fertilizer of claim 15, wherein the cellulose-based coating includes plant-based cellulose.

21. A controlled release fertilizer comprising: a nutrient core; and a cellulose coating composition forming at least one semi-permeable surface membrane having a micro-porous structure to release the nutrients from the core in a predetermined manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0175] 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.

[0176] FIG. 2 shows a comparison of the water vapor permeability test data and fitting for all Florikan samples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0177] 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.

[0178] In FIG. 2, the black square represents Florikan 1st 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.

[0179] 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.

[0180] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

[0181] While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.