METHOD OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF AQUEOUS SARGASSUM SEAWEED EXTRACT CONCENTRATE AND BIOSTIMULANT PRODUCTS

Abstract

A system and method for commercial production of aqueous Sargassum seaweed extract concentrate having arsenic level of around 1.32-15 mg/l; cadmium level of around 0.005-5 mg/l; lead level of around 0.2-12 mg/l; mercury level of around 0.00002-2 mg/l; and pH of around 7.4-9 is disclosed. The resulting seaweed extract concentrate can be used in plant and soil amendments, rooting hormones, other organic plant and soil amendments, organic fertilizers, adjuvants for use with organic pesticides, organic fungicides, in combinations of organic pesticides, with fungicides, and as fertilizers for agricultural, commercial and domestic use. The resulting seaweed extract concentrate can also be used to regulate plant growth, or as a plant nutrient. The method is believed to be able to prepare an extract concentrate from any high protein biomass, including Sargassum, water hyacinth or other seaweed.

Claims

1. A method of producing an extract from a high protein biomass for use as a biostimulant, comprising: a. harvesting high protein biomass; b. adding around 30 kg of the high protein biomass to around 500 ml-3785 ml of a solution comprising 25 wt. % acetic acid in 5 gallons of water; c. rinsing the high protein biomass for about 15 minutes to remove impurities until the salt content of the high protein biomass is about 4-7.5 parts per trillion and the electrical conductivity is around 9-12.61 mS/cm; d. drying the rinsed high protein biomass at a temperature of around 80-140 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-24 hours; e. placing the dried high protein biomass into a tank containing water comprising about 15 wt. % citric acid that has been heated to around 60-65 degrees Celsius in the ratio of around 1-100 parts seaweed: 2-40 parts of the heated water solution by weight; f. thereafter adding a mixture of one or more of sugar cane extract, 80% ethanol alcohol and molasses to the heated water solution at the rate of 1-4 parts per each part of dried high protein biomass by weight; g. thereafter adding yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) at 10 grams per part of the dried high protein biomass by weight; h. thereafter allowing the heated water solution with the high protein biomass to cool to room temperature and stand in a covered container for about 7 to 45 days whereby anaerobic digestion takes place; i. thereafter removing the solid high protein biomass from the tank; j. thereafter adjusting the high protein biomass extract remaining in the tank to a pH of about 7.4-9; and k. thereafter aerating the high protein biomass extract for about 2 to 8 hours, wherein the arsenic level in the high protein biomass extract is about 1.32-15 mg/l, wherein further the cadmium level in the seaweed extract is about 0.005-5 mg/l, wherein the lead level in the high protein biomass extract is about 0.2-12 mg/l, wherein the mercury level in the high protein biomass extract is about 0.00002-2 mg/l, and wherein the pH of the high protein biomass extract is about pH is: 7.4-9.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the high protein biomass comprises seaweed or water hyacinth.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the seaweed comprises Sargassum.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the Sargassum comprises Natans and Fluitans.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the high protein biomass comprises about 30 kg of a combination of Sargassum Natans and Fluitans, wherein the high protein biomass is added to around 600 ml of a solution comprising 25 wt. % acetic acid in 5 gallons of water.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the salt content of the high protein biomass after rinsing for about 15 minutes to remove impurities and to bring the salt content of the high protein biomass is about 7.5 parts per trillion and electrical conductivity is around 12.61 mS/cm.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the rinsed high protein biomass is dried following rinsing at a temperature of around 86 degrees Fahrenheit for about 12 hours.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the dried high protein biomass is placed into a tank containing water heated to around 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit in the amount of about 10 parts high protein biomass: 1 parts of the heated water solution comprising 15% citric acid by weight.

9. A high protein biomass extract concentrate made according to the method of claim 1 comprising about 1.32-15 mg/l arsenic, 0.005-5 mg/l cadmium, about 0.2-12 mg/l mg/l lead, about 0.00002-2 mg/l mg/l mercury, and pH 7.4-9.

10. The high protein biomass extract of claim 7, comprising 1.32 mg/l arsenic; 0.002 mg/l cadmium; 0.01 mg/l lead; 0.000001 mg/l mercury; and pH 7.4.

11. A method of fertilizing a plant comprising applying the biostimulant of claim 1 to a plant.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plant comprises vegetables, roots, tubers, flowers, ornamental plants, or grass.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plant comprises tomato, green pepper, cucumber or cabbage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The features of the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the following description, claims, drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a depiction of the effect of various nutrient amendments on the root mass fraction of cabbage and indicating statistical variations between applications of the nutrient amendment.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a depiction of the effect of various nutrient amendments on the root mass fraction of cucumber and indicating statistical variations between applications of the nutrient amendment.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a depiction of the effect of various nutrient amendments on the root mass fraction of sweet pepper and indicating statistical variations between applications of the nutrient amendment.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a depiction of the effect of various nutrient amendments on the root mass fraction of tomato and indicating statistical variations between applications of the nutrient amendment.

[0014] FIGS. 5A and 5B depict root development of crops grown using the Sargassum extract concentrate as a component of a biostimulant according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] According to the method of the invention, Sargassum seaweed or organic matter is first conditioned. Any species of Sargassum seaweed can be used. In one embodiment, the species Sargassum Natans (Common Gulfweed) is used. In one embodiment, Sargassum Fluitans (Broad-toothed Gulfweed) is used. Around 500 ml-3785 ml of a solution consisting of 25% acetic acid in 5 gallons of water is prepared. To this diluted solution, about 30 kg of seaweed mass is added and rinsed for about 15 minutes to remove impurities and to bring the salt content of the Sargassum to 4-7.5 parts per trillion and electrical conductivity to 9-12.61 mS/cm. The rinsed Sargassum is thereafter conditioned by drying at a temperature of around 80-140 degrees Fahrenheit for about 8-24 hours.

[0016] Water is heated at 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit in a plurality of extraction tanks. These tanks are interconnected at the base, by pipes with valves, which allow for control of inflow and outflow. Each tank is placed on top of containment pallets to catch any leakages resulting from pipe failure due to pressure.

[0017] The dried Sargassum is lowered into an extraction tank, using overhead pulleys, in the ratio of around 1-100 parts seaweed: 20-40 parts of the heated water solution comprising 15% citric acid. A mixture of sugar cane, 80% ethanol and/or molasses, alone or in combination, are added to the mixture at the rate of 1-4 parts total of the component or combination of components per each part of seaweed. Yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) is then added at 10 grams per part of seaweed and anaerobic digestion is allowed to take place for 7-45 days at a temperature of about 30 degrees Celsius.

[0018] Thereafter, solid waste matter is lifted out of the tanks by overhead pulleys and the remaining aqueous solution is transferred via pump to a further processing tank where it is adjusted to a pH of about 7.5-9. The aqueous solution is next transferred to a storage tank and aerated for a total of 2-8 hours to remove hydrogen sulfide until the aqueous solution is odorless.

[0019] The result of the process is an aqueous Sargassum seaweed concentrate whereby:

[0020] Arsenic level is 1.32-15 mg/l

[0021] Cadmium level is 0.005-5 mg/l

[0022] Lead level is 0.2-12 mg/l

[0023] Mercury level is 0.00002-2 mg/l

[0024] pH is: 7.4-9

[0025] Aqueous Sargassum seaweed concentrate made according to the disclosed process has been found to induce vigorous root development and produces root mass fraction on average of 0.18 g/g across a variety of crops including cucumber; cabbage; sweet peppers; and tomatoes.

EXAMPLE 1

[0026] Two species of Sargassum seaweed, Sargassum Natans and Fluitan, were harvested from Dennery, St. Lucia. The harvested Sargassum seaweed was conditioned by adding around 30 kg of seaweed to around 600 ml of a solution consisting of 25% acetic acid per 5 gallons of water. The seaweed was rinsed for about 15 minutes to remove impurities and to bring the salt content of the Sargassum to 7.5 parts per trillion and electrical conductivity to 12.61 mS/cm. The rinsed Sargassum was thereafter conditioned by drying at a temperature of around 86 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 hours.

[0027] The dried Sargassum was lowered into an extraction tank containing water heated to around 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit, using overhead pulleys, in the ratio of around 10 parts seaweed: 1 parts of the heated water solution comprising 15% citric acid. A mixture of sugar cane, 80% ethanol alcohol and/or molasses are added to the mixture at the rate of 1-4 parts per each part of seaweed Yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) was then added at 10 grams per part of seaweed and anaerobic digestion was allowed to take place for 10 days.

[0028] Thereafter, solid waste matter was lifted out of the tanks by overhead pulleys and the remaining aqueous solution was transferred via pump to a further processing tank where it was adjusted to a pH of about 7.4. The aqueous solution was next transferred to a storage tank and aerated for a total of 2 hours to remove hydrogen sulfide until the aqueous solution was odorless.

[0029] The result of the process was an aqueous Sargassum seaweed extract concentrate whereby:

[0030] Arsenic level is 1.32 mg/l

[0031] Cadmium level is 0.002 mg/l

[0032] Lead level is 0.01 mg/l

[0033] Mercury level is 0.000001

[0034] pH is: 7.4

EXAMPLE 2

[0035] Five seeds of each crop species tomato, cucumber, cabbage and sweet pepper were planted in Styrofoam containers and amendments were applied. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomised design with six replications per treatment. A reference treatment, which consisted of each of the respective crop with no amendments but only the addition of water, was used for observation in each of two trials.

[0036] The plant growth substrate used in the experiments was Hecomix Professional Growing Medium (HEVECO Ltd, Quebec, Canada) (Table 1). The plant growth substrate was thoroughly mixed with shovel and moistened with potable water to near water-holding capacity before being placed in Styrofoam containers. After placement in the Styrofoam containers, the plant growth substrate was again moistened with potable water. Initially, five seeds per crop species were sown 1 cm deep in substrates and nine days after sowing (DAS), seedlings were thinned to 1 seedling/container. An experimental unit consisted of a Styrofoam container (top diameter12.7 cm, bottom diameter10.2 cm and height8.9 cm), with one seedling, which was spaced 20 cm within and between rows on 1.2 mhigh plastic-seedling shelving units in a conventional span-roof, naturally ventilated greenhouse (length3.0 m, width2.5 m, height4.0 m), located at Smart-ready Consultancy Ltd, Curepe, Trinidad and Tobago. Greenhouse day and night temperatures averaged 33 C. and 24 C., respectively, with average relative humidity value of 71%. Water was applied to the seedlings with a watering can as per requirements. Amendments were applied to experimental units 21 DAS and every 7 days thereafter, using a watering can and in accordance with application rates recommended in label instructions. At sixty DAS, seedlings were harvested for growth and root trait analysis.

[0037] Results are shown in FIGS. 1-4 where LL=liquid litter made from chicken manure; BH=Bountiful Harvest made from seaweed extract; BIO=Bio20 made from seaweed extract, enriched with NPK; MG=Miracle Gro conventional fertilizer; Algas-1=biostimulant made from Sargassum seaweed extract according to the invention wherein the seaweed extract was placed into a tank that did not contain sugar cane, 80 wt. % ethanol or molasses; Algas-2=biostimulant made from Sargassum seaweed extract according to the invention wherein the seaweed extract was placed into a tank containing sugar cane, 80 wt. % ethanol and molasses; and ST=Stimplex.

[0038] FIGS. 5A and 5B are a comparison of the root masses of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Dianne) both at 60 days after sowing. The tomato plant root mass in FIG. 5A was treated with Sargassum Extract at 60 ml diluted in 1 gallon of water, applied every 7 days for 5 applications. The root fresh weight was 1.8 g. The tomato plant root mass in FIG. 5B was treated with Miracle Gro (Conventional 20-20-20) Fertilizer diluted 15 ml in 1 gallon of water, applied every 7 days for 5 applications. The root fresh weight was 0.9 grams.

[0039] The amount of phosphorous in the solution containing the Sargassum extract concentrate contained about 4000 times less phosphorous than the Miracle Gro Fertilizer.

[0040] The foregoing embodiments have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. While the examples show the method used to prepare biostimulant by preparing extract concentrate from Sargassum, the method is believed to be able to prepare an extract concentrate from any high protein biomass, including Sargassum, water hyacinth or other seaweed.