ORGANOMINERAL FERTILIZER AND PROCESS THEREFOR

Abstract

A method for producing an organomineral fertilizer from organic waste includes mixing organic waste with an oxidizing agent to cause an oxidizing reaction that causes combustion of the organic waste to form an oxidated waste matter, supplementing the oxidated waste matter with a chemical or mineral fertilizer to form tut organomineral mixture, drying the organomineral mixture to reduce a water content thereof and obtain a drier organomineral mixture, and forming the drier organomineral mixture into a desired shape, such as powder, granules or pellets, etc.

Claims

1. A method for producing an organomineral fertilizer from organic waste comprising: mixing organic waste with an oxidizing agent to cause an oxidizing reaction that causes combustion of the organic waste to form an oxidated waste matter; supplementing said oxidated waste matter with a chemical or mineral fertilizer to form an organomineral mixture; drying said organomineral mixture to reduce a water content thereof and obtain a drier organomineral mixture; and forming said drier organomineral mixture into a desired shape.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mixing organic waste with said oxidizing agent to cause the oxidizing reaction is an accelerated chemical composting process that reduces or eliminates pathogens and odors.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mixing, said supplementing, said drying and said forming are all completed in 5-40 minutes.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said organic waste comprises a wet organic waste stream.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said organic waste comprises domestic, municipal, agricultural, industrial or farm animal waste.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising using said desired shape as a potting soil to grow indoor potted plants.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawing in which:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for producing organomineral fertilizers from organic waste, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a method for producing organomineral fertilizers from organic waste, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] In step 1, organic waste (animal waste, sludge, sewer waste, etc.) is mixed with an oxidizing agent, in accordance with methods described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,039,053 and 9,936,842, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0011] In one example, apparatus for carrying out the invention may include a receptacle for holding therein organic waste, and optionally a blender (mixer) for mixing and/or grinding (chopping, pulverizing, etc.) the organic waste for more efficient oxidation thereof. A collection receptacle may be provided for collecting therein products of oxidation of the organic waste. A dispenser dispenses an oxidizing agent to the organic waste so as to cause an oxidizing (and exothermic) reaction that causes combustion of the organic waste. Non-limiting examples of the oxidizing agent include a peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide, and/or magnesium peroxide, etc.; a persulphate, such as sodium persulphate, potassium persulphate, and/or ammonium persulphate, etc.; ozone; a permanganate, such as sodium permanganate, potassium permanganate, etc.; chlorine dioxide; and/or a halogen, such as chlorine, bromine, iodine, and/or fluorine, etc. The oxidizing agents can be used each alone or in admixture of two or more, and may be liquid, solid, gel and the like.

[0012] Accordingly, step 1 is an accelerated chemical composting process that reduces or eliminates pathogens and odors. The oxidated waste matter may be used as an organomineral fertilizer, but may in general still be too wet, that is, it may have a higher than desired water content for forming desired finished shapes, such as pellets.

[0013] In step 2, the oxidated organic waste matter is supplemented with a chemical/mineral fertilizer to form an organomineral mixture to achieve a desired nutrient composition that will best suit soil and crop requirements.

[0014] In step 3, the wet mixture is then transferred into a dryer machine to reduce its water content and obtain an adequate level of water content. It is noted that steps 1, 2 and 3 can be separated into different machines or may be carried out in a single step in one machine.

[0015] In step 4, the dried organomineral mixture is physically formed to obtain the desired shape of powder, granules or pellets, etc.

[0016] A major advantage in the inventive process over the prior art is that it is extremely fast (5-40 minute process) compared with the prior art methods of forming organomineral fertilizers that typically take weeks.

[0017] The method of the invention is applicable for any wet organic waste stream, such as but not limited to, domestic, municipal, agricultural, industrial and farm animal waste.

[0018] Waste streams from different sources may be combined in one process delivering one final product type or different types.

[0019] The ratio between organic and minerals in the product can vary from 5% organic and 95% mineral to 95% mineral to 5% organic material. The mineral fraction may comprise any combination of macro-elements required by plants, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and others; and micro-elements required by plants such as Mg, Mn, Co, B, Fe, S, Mo, Zn, and others.

[0020] It is not necessary to have all the above components, and the composition can vary according to the final product specification.

[0021] Potting soil is generally used with potted plants in indoor settings. Because potted plants lack natural nutrients found in topsoil and due to the plant growth environment, potting soil is required to be different from topsoil in terms of composition. Unlike topsoil, potting soil may have little or no natural soil content because it is manufactured from natural and man-made ingredients. Often it is made of different ingredients such as moss, sphagnum, bark, coconut husks, vermiculite, and coir. These ingredients are used in the soil in order to allow enough air to the roots, while keeping a soil-like texture that promotes moisture retention and adequate drainage as needed in potted plants. Potting soil is sterilized, which helps in eliminating any growth of harmful substances to the plant such as weeds and fungus. For potted plants, this is critical for they are in a moist environment and hence quite vulnerable to harmful substances.

[0022] An additional use for the invention is for potting soil or soil amendment. The product made according to the invention has the following basic elements required:

[0023] a. It has excellent draining and water will not stand idle in it.

[0024] b. It can maintain at least a little bit of moisture.

[0025] c. It is strong enough to support the plant.

[0026] d. It has nutritional value for plants

[0027] These basic product properties make it an excellent component in potting soil mixtures and for soil remediation and amendment. It can replace traditional components such as moss, sphagnum, bark, coconut husks, vermiculite, coir and others.