MICROBIOLOGICAL METHOD OF NITRIFICATION FOR PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS

Abstract

The aim of the present invention is to provide a liquid or crystallized form of NPK fertilizer based on nitrate nitrogen, which is obtained on the basis of organic chemistry, from recycling agricultural and industrial wastes and waste materials through an organic microbiological nitrification process. Products such as potassium nitrate, magnesium nitrate, iron nitrate, and calcium nitrate produced in this way become environmentally friendly products.

Claims

1-6: (canceled)

7. A microbiological nitrification method for the production of organic fertilizers by oxidizing ammonia to nitrate nitrogen salts, which is characterized in that this method comprises the following steps: (A) supplying animal-derived ammonia nitrogen in the form of compounds, wherein ammonia gas is combined with sulfuric acid to produce a liquid solution of ammonium sulfate, which is mixed with an alkaline ingredient at pH of 10-12 to produce ammonia gas, B) injecting of ammonia in gaseous or liquid state to a microbial nitrification reactor and passing through a reactor that includes groups of archaea and bacteria present in the water, (C) injecting alkali element salts and oxygen into the reactor, (D) obtaining a solution of nitrate nitrogen and an alkaline element, (E) concentrating the solution of nitrate nitrogen and the alkaline element, and (F) crystallizing of salts of nitrate nitrogen and the alkaline element.

8. A microbiological nitrification method for the production of organic fertilizers by oxidizing ammonia to nitrate nitrogen salts according to claim 7, wherein liquid state of step (B) is obtained by binding ammonia gas to carbon dioxide (CO2) gas produce an ammonium bicarbonate solution.

9. The method for the fixation of ammonia (NH3) gas or ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4+) compounds from organic waste according to claim 7, wherein the elements are selected from the alkali metals Ca.sup.2+, Mg.sup.2+, K+, and the metal Fe.sup.2+ cations.

10. The method for the fixation of ammonia (NH3) gas or ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4+) from organic waste according to claim 7, wherein the group of archaea and bacteria is selected from the Nitrosomonas, Nitrosococcus, and Nitrobacter.

11. The method for the fixation of ammonia (NH3) gas or ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4+) from organic waste according to claim 7, wherein the pH of the nitrate nitrogen solution is in the range of 5.9 to 8.0.

12. The method for the fixation of ammonia (NH3) gas or ammonia nitrogen (NH4+) from organic waste according to claim 7, wherein the concentration of the ammonium sulfate solution formed in step (A) is from 5 to 15% salts.

13. The method for the fixation of ammonia (NH3) gas or ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4+) from organic waste according to claim 7, wherein the reactor additionally comprises a set of sensors and a control module.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1: Gas extraction and preparation of the solution for the microbiological nitrification process.

[0018] FIG. 2: Schematic diagram of the microbial nitrification process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Organic NPK fertilizers based on nitrate nitrogen obtained by the method of the present invention ensure more efficient plant growth and higher yields in organic farming. The safe and pathogen-free organic NPK fertilizers based on this invention allow them to be used in all cultivation systems for all vegetable and fruit crops, as well as for plants with a particularly short vegetation period, such as lettuce, dill, bulbs or their leaves, microgreens, and the like.

Ammonia (NH3) Gas Extraction and Preparation of the Solution for the Microbiological Nitrification Process

[0020] Organic NPK fertilizers are produced using natural ammonia (NH3) gases of animal origin, collected from agricultural farms air purification systems, during the production processes of biogas, and in the production processes of manure composting and processing. Ammonia (NH3) gas is usually combined with sulfuric acid (H.sub.2SO.sub.4) to produce and collect a liquid solution of ammonium sulfate (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4, which has salt concentrations of between 5 and 15% as a standard and is an agricultural waste.

[0021] Subsequently, the ammonium sulfate (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4 solution is poured into a sealed container into which an alkaline ingredient (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium oxide, etc.) is continuously added at a constant rate until the pH of the solution reaches a pH value of 10-12. After evaporation from the alkaline solution, ammonia (NH.sub.3) gas is sucked out by a compressor and piped to another tank containing water, which is saturated with carbon dioxide (CO2) gas (FIG. 1).

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Gas Extraction and Preparation of the Solution for the Microbiological Nitrification Process

[0022] Organic NPK fertilizers are produced using naturally occurring carbon dioxide (CO2) gas extracted from ash or caste raw materials of plant or animal origin, dominated by oxides of alkaline elements and carbonate (CO3) ionic compounds. Ashes of vegetable and animal origin are collected from urban boiler houses, oil factories, and similar industries where plants and their parts or wood waste are used in the combustion process. The treatment of any acid with carbonate (CO3) compounds, either from the waste from this industry or from calcium or magnesium rocks containing carbonate (CO3) compounds, produces the carbon dioxide (CO2) gases needed for the process.

[0023] After mixing water and ash in a special container, an acidic ingredient (vinegar, citric acid, sulfuric acid, etc.) is constantly added to the solution until the pH of the solution reaches a pH of 3-4. After evaporation from the acid solution, carbon dioxide (CO2) gas is sucked out by a compressor and piped to another tank containing water, which is saturated with ammonia (NH3) gas (FIG. 1).

Preparation of Alkali Metal Ca.sup.2+, Mg.sup.2+, K.sup.+, and metal Fe.sup.2+ Cations for Microbiological Processes

[0024] When the powdered caste, agricultural, or industrial waste arrives at the production premises, it is mixed with water in a special container under constant agitation. After a period of time, the water-insoluble salts are allowed to settle in the water after the stirring has stopped, and the dissolved salts are washed away with the water and are used in the microbiological process of nitrification.

[0025] The sourcing and use of each raw material are shown below:

[0026] A compound of iron oxide (FeO.sup.+) or iron carbonate (FeCOs), as an alkaline element, is collected as waste in municipal water treatment systems as part of a de-ironing process in which the waste to be disposed of is based on iron oxide. Cast iron ore is rock in the form of iron oxide (FeO.sup.+) or iron carbonate (FeCOs).

[0027] The source of calcium oxide (CaO.sup.+) or calcium carbonate (CaCOs) is industrial agroincinerated waste of industrial agro-plant and animal origin based on insoluble or sparingly soluble compounds of calcium oxide and calcium carbonate, which are washed with water and separated from insoluble sediments. Cast calcium carbonate (CaCOs) or calcium oxide (CaO.sup.+) in the form of chalk, calcite, shell flour, or limestone is also used.

[0028] Cast magnesium carbonate (MgCOs), magnesium sulfate (MgS0.sub.4), and magnesium chloride (MgCl2) are used as a source of magnesium (Mg.sup.2+), which, after processing, are then used to extract the source of magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH).sub.2.

[0029] The source of potassium (K.sup.+) is soluble, water-washed salts. The use of vegetable ash, in which the soluble salts of potassium are in the form of a carbonate compound (K2CO3), separates the salts dissolved in water from the insoluble sediment.

The Microbiological Process of Nitrification

[0030] The microbiological process of nitrification takes place in a tank, a microbiological reactor (FIG. 2). It is a sealed water tank filled with water and the necessary microorganisms, such as Nitrosomonas, Nitrosococcus, and Nitrobacter groups of archaea and bacteria. In addition, a set of required sensors is installed, and automated process control software is used.

[0031] The automated process control program uses sensors to control the conditions in the microbiological reactor for the nitrification process, which are necessary to maintain the life of the microorganisms and carry out the oxidation of ammonia nitrogen. An automated control system maintains the concentration of nitrate nitrogen (NNO.sup.3) ions in the microbiological reactor solution up to 0.8%. The pH of the solution from the nitrification process is monitored in the range 5.9 to 8.0, depending on the type of alkaline element present in the solution, which forms salts with nitrate nitrogen ions. The temperature of the reactor solution is maintained between +18 C. and +30 C., depending on the required rate of the nitrification process. The reactor control program uses sensors to steadily inject the required substances, such as ammoniacal nitrogen solution, alkaline element solution, and oxygen, into the nitrification process solution, depending on the biochemical process conditions.

[0032] During the nutrification process, the Nitrosomonas group of archaea and bacteria oxidize ammonia nitrogen ions in the solution to nitrite nitrogen (NO2) ions according to the following reaction:

##STR00001##

The Nitrobacter group of archaea and bacteria further oxidizes nitrite nitrogen (NO2) ions in solution to nitrate nitrogen (NOs-) ions according to the following reaction:

##STR00002##

Preparation of Liquid Organic Fertilizers Such as Potassium Nitrate, Magnesium Nitrate, Iron or Calcium Nitrate

[0033] The resulting nitrate-nitrogen-based fertilizer solution, such as calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate, iron nitrate, or potassium nitrate, is poured into a storage tank, from which it is then fed to a molecular sieve concentrator. In the concentration device, excess water is removed, and the content of salts in the product solution increases up to 3.75 times. T The final product is an organic liquid NPK fertilizer with a concentration of 3% nitrate nitrogen, which is then dispensed into the required containers.

Crystallization of Potassium Nitrate, Magnesium Nitrate, Iron Nitrate, or Calcium Nitrate

[0034] Concentrated organic liquid NPK fertilizers such as potassium nitrate (NPK 3-0-9+K), calcium nitrate (NPK 3-0-0+Ca), magnesium nitrate (NPK 3-0-0+Mg), or iron nitrate (NPK 3-0-0+Fe) are cooled to a temperature in the range of 5 C. to 0 C., and the salt crystallization process takes place in the solution. After decanting or centrifuging the solution from the formed salts, the latter is returned to the concentrating stage, and the resulting crystallized salts, such as potassium nitrate (NPK 13-0-46), calcium nitrate (NPK 16-0-0+Ca), magnesium nitrate (NPK 11-0-0+Mg) with a nitrogen concentration of 13-18% are packaged.