Water-dispersible pellets

Abstract

A water-dispersible particle for delivery of fertilizer to a plant is disclosed. After delivery wetting of the particles causes particle dispersion so as to prevent secondary pick up to the particles. Methods for making and using the water-dispersible particle are described.

1 . A process for making water-dispersible particles comprising:
 mechanically aggregating methylene urea oligomer fines that have a mean aggregate domain size that is less than 500 micrometers in the presence of a binder to form a pelletized material; and   drying the pelletized material to form the water-dispersible particles under conditions that allow the water-dispersible particles to break up into greater than 100 smaller pieces upon contact with water.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said mechanically aggregated occurs in a pan-granulator. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2  further comprising the step of spraying said binder into said pan-granulator containing said methylene urea oligomer fines. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said mechanically aggregated occurs in a drum-granulator in the presence of a binder. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4  further comprising the step of spraying said binder into said drum-granulator containing said methylene urea oligomer fines. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said mechanically aggregated occurs in an Eirich unit. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6  further comprising the step of spraying said binder into said Eirich unit containing said methylene urea oligomer fines. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the mean aggregate domain size that is less than 250 micrometers. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the mean aggregate domain size that is less than 180 micrometers. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said drying is in a fluid bed drier with a drier inlet air temperature of between 120 degrees Fahrenheit and 220 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the drier inlet air temperature is between 140 degrees Fahrenheit and 190 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said binder is calcium lignosulfonate, molasses, liquid corn starch, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said drying allows the water-dispersible particles to break up into 1,000 to 10,000 smaller pieces over a period of time ranging from 1 second to 12 hours. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 8  wherein said drying allows the water-dispersible particles to break up into 1,000 to 10,000 smaller pieces over a period of time ranging from 1 second to 12 hours. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 8  wherein said drying allows the water-dispersible particles to break up into 1,000 to 10,000 smaller pieces over a period of time ranging from 1 minute to 1 hour. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 9  wherein said drying allows the water-dispersible particles to break up into 1,000 to 10,000 smaller pieces over a period of time ranging from 1 second to 12 hours. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 9  wherein said drying allows the water-dispersible particles to break up into 1,000 to 10,000 smaller pieces over a period of time ranging from 1 minute to 1 hour. 
     
     
         18 . A process for making water-dispersible particles comprising:
 screening for an amount of methylene urea fines passing 50 mesh;   placing two-thirds of said amount of methylene urea fines passing 50 mesh into an agglomeration pan;   adjusting said agglomeration pan to achieve a falling curtain of said two-thirds of an amount of methylene urea fines passing 50 mesh;   adding binder to said two-thirds of an amount of methylene urea fines passing 50 mesh;   adding a remaining one-third of said amount of methylene urea fines passing 50 mesh to said agglomeration pan to form pelletized material;   drying the pelletized material in said fluid bed drier under conditions that allow the water-dispersible particles to break up into greater than 100 smaller pieces upon contact with water.   
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18  wherein the ratio of said methylene urea fines to said binder is between 19:1 and 1:3. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 18  wherein the ratio of said methylene urea fines to said binder is between 10:1 and 1:1. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 18  wherein the ratio of said methylene urea fines to said binder is between 7:1 and 2:1. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 18  wherein said binder is added via spray bottle, peristaltic pump with air atomizing nozzle, or sparge tube. 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 18  further comprising size-screening the water dispersible particles. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 18  wherein said drying step occurs in an oven having a temperature of between 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 150 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of between one hour and forty-eight hours. 
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 18  wherein said drying step occurs in an oven having a temperature of between 90 degrees Fahrenheit and 120 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of between one hour and forty-eight hours. 
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 18  wherein said drying step occurs in an oven having a temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit for a period longer than sixteen hours.