Organic liquid fertilizer

Abstract

A fertilizer derived from an organic source and a method of making are provided. The fertilizer of the present invention advantageously has a nitrogen content greater than 4%. The method of making the fertilizer also produces potable water.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for making a liquid fertilizer comprising the steps of:
 a) obtaining a liquid organic waste filtrate that contains ammoniacal nitrogen;   b) adjust the pH of the organic waste filtrate to between 5 and 7; and   c) removing water from the liquid organic waste filtrate, to which the pH has been adjusted, to obtain a liquid fertilizer that comprises at least 4% ammoniacal nitrogen,   wherein the fertilizer meets the criteria for USDA organic certification under the National Organic Program.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of removing water from the liquid organic waste filtrate obtains a fertilizer that comprises at least 5% ammoniacal nitrogen. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of adjusting the pH of the organic waste filtrate comprises adding a first acid to the organic waste filtrate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises the step of adding a second acid to the liquid organic waste filtrate after performing the step of removing water from the liquid organic waste filtrate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, lactic acid, L-malic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, uric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and perchloric acid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first acid is an organic acid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, lactic acid, L-malic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, and uric acid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid organic waste filtrate is obtained through filtering a liquid organic waste comprising poultry manure and water. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid organic waste filtrate comprises less than 5,000 ppm of suspended solids, the suspended solids having a particle size of less than or equal to 24 microns. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises recovering the water removed from the liquid organic waste filtrate as potable water. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid organic waste filtrate is obtained by filtering a discharge from an anaerobic digester that is charged with animal manure. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the discharge from the anaerobic digester has a temperature of between 90° F. and 140° F. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining the liquid organic waste filtrate comprises filtering a liquid organic waste that comprises dissolved protein, ammoniacal nitrogen, and phosphate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid fertilizer is substantially free of pathogens. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid fertilizer is substantially free of phosphates. 
     
     
         16 . A method for making a liquid fertilizer comprising the steps of:
 a. obtaining liquid organic waste;   b. removing suspended solids from the liquid organic waste to form a liquid organic waste filtrate comprising from 0 to 20,000 ppm of suspended solids, the suspended solids having a particle size of less than or equal to 24 microns;   c. adjust the pH of the liquid organic waste filtrate to between 5 and 7; and   d. removing water from the liquid organic waste filtrate, to which the pH has been adjusted, to create a liquid fertilizer that contains nitrogen, wherein the nitrogen is ammoniacal nitrogen,   wherein the fertilizer meets the criteria for USDA organic certification under the National Organic Program.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of removing water from the liquid organic waste filtrate obtains a fertilizer that comprises at least 5% ammoniacal nitrogen. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of adjusting the pH of the organic waste filtrate comprises adding a first acid to the organic waste filtrate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises the step of adding a second acid to the liquid organic waste filtrate after performing the step of removing water from the liquid organic waste filtrate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, lactic acid, L-malic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, uric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and perchloric acid. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first acid is an organic acid. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, lactic acid, L-malic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, and uric acid. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the liquid organic waste filtrate is obtained through filtering a liquid organic waste comprising poultry manure and water. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises recovering the water removed from the liquid organic waste filtrate as potable water. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the liquid organic waste filtrate is obtained by filtering a discharge from an anaerobic digester that is charged with animal manure. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the discharge from the anaerobic digester has a temperature of between 90° F. and 140° F. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of obtaining the liquid organic waste filtrate comprises filtering a liquid organic waste that comprises dissolved protein, ammoniacal nitrogen, and phosphate. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the liquid fertilizer is substantially free of pathogens. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the liquid fertilizer is substantially free of phosphates. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the liquid organic waste filtrate comprises from 0 to 1,200 ppm of suspended solids.