US 11,807,587 B2
Acid treatment for fertilizers to increase zinc solubility and availability
Michael John McLaughlin, Montacute (AU); Jozefien Louisa Elvire Degryse, Parkside (AU); Roslyn Jane Baird, Aberfoyle Park (AU); Rodrigo Coqui da Silva, Redwood Park (AU); Bryan Todd Baylor, Lithia, FL (US); and Lawrence Alan Peacock, Riverview, FL (US)
Assigned to The Mosaic Company, Inc., Tampa, FL (US)
Filed by The Mosaic Company, Plymouth, MN (US)
Filed on Nov. 5, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/674,165.
Application 16/674,165 is a division of application No. 15/235,499, filed on Aug. 12, 2016, granted, now 10,487,016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/204,195, filed on Aug. 12, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2020/0062667 A1, Feb. 27, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C05G 5/30 (2020.01); C05B 17/00 (2006.01); C05B 19/00 (2006.01); C05D 9/02 (2006.01); C05C 9/00 (2006.01); C05D 9/00 (2006.01); C05C 1/00 (2006.01); C05B 7/00 (2006.01); C05D 1/02 (2006.01); C05G 3/40 (2020.01); C05G 5/12 (2020.01); B01J 2/12 (2006.01); B01J 2/00 (2006.01)
CPC C05G 5/36 (2020.02) [C05B 7/00 (2013.01); C05B 17/00 (2013.01); C05B 19/00 (2013.01); C05C 1/00 (2013.01); C05C 9/005 (2013.01); C05D 1/02 (2013.01); C05D 9/00 (2013.01); C05D 9/02 (2013.01); C05G 3/44 (2020.02); B01J 2/003 (2013.01); B01J 2/12 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A granulated fertilizer product comprising:
a plurality of acidified fertilizer granules including a plurality of base granules, each base granule containing a macronutrient source and a source of zinc incorporated into the macronutrient source, wherein the macronutrient source comprises a phosphate containing fertilizer,
wherein each base fertilizer granule is acidified by direct application of liquid sulfuric acid to only an outer surface of the base fertilizer granule in an amount to increase zinc solubility thereby increasing availability of zinc for plant uptake.
 
12. A method for increasing zinc solubility and consequently availability in fertilizer granules, comprising:
providing a granular fertilizer product comprising a plurality of base fertilizer granules, each base fertilizer granule formed of a macronutrient source and a source of zinc incorporated into the base fertilizer granule; and
applying liquid sulfuric acid directly to only an outer surface of the macronutrient source of the base fertilizer granules in an amount to increase zinc solubility thereby increasing availability of zinc for plant uptake.