ES2368390A1 - Capsule for water treatment. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Capsule for water treatment, selected between irrigated or waters of hydroponic culture media, comprising a container of biodegradable and water-soluble material containing in its interior a solid composition comprising p2 o5, an effervescent generating agent and optionally a mixture of inorganic, organic salts and/or nitrogen compounds. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Water treatment capsule.

Field of the Invention

The present invention is encompassed within the field of water treatment, and more specifically, means of water treatment for irrigation of crops in soils and hydroponics

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

Background of the invention

Irrigation water treatment for soil crops or to produce hydroponic culture media It aims to add the necessary nutrients to the water for the correct development of vegetables. The contribution of Nutrients by wet route is called fertirrigation and is the way more effective to get the most out of them in addition to be versatile enough to be used on farms Large scale and domestic. To prepare the solutions Subscriber can be used concentrated solutions of fertilizers or soluble solid fertilizers dosed to obtain optimal final concentrations. If solutions are used concentrated these are incorporated into the main water flow in continuous, however, if solid fertilizers are used the solubility of they are previously produced in a water tank and subsequently this solution is administered to the vegetables. At In case of hydroponic crops, the subscriber solution is at Once the culture medium and nutrient concentrations are far inferior to crops in soil.

Currently, in drip irrigation systems, fertilizer solutions based on the use of strong inorganic acids (nitric acid, sulfuric acid or phosphoric, etc.) in the form of concentrated aqueous solutions and contained in insoluble plastic containers (usually polyethylene or polypropylene) that prevent the formation of conduction obstructions due to precipitate formation insoluble Dosing, packaging treatment and especially The handling of these products has some drawbacks associated derived from its corrosive, irritating and potentially Toxic

There is a bibliography that collects formulations intended for the production of NPK complex soluble solid fertilizers, which are fertilizers with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium associated together as base elements of the subscription, such as US3197302 that discloses a soluble fertilizer composition comprising a effervescent product and an acidic agent to activate the first one favors the dissolution of the components. The compounds Effervescent used are bicarbonates and / or sodium carbonates, potassium or ammonium and as a component that generates acidity list various organic acids (oxalic, succinic, etc.) and salts of hydrogen and dihydrogen phosphate (HPO 4 2- and H 2 PO 4 - respectively) of sodium, potassium and / or ammonium.

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

Description of the invention

The invention relates to a capsule fertilizer and water softener for irrigation water treatment comprising a container of water-soluble material containing in inside a solid composition comprising P2O5 and effervescence generating agent such as bicarbonate of Ammonium, potassium or sodium.

Specifically, the composition may comprise also inorganic salts with the following proportion, where the sum of the% by weight of each component does not exceed 100%:

-

P_ {2} O_ {5} as acidity generator corresponding to phosphoric acid anhydride, in a proportion which can be between 1 and 50% by mass, preferably between 0.1 and 35% and more preferably between 0.1 and twenty%,

-

agent effervescence generator such as baking soda ammonium, potassium or sodium in a proportion by weight that can be placed between 0.1 and 50% by mass, preferably between 0.1 and 40% and more preferably between 0.1 and 30%, and

-

you go out inorganic and nitrogen compounds capable of providing NPK main and secondary fertilizer units (Mg, S, etc.) comprising major elements such as, for example, Ca (NO 3) 2, Mg (NO 3) 2, (NH 4) 2 SO 4, NaCl, MgCl2, NaNO3, CO (NH 2) 2 H 3 PO 4, MgSO 4, KNO 3, K 2 SO 4, NH 4 NO 3, NH 4 H 2 PO 4, (NH 4) 2 HPO 4, linear, cyclic, ammonium or sodium polyphosphates, CO (NH2) 2 and minorities: H 3 BO 3, Na 2 MoO 4, MgO, metal salts, chelates of transition elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Mo, Co, Cu, etc.) and in general any other that can provide the necessary elements Majority or minority. The quantity and proportion between them is will choose to form a mixture containing units desired NPK fertilizers. Depending on the mixture and its solubility the interval in which they can be found in the capsule it will cover from 0.1 to 99.8% by mass, preferably between 50 and 99.8% and more preferably between 70 and 99.8%

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

The use of phosphoric acid anhydride, also called phosphorus oxide (V) or phosphorus pentoxide, it provides to the invention numerous advantages. First, it allows a pH regulation capacity to very acidic values (2 e lower) that are not attainable with the formulations of the known patent. Second, its reaction with the solvent, that is, with water, used to prepare irrigated waters or The hydroponic culture media turns out to be very exothermic:

100

The energy released by this reaction produces a temperature increase in the medium that counteracts the temperature decrease caused by type dissolution endothermic of many nitrogenous salts that make up the media NPK complexes. Third, the P_ {2} O_ {5} is the only one solid anhydride that can generate a compatible acid component with the formulation of fertilizers or culture media NPK without provide elements outside its base composition.

On the other hand, the advantages of using P_ {2} O_ {5} that have been listed above only result viable for our field of application in combination with a water-soluble packaging that is an effective barrier against environmental humidity and gases, ensuring their chemical stability in the time against the hydrolysis reaction. The plastic Water soluble used in the coating allows handling of the product without any special protection from the operator and dissolves completely in water releasing the solid contained inside to produce the reaction that It will generate acidic solution and fertilizer.

The water-soluble plastic dissolves completely in water providing compounds that are in your Biodegradable totality according to different standards of UNE-EN-ISO standardization and not It is dangerous for the environment, being a source of Organic matter metabolizable by microorganisms.

The putting in form of the components is realized in the form of a pill wrapped in water-soluble plastic so that gas bubbles from the effervescence agent ensure the gradual disintegration of the tablet and release into the middle of the solid mix progressively. This type of release provides different advantages:

-

The first is that the components of the self-soluble solid are put into contact with the solvent at a rate that prevents formation of local supersaturations that produce precipitation towards the bottom of the container.

-

The second is that the formation of an excessive proportion of bubbles and foam that can produce volume increases significant.

-

The third is that it prevents the passivation of P 2 O 5 in contact with water and also the violent release of water vapor. If he P2O5 solid powder is contacted with water is produces a violent exothermic reaction that leads to boiling by the increase of the temperature of the system. If instead the P 2 O 5 is compacted in a pill and contacted the solvent that is produced is the formation of a layer surface of H 3 PO 4 that prevents solvent access to the rest of the solid, this is known as passivated and the effect is that the pill becomes insoluble despite the great affinity of P 2 O 5 by water.

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

In addition the use of the wrapper based on water-soluble plastic eliminates the need to manipulate and manage any type of packaging that should be considered as a hazardous waste due to contamination with inorganic acids powerful. Therefore we can affirm that the combination of the agent of acidity, of the effervescent agent, the compaction of the solid in tablet and water-soluble plastic coating encourage the dissolution of the components is achieved in a safe way, fully autonomous and without the need for mechanical agitation means or manual, as it would happen in case of pouring the same quantities of products directly to the solvent.

This device has the property of generating, in contact with water, an acid solution (low pH) since the phosphoric oxide gives phosphoric acid upon contact with water at through an exothermic reaction. Likewise, his complete solubilization, resulting in a dissolution with a composition similar to those of concentrated liquid fertilizers NPK-type complexes currently used in fertigation or hydroponic culture media and also has properties which prevent the formation of carbonate deposits and hydrogen carbonates of alkali and alkaline earth cations present in those irrigation waters with chemical hardness: mainly calcium and magnesium.

Phosphoric acid produced by the contact of phosphorus pentoxide in contact with water, acts as an acidic agent that gives the chemical conditions necessary to produce the redisolution of the precipitates existing in the pipes through which water classified as high hardness circulates, understood this as water with a high content of magnesium and calcium salts, thereby eliminating the solids that prevent and plug the circulation of
fluid.

A case of particular interest for the use of the invention is found in carbonate and bicarbonate deposits that are formed in drip irrigation pipes.

Under conditions of pH and suitable temperatures it is possible the formation of insoluble precipitates from these two cations such as Ca (HCO 3) 2, Mg (HCO 3) 2, CaCO 3 and MgCO 3, or any other precipitate when the solubility of these is exceeded You go out in water.

one

The formation of these precipitates can be reduce by acting on the anion CO 3 2 - / HCO 3 - and / or on the alkaline or alkaline earth cation in solution. According to Equation 4, 5 and 6, in an acidic pH, such as that generated by the acid phosphoric from the hydrolysis of phosphorus pentoxide, the carbonate or bicarbonate anion is protonated to form the species carbonic acid H 2 CO 3, which dissociates into CO2 gas (bubbles, effervescence) and water. The loss of CO2 in the environment produces the displacement of equilibrium and the reduction of content of CO 3 2- HCO 3 - in the solution, shifting the balance of solubility towards products in dissolution.

2

The reactions involved are represented with The following equations:

3

The performance on the metal cation responsible for these precipitates corresponds to the "kidnapping" or complexation by some chemical species so that the balance of solubility move towards the components in solution. He proposed device contains phosphates and polyphosphates and compounds derivatives, which have the ability to complex cations divalents responsible for the formation of insoluble precipitates described in the previous paragraphs: calcium and magnesium.

4

The complexation of these cations is fine known and its effect is the reduction of the concentration of themselves in free state in the solution and therefore, reduces the precipitate formation You can say that the device, used as described, provides prevention properties of Lime precipitates to localized irrigation pipes. For other part, it is also known that the contribution of ammoniacal nitrogen, NH 4 +, from phosphate and ammonium polyphosphate as of other compounds such as NH 4 NO 3 for example, favor the dissolution of divalent and trivalent cations, such as trace elements (Fe, Cu, etc.) that complement the formulation of NPK fertilizers, thus ensuring the solubility of all components in the reconstituted product.

The relative proportion of P 2 O 5 and Phosphates / polyphosphates will be chosen based on the final pH required by means of irrigation or hydroponic cultivation. On the one hand, yes we use acidic pH fertilizers (mass percentage of P2O5 >> phosphates and polyphosphates) reduction of precipitates will occur according to the steps described in equations 4 to 10. In the case of requiring the formulation of a neutral fertilizer, such as for example in the case of hydroponic culture media where the pH is slightly lower than 7, the anti limestone activity is will achieve by reducing the hardness of the water by the metal complexation, equations 11 and 12.

The way of using the product is to add to minus one capsule at a given volume of water in the tanks of irrigation. After dissolving the coating plastic, it will be released the solid content to the solution and the dissolution of the components, helped by the local rise in temperature produced by the exothermic dissolution reaction of the pentoxide of phosphorus, and the dispersion effect of the solid produced by the Effervescent agent bubbles activated by dissolution of acidic agent in water. After a time that ensures dissolution complete of the compounds the result will be an aqueous solution which will contain the chemical species found in fertilizers intended commercial NPK complex concentrated liquids intended to fertigation. The reconstituted product will also ensure chemical parameters of the solution such as pH.

With respect to the current solutions of NPK complex soluble liquid fertilizers, one of the advantages of the invention consists in the reduction of transport costs by the elimination of the solvent contained in the current commercial products, in this case water in proportions of approximately 55% by weight of the total product. By means of the described capsule, the transport and handling of that amount of mass is eliminated since the water necessary to reconstitute the concentrated liquid fertilizer comes from the main flow lines and would be added to the self-soluble solid product in the end-user irrigation facility. The biodegradability of the container used provides, in addition to the advantages of handling and absence of subsequent waste management by the end user, a source of organic matter, chemical energy, usable by microorganisms in the media
culture.

With respect to the products used currently as decalcifiers the device provides the advantage to eliminate the handling of strong inorganic acid products concentrated. For example, commercial HNO 3 solutions at 57% that are used directly in irrigation pipes to produce the dissolution of the precipitates of lime formed. He Management of these solutions involves risks to human health due to the vapors that are produced. Moreover, these vapors create very oxidizing conditions in the environment that have an impact on the corrosion suffered by the instruments and devices used during its use. The conduction of acidic liquids concentrates forces the use of materials that are capable of Resist the acid attack. The proposed invention eliminates these inconveniences when proposing a product that does not produce vapors Toxic or corrosive.

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

Detailed description of one embodiment

Then we proceed to describe a series of examples, which are intended to describe in more detail the invention:

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

Example 1

An NPK complex fertilizer capsule intended to be reconstituted in a given volume of water that included:

-

P_ {O} {5}, in a proportion that covers from 1% by weight to 20% by weight both included,

-

a mixture of inorganic salts and nitrogen compounds in a proportion ranging from 70% by weight to 98% by weight both included,

-

a effervescence generating agent in a proportion ranging from 1% by weight to 30% by weight both included.

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

The mass of the three components would be 529 g, would be compacted by applying a certain pressure to form a tablet whose geometry reduced the ratio to the maximum area / volume

The tablet would later be packaged in water-soluble plastic following a procedure based on the Heat sealing of the product around the solid.

This product tablet would dissolve in approximately 672 g of H2O to produce about one liter of concentrated solution whose nutrient content and chemical characteristics would be similar to those of the product that currently markets.

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

Example 2

The composition of fertilizer capsules complex NPKs intended to be reconstituted in a volume of water determined to produce around 1000 L of a solution concentrate suitable for fertirrigation of large-scale crops and whose NPK fertilizer indices (that is, the kilograms of atomic nitrogen, phosphorus oxide (V) and potassium oxide Water soluble per 100 kg of product) are 9-4-10 and containing 0.02% of Boron, made according to the described invention. The composition of the component mix would contain (all percentages have a variation range of ± 0.1%):

-

9.9% by weight of P 2 O 5 as acidity generator,

       \ newpage
    

-

82.4% by weight of fertilizers of which:

\ circ

KNO 3 53.2% by weight,

\ circ

NH 4 NO 3 0.3% in weight,

\ circ

Urea 28.9% by weight,

\ circ

H 3 BO 3 0.02% in weight

-

7.7% by weight of NH 4 HCO 3 as generator of effervescence

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

483.7 kg of solid containing the above components would be compacted in 403 g portions by applying a pressure determined to form a pill whose geometry reduced to the maximum the area / volume ratio.

The pills would group together to form groups of 5 units and would later be packed in plastic Water-soluble following a heat-sealing procedure of the product around the solid.

240 of these containers would dissolve in approximately 716.3 Kg of H2O to produce around 1000 L of concentrated solution, of approximate density 1.20 g / mL, whose Nutrient content and chemical characteristics would be similar to those of the product that is currently marketed and suitable for crop fertigation.

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

Example 3

A corrective fertilizer capsule intended for provide additional fertilizer units to a liquid fertilizer concentrate (a 1 liter solution) reconstituted from an NPK complex fertilizer capsule 12-4-6, that is, 12% by weight of N, 4% by weight of P2O5 and 6% by weight of K2O, similar to the described in example 1, to achieve a NPK index credit 12-5-10 that is, 12% by weight of N, 5% by weight of P2O5 and 10% by weight of K2O. The contribution of additional fertilizer units to the subscriber solutions It may be necessary and beneficial to compensate for changes in composition of seasonal or temporary crop soils or to correct offsets in the stages of the crop produced by anomalous environmental conditions (humidity, temperature, etc.). According the invention, the capsule would contain (± 0.1%):

-

3.3% by weight of P 2 O 5 as acidity generator,

-

92.9% by weight of K 2 SO 4 and

-

3.7% by weight of NH 4 HCO 3 as generator of effervescence

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

As in the previous example, it is also would compact into tablets or pills of a size that minimized volume. It contains an effervescence and acidity generator for ensure its self-soluble qualities and would be packed in plastic water soluble to preserve the advantageous characteristics as far as to its handling in safe conditions and lack of management of waste. After adding it to the solution and make sure its complete dissolution the new NPK fertilizer indices would be approximately 12-4-10 that is, 12% by weight of N, 4% by weight of P2O5 and 10% by weight of K_ {2} O.

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

Example 4

An NPK fertilizer capsule that contains a effervescence generator and an acidity generator intended to be reconstituted with a given volume of water to generate approximately 100 liters of hydroponic culture medium. The Capsule would be wrapped in a water-soluble plastic material. After the addition of the volume of water corresponding to the capsule is it will form a culture medium that will contain major nutrients, minorities and the necessary trace elements, as well as pH conditions necessary to ensure the use of The same for the vegetable. The capsule would have indexes NPK fertilizers of approximate values 11-8-14 (19 S, i.e. 19% by weight of SO_ {3}) and its approximate final composition and concentration in the Culture medium are indicated in the following table:

5

The capsule would have a mass of 116.93 g and dissolve in 99.99 L of water to provide a culture medium hydroponic in which the concentrations of the various species chemicals would be in the proper concentration order for ensure the correct nutrition of the plant, in the same way, the pH It would be approximately 6.5.

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

Example 5

A simple fertilizer capsule intended for correct varying percentages of nutrients in culture media hydroponics that would contain an acidity generator and one of effervescence. Taking into consideration the culture medium hydroponic described in the previous example the capsule would be composed of 2.183 g of MgSO4 · 7H2O (97.673% in weight), 0.024 g of P2O5 (1.074% by weight) and 0.028 g of NH 4 HCO 3 (1,253% by weight) and would be packaged in plastic water soluble. With its addition to the culture medium we could replace 10% of the appropriate concentration of Magnesium and thus compensate for the higher consumption of this nutrient in certain phases of the plant life cycle.

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

Example 6

An NPK complex fertilizer capsule intended to be reconstituted in a given volume of water to produce a concentrated solution suitable for crop fertigation of fruit trees (lemon, orange, mandarin and grapefruit) of 3 at 5 years of age on a small scale (10 L applications of subscriber dissolution) and whose NPK fertilizer indices (that is, kilograms of atomic nitrogen, phosphorus oxide (V) and oxide of water soluble potassium per 100 kg of product) are 13-9-14 and containing 8.0% in MgO weight, 0.016% boric acid, 0.011% Zn, 0.006% Cu, 0.012% of Mn and 0.024% of Fe, carried out according to the invention described would contain (all percentages have a range of variation of ± 0.1%):

-

8.6% by weight of P 2 O 5 as acidity generator,

-

81.9% by weight of fertilizers of which:

\ circ

K_ {SO} {4} 25.0% in weight,

\ circ

NH 4 NO 3 3.9% in weight,

\ circ

(NH 4) 2 SO 4 23.3% by weight,

\ circ

Urea 10.2% by weight,

\ circ

MgSO 4 19.2% by weight,

\ circ

H 3 BO 3 0.016% in weight,

\ circ

ZnSO_ {4} · H2O 0.024% in weigh,

\ circ

CuSO_4 \ cdot5H2 O 0.019% in weigh,

\ circ

MnSO_ {4} · H2O 0.030% in weigh,

\ circ

(NH 4) 2 Fe (SO 4) 2 • 6 O 2 O 0.136% by weight and

-

9.5% by weight of NH 4 HCO 3 as generator of effervescence

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

The total mass of solid would be 28.2 g and would compact by applying a certain pressure to form a tablet whose geometry reduced the ratio to the maximum area / volume

The tablet would later be packaged in water-soluble plastic following a procedure based on the heat sealing of the product around the solid and a unit for every 10 L of water.

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

Example 7

The composition of a capsule for treatment of approximately 1000 L of water contained in the deposit of a crop fertirrigation facility for Perform system maintenance. Specifically, the capsule would allow to reduce the pH from an initial value of 8, typical in the waters used in these facilities, at a value of 2 being able be used for periodic cleaning of the precipitates formed in the pipes, valves and droppers of the installation.

The composition of the mixture of components of the capsule would contain (all percentages have an interval of variation of ± 0.1%):

-

72.9% by weight of P 2 O 5 as acidity generator,

-

27.1% by weight of NH 4 HCO 3 as generator of effervescence

       \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
    

1459.9 g of solid containing the above components in the indicated proportions would be compacted by applying a certain pressure to form a pill, which would be subsequently packaged in water-soluble plastic following a procedure based on heat sealing of the product around the solid.

This capsule wrapped in water-soluble plastic it would be poured into approximately 1000 L of H2O whose pH was 8 and when dissolved completely it would reduce it by approximately 6 units until the entire volume of water is presented at a pH close to 2.

Claims (9)

1. Water treatment capsule characterized in that it comprises a container of biodegradable and water-soluble material that contains in its interior a solid composition comprising P2O5, and an effervescence generating agent. 2. Water treatment capsule according to claim 1 characterized by the solid composition also comprises a mixture of inorganic, organic salts and / or nitrogen compounds. 3. Capsule according to claim 2 characterized in that the solid composition comprises:

-

P_ {O} {5}, in a proportion that it ranges from 0.1% by weight to 50% by weight both included,

-

a effervescence generating agent in a proportion ranging from 0.1% by weight to 50% by weight both included,

-

a mixture of inorganic, organic salts and / or nitrogen compounds in a proportion ranging from 0.1% by weight to 99.8% by weight both included,

where the sum of the% by weight of each component does not exceed 100%.

         \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
      

4. Capsule according to claim 3 characterized in that the composition inside the capsule comprises:

-

P_ {O} {5}, in a proportion that covers from 1% by weight to 20% by weight both included,

-

a mixture of inorganic, organic salts and / or nitrogen compounds in a proportion ranging from 70% by weight to 98% by weight both included,

-

a effervescence generating agent in a proportion ranging from 1% by weight to 30% by weight both included.

         \ vskip1.000000 \ baselineskip
      

5. Capsule according to claims 1-4 characterized in that the effervescent generating agent is alkaline bicarbonate. 6. Capsule according to claims 1-4 characterized in that the effervescent generating agent is ammonium bicarbonate. 7. Capsule according to claims 1-4 characterized in that the effervescence generating agent is a mixture of alkali and ammonium bicarbonate. 8. Irrigation water treatment method characterized by comprising the step of incorporating into the irrigation water tank at least one capsule according to claim 1-7. 9. Water treatment process for producing hydroponic culture media characterized by comprising the step of incorporating into the recirculation or medium production water tank at least one capsule according to claim 1-7.