FR2615689A1 - Reactional substrate for synthesis having many uses, which can be used especially in the horticultural and agricultural fields - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a reactional substrate for synthesis having many uses, which can be used in the horticultural and agricultural fields, for raising laboratory animals, water purification, and the like. This substrate is characterised in that it comprises a porous artificial matrix having open pores, composed of a polymer, copolymer alloy or synthetic composite, and at least one active compound retained inside the matrix having open pores, this active compound consisting of a body having adsorbing properties.

Description

 The present invention relates to a synthetic reaction substrate for multiple uses, usable in particular in the horticultural and agricultural fields, for 1 1 breeding of laboratory animals, water purification etc ...

 We already know about substrates of this kind which are used as synthetic compost, for higher plants, at the sowing, cuttings, transplanting stage, for the culm of superior mushrooms, algae, various microorganisms (bacteria, algae, fungi lower), culture support for in vitro culture, nutrient or inert support for breeding laboratory animals (insects, molluscs, small mammals ...) or reaction or inert material for water purification .

 So for horticultural or agricultural uses, these substrates are made from natural elements taken from different deposits: brown peat, blond peat, garden soil, sands, clays, leaf compost, pine bark, manure from different origins, composts made from vegetable waste or household waste, etc. To these natural elements can be added artificial or synthetic elements: wood fibers, charcoal, synthetic fibers, various synthetic elements These soils or substrates can, Finally, be enriched with fertilizers, minerals or organic, with pH correctors, with water retentants, etc.

 All these natural elements of very diverse origins rarely have constant compositions from one batch to another or from one provenance to another. To obtain more or less constant qualities, manufacturers of potting soil are currently obliged, on the one hand, to manage very large stocks, on the other hand to carry out mixtures and physico-chemical corrections. Finally, the prepared mixture needs to undergo sterilization to eliminate the microfauna, and all pathogenic or competitive macro and microflora.

 These products, although often designed very seriously, have, in addition to the drawbacks and constraints already mentioned, other defects inherent in their method of manufacture and their origin - Often significant weight. potting soils and peat poorly supporting desiccation.

- Irregularity in the composition, the granulometry, or the humidity @@@@ the user with corrections and adaptations, during the purchase goes about lot.

- Presence of foreign seeds or pathogenic organisms, despite the sometimes imperfect sterilization.

- Sometimes the presence of toxic elements, either from sterilization by chemical means, or from imbalances due to the origin of the materials.

- Significant abrasion of handling equipment due to the sand often present in mixtures.

- Finally, non-adjustable soiling of equipment, staff and premises.

 Beside these potting soils directly ready for use, sometimes containing all the elements necessary for prolonged use without the addition of nutrifying materials, there are also known growing substrates of mineral or organic origin, natural or synthetic, having only a mechanical or physical role of more or less hygroscopic support, to which must be added the elements necessary for the life of the cultivated or raised organism. This is the case for rock wool, volcanic lava, sand, clay or expanded mica, synthetic fibers, etc., used alone for hydroponics of plants, for example.

 On soils, these products, which also have a use in sanitation, have the 1-advantage of cleanliness, ease of dry storage and regularity. But they still have a certain number of drawbacks @ sometimes high prices, significant weight for some, naked power @@@ if none requiring the recent contribution - more or less complex utilities difficult to develop, water retention difficult to control.

 Finally, the contribution in this field of synthetic foams such as polyurethane or phenolic foams or urea formaldehyde has been known for a few years. Apart from the conservation of cut flowers, these mosses have so far not passed the experimental stage. The reasons for their current non-use are numerous. Presence of toxic waste gases, products that are too compact or too hard, cannot be penetrated by the roots, too much water retention, the presence of closed cells that cannot be used as air or water reserves. readily available.

 The present invention aims to remedy these various drawbacks.

 To this end, this multi-purpose synthetic reaction substrate, usable in the horticultural and agricultural fields, for the breeding of laboratory animals, water purification, etc., is characterized in that it comprises a porous artificial matrix with open pores, composed of a polymer, alloy copolymer or synthetic composite, and at least one active compound retained inside the open pore matrix, this active compound being constituted by a body having properties d 'adsorption.

The substrate according to the invention has the following characteristics
Precision, homogeneity and reproducibility of dosages of the following qualities (which can be adjusted on request):
- water and air retention,
- wettability,
- pH,
- adsorption and absorption,
- nutritional power,
- buffering capacity.

Appearance, structure and color that can recall the appearance of a traditional potting soil for horticultural use or another aspect for other applications (water treatment)
Presentation in powder, flakes, minimottes or breads adapting to all current uses of traditional potting soils or artificial or synthetic substrates.

 The artificial matrix is made of a material which has at least the following qualities - possibility of foaming, either by gases produced naturally during the polymerization reaction, or by w s srs of this same reaction.

- absence of toxic elements for organisms intended to be cultivated on this support matrix.

- insolubility in aqueous solvents - wettability with water.

- sufficient friability to allow the passage of the roots of the plants without constraints and without causing root strangulation over time.

 To these basic qualities, it is necessary to add the possibility of obtaining open pores, either naturally during the chemical polymerization reaction, by modifying it if necessary with a catalyst, or mechanically by tearing of the pores, caused by the incorporation into the reaction mixture of synthetic short fibers, natural or artificial, or other additions (abrasive aggregates of various materials).

 By way of nonlimiting example, the matrix can be a polyurethane foam, or a highly expanded phenolic foam, where the polymerization reaction is accelerated by a catalyst. It can also be an alloy of several polymers or a composite.

 This basic matrix is typically enriched by one or more active compounds, the aim of which is to provide it with well-defined physical, chemical and biological qualities in relation to the desired use.

 By physical qualities, Qn means the color, the structure, the porosity, the pore, the friability, the hardness, the absorption capacities.

 If some of these qualities are specific to a given matrix and this initially implies the choice of a specific matrix, most of these qualities can be easily modified by additives, or reaction conditions (temperature, presence of catalysts or 'activators).

 Thus, the color can be modified by a dye, the opening of the pores by the addition of short or large synthetic, artificial or natural fibers, the wettability and the water retention by water retenters of polyacrylamide type for example, clays or wetting agents, adsorption by adsorbents for general use such as activated carbon, alumina, clays, fuller's earth, activated magnesium oxide, activated magnesium silicate, calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, natural cellulose or microcrystalline , silica gel, kieselguhr, magnesia, talc, synthetic adsorbents developed for adsorption chromatography techniques, the choice of adsorbent being determined by the type of adsorption sought: selective, reversible, irreversible, weak or strong.

 For certain particular uses, such as water purification, special adsorbents can be used which cannot be used in the constitution of a synthetic substrate for higher plants because of their toxicity for them or nutritional interactions they can cause. Zinc, lead oxides, barium, zinc, manganese sulfates, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, sucrose, starch, inulin, hydroxy-8 quinoline etc ... fall into this category.

 The chemical qualities derive in part from the matrix and from the enrichments linked to the physical qualities of the product. However, most of these qualities depend on the pH, the buffering capacity, the presence of a more or less fixed salt or mixture of salts, or more generally the presence of one or more several reagents included in the matrix during, or after its manufacture.

 The biological qualities strongly depend on the chemical or physical qualities. However, they can still be modified by adding mineral or organic nutritive materials or by prior enrichment with microorganisms (lyophilized bacteria for example).

 Thus this enrichment can be carried out by very diverse products, which, according to their form and their moment of contribution, eg. - @duire to modify the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics already mentioned, but which can also be more or less fixed in the matrix.

 Thus, depending on the degree of fixation sought, the enrichment, with a water-soluble salt, of a polyurethane foam, for example, can be carried out - either after the polymerization by imbibition of the foam with the aqueous solution salt; it leads in this case to a weak fixing, the salt being redissolved in a simple moistening - either before the polymerization - by mixing with the reagents of the salt or powder, more or less micronized. the fineness of the powder then determines its degree of coating with the polymer and its speed of 1-iberation, - by mixing an encapsulated powder, - by mixing with the aqueous reagent (polyol) of a solution of this salt which in this case is completely integrated into the polymer, - by combining these different forms.

 The rate of release of this salt, during the imbibition of the foam, can thus be finely predetermined, depending on the nature of the enriching product, the matrix used, the mode and the time of incorporation.

 The filler form can thus be a more or less micronized powder, an emulsion, a solution in a solvent miscible with one of the polymerization reaction compounds, a solution immiscible with one or more of these compounds, but which can create svec <emulsion, or a polymer reaction onesire.

 This mode of delivery conditions the degree of intrinsic fixation of the enriching product in the matrix. This fixation can be further modified by co-enrichment with an adsorbent or a simple or complex absorbent, for example activated carbon, clays, etc.

 The final product can be disposable or regenerated fable In the case of use in the treatment of water with a selective adsorbent incorporated in the matrix, the adsorbed compound can be optionally eluted by a solvent and the adsorbent is thus regenerated. According to the determined use, the final product can be cut or reduced into blocks, breads, plates, pieces, aggregates, flakes or powder.

 The great diversity of products that can be incorporated in enrichment, the diversity in the degree of fixation, the different types and varieties of matrices possible, usable, their packaging mode allow a very high range of use: culture support in laboratory, artificial soil in horticulture or agriculture, livestock equipment for small laboratory animals, equipment for water purification etc ...

 By way of nonlimiting example, some of the possible enrichment possibilities will be indicated below, for the manufacture of an artificial soil for growing plants. These compounds which can be provided simultaneously or individually are typically: lo) an adsorbent such as activated carbon, the final role of which is threefold - it provides a gray-black coloration, reminiscent of that of natural soils; - It adsorbs toxic compounds, possibly formed during the polymerization reaction or during the natural or artificial degradation of the product; - it adsorbs toxic compounds emitted by the cultivated plant on artificial soil, or accidentally added during watering or spraying with sanitary product.

The charcoal used can be vegetable charcoal,
average particle size less than 80 micrometers, and appor
t at a dose of about 1 to 2 grams per liter of matrix
expanded.

- it can be partially or totally replaced, or supplemented
by one or more other absorbents such as alumina,
silicates, etc ...

20) substa; @@ tritives:
Depending on the end use of the artificial soil, these
nutrients can be soluble fertilizers to
more or less rapid release, and brought in the form
pulverulent or liquid before the polymerization reaction,
slow release fertilizers in microencapsulated form
for example, mineral materials usable by
microorganisms (sulfur for example), organdy materials
that complex.

3) pH amendments and correctors
Amendments can be lime in the form of powders
finely ground (lithothame powder, chalk or bone powder
for example). They then play both a role on the pH-
artificial soil, and a potentially nutritious role.

Amendments can also be clayey, clay
having a physical-chemical role of water retention and
reversible absorption of mineral compounds in particular,
complexing with wet acids which may be part
of the amendments made. PH correctors can
be, in addition to the amendments already mentioned, acids,
bases or phosphate based buffer solutions for example.

4) wetting agents and water retainers:
To adjust wettability and water retention
artificial soil, it is possible to play with the
dimension, orientation and opening of pores. I1 is
also possible to add to re tents
water, such as IXaveslt - @@@@ e, or compounds based
of polyscrylamide for example.

wo) pesticide treatment products:
Growing plants very often requires the addition of synthetic fungicides or insecticides to the soil. These products can advantageously be incorporated into the matrix during manufacture.

 60) growth regulators which in horticultural use can be rooting auxins, gibberelins for elongation or dwarfants.

 7) microorganisms, bacteria or fungi, in lyophilized or dry form for the constitution of artificial rhizosphere.

 As a support for rearing laboratory insects, the matrix can be enriched with corn flours and antiseptics for example, and as a support for in vitro culture by a complete culture medium comprising mineral salts, sugars, vitamins, growth substances.

 These few examples which are in no way limiting, illustrate the great diversity of use of the enriched matrix.

Claims (7)

 1.- Synthetic reaction substrate for multiple uses, usable in the horticultural and agricultural fields, for the breeding of laboratory animals, water purification etc., characterized in that it comprises a open pore porous artificial matrix, composed of a polymer, alloy copolymer or synthetic composite, and at least one active compound retained in the open pore matrix, this active compound consisting of a body having adsorption properties.  2. Synthetic reaction substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that the active compound also comprises a nutritive substance such as soluble fertilizers with more or less rapid release, and provided in pulverulent or liquid form before the polymerization reaction, slow release fertilizer in microencapsulated form for example, mineral materials usable by microorganisms, complex organic materials.  3. Synthetic reaction substrate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active compound further comprises a pH amendment and corrector, such as a finely ground limestone powder, a clay, an acid, a base or a phosphate-based buffer solution.  4. Synthetic reaction substrate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active compound also comprises a wetting agent and a water-retaining agent.  5. Synthetic reaction substrate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active compound also comprises a very pesticidal product.  6. Synthesis reaction substrate any one of claims r-- - entes characterized in that the co- '- asti; cGm ;; - additionally a plant growth regulator.  7.- Synthetic reaction substrate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active compound comprises, in addition, microorganisms, bacteria or fungi, in lyophilized or dry form.