NZ280902A

NZ280902A - Soil conditioner containing nitrogen and potassium comprising wool-wash water concentrate, natural textile dusts, and optionally potash from pyrolysed wool-wash water

Info

Publication number: NZ280902A
Application number: NZ280902A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Gerard Bysmans
Original assignee: Peignage Amedee
Priority date: 1995-07-31
Filing date: 1996-01-29
Publication date: 1996-12-20
Also published as: FR2737491A1; FR2737491B1

Description

New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number £80902 280902 Priority Dj0»(8): 3.LO..:33...

Complete Specification Filed: Qaso: (§1 ...&8lb)ll£Q Publication Dat»:3J..ML?®. P.O. Journal No: •. jfcbj.l NO DRAWINGS NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No: Date: n.z. patent office 2 9 JAN 1998 received COMPLETE SPECIFICATION DRY ORGANIC AMELIORATOR OBTAINED THROUGH THE TREATMENT OF THE BY-PRODUCTS OF NATURAL TEXTILES, IN PARTICULAR THOSE RESULTING FROM WOOL COMBING We, PEIGNAGE AMEDEE, a French company, of 154 rue de Cartigny, F-59100 ROUBAIX, France, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 1 (followed by page la) 280902 la The invention relates to the treatment and valorization of the by-products of natural textiles, in particular those resulting from wool combing and, more especially, to their use in agriculture, horticulture or gardening.

"Natural textiles" are to be taken, here, as meaning textiles of animal origin, such as wool and/or textiles of vegetable origin such as flax, cotton, jute and hemp.

All those companies that practise combing operations, in particular wool combing, are faced with the problem of 10 how to eliminate and, if possible, valorize, the by-products of their activities, namely the dusts and, in particular, in the case of wool, the waste waters resulting from its washing.

At the present time, the dusts are generally used in 15 agriculture, being spread as they are, or after compacting to form granules or briquettes. The latter can also be burned.

Wool wash waters, which represent quite substantial volumes, cannot be discharged directly. It is compulsory to 20 treat them.

One of the treatments currently used is to place the wash waters in lagunas in which they are oxygenated in the presence of enzymes, or undergo physico-chemical treatment.

The sludges recovered from the bottoms of the lagunas 25 are, in some cases, spread on the fields, which gives rise to problems, since they are very sticky and form crusts.

These sludges can also be concentrated by evaporation until a dry matter content of 50 to 70% is obtained. They are then incinerated or pyrolized. The potash ashes thus 30 obtained are spread on the fields.

More recently, a process has been developed that makes it possible to process and valorize, at the same time, the wool dusts and the waters resulting from the washing of raw wool. 28090 According to this process, the sludges which are obtained by evaporating the wool wash waters, and which are very rich in fatty substances, are mixed while hot with barks, mushroom bed manure and wool dusts, as well as 5 possibly with nitrogen provided by dry products or products in solution originating from other industries.

The mixture obtained after storage for at least eight weeks forms a compost that is spread on the fields.

This method of treating the by-products of wool washing 10 has a number of drawbacks, such as, in particular, the need to provide barks, the long period for which the mixture is stored and the high risk of the nitrogen-containing products "leaching out" into the soil during storage. In addition, the compost obtained cannot be used with some crops owing to 15 the presence of bark residues which are incompatible with the use of certain machines.

In order to overcome these drawbacks and, in particular, to avoid compost forming, the Applicant has hit upon the idea of simultaneously drying the sludges obtained 20 by concentrating the wool wash waters with natural textile dusts, possibly in the presence of potash ashes obtained by the incineration or pyrolysis of wool wash waters.

More specifically, the invention relates to a dry organic ameliorator with high nitrogen and potassium 25 contents, characterized in that it essentially results from the drying in a drier, at a temperature of 140 to 160°C, of a mixture of: - 40 to 70 weight % of a wool wash water concentrate having a dry matter content of 50 to 70%; - 20 to 40 weight % of natural textile dusts; and - 0 to 25 weight % of potash ashes obtained by incineration or pyrolysis of wool wash waters.

The drier used is generally a drier for sludges, of the type used for treating town sludges. It goes without saying 35 that the drier and its auxiliary equipment, such as kneading 280902 devices, will have to be chosen according to the particular characteristics of the mixture to be treated. It is advisable, in particular, to choose a drier suitable for the treatment of "sticky" sludges. The drier can be chosen and, 5 if applicable, adapted, by a person skilled in the art by means of simple preliminary tests, on the basis of his ordinary knowledge.

It is particularly unexpected and surprising to be able to obtain directly, under appropriate drying conditions, a 10 dry ameliorator, that can be used directly, from a mixture containing concentrates that take the form of sticky sludges.

The ameliorator according to the invention can be used directly, for example in agriculture, by spreading it on the 15 fields.

It can also be made into granules, using conventional techniques. The granules obtained can be used, in particular in agriculture or in wine growing, by projection.

Finally, the granules can be packed, for instance in 20 bags, for retailing, for example in "garden centres".

According to a first preferred form of embodiment, the ameliorator according to the invention is essentially nitrogenous.

In this case, the invention relates to an organic 25 ameliorator of the aforementioned type, characterized in that it has been obtained from a mixture of: - 60 to 70 weight % of a wool wash water concentrate, and - 30 to 40 weight % of natural textile dusts.

According to a second preferred form of embodiment, the ameliorator according to the invention is essentially potassic.

In this case, the invention relates tgy-'aja. ;jor^anic ameliorator of the type generally defined ' hereabo\ c ly. v,* l * i V ** -s C£\N' 280902 characterized in that it has been obtained from a mixture of: - 40 to 55 weight % of a wool wash water concentrate; - 20 to 35 weight % of natural textile dusts; and - 20 to 25 weight % of potash ashes.

According to one advantageous form of embodiment of the invention, the natural textile dusts are entirely, or in part, wool dusts, obtained during carding and combing operations.

According to a preferred form of embodiment, the essentially nitrogenous organic ameliorator of the invention is characterized in that: a) it has approximately the following dry matter content: - ORGANIC MATERIALS - ORGANIC CARBON - TOTAL NITROGEN (N, Kjeldahl) - AMMONIA NITROGEN (N OF NH4) - ORGANIC NITROGEN - C/'N RATIO - TOTAL CALCIUM (CaO) - TOTAL PHOSPHORUS (P2O5) - TOTAL POTASSIUM (K2O) - TOTAL MAGNESIUM (MgO) - WATER-SOLUBLE CHLORIDES - TOTAL CADMIUM (Cd) - TOTAL CHROMIUM (Cr) - TOTAL COPPER (Cu) - TOTAL MERCURY (Hg) - TOTAL NICKEL (Ni) - TOTAL LEAD (Pb) - TOTAL ZINC (Zn) 490 to 700 kg/t; 350 to 540 kg/t; 14.0 to 50.0 kg/t; 1.0 to 6.0 kg/t; 12.0 to 44.0 kg/t; 22.0 to 39.0; 9.0 to 17.0 kg/t; 1.5 to 3.0 kg/t; 48.0 to 75.0 kg/t; 4.0 to 7.5 kg/t; 5.0 to 7.0 kg/t; 0.1 to 0.4 mg/kg; 13.0 to 29.0 mg/kg; 7.5 to 34.0 mg/kg; 0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg; 3.0 to 9.0 mg/kg; 5.0 to 21.0 mg/kg; 45.0 to 90.0 mg/kg; b) the organic phase, separated out using a solvent, has the following characteristics: - melting point: 35 to 45°C; - acid number: 6 to 12; h r.~, -1 280902 - saponification number: 95 to 110; and c) observation under the microscope of the filtration residue of the matter dissolved in the solvent reveals the presence of wool dusts, According to another preferred form of embodiment, the essentially potassic organic ameliorator according to the invention is characterized in that: a) it has approximately the following dry material content: - ORGANIC MATERIALS - ORGANIC CARBON - TOTAL NITROGEN (N, Kjeldahl) - AMMONIA NITROGEN (N OF NH4) - ORGANIC NITROGEN - C/N RATIO - TOTAL CALCIUM (CaO) - TOTAL PHOSPHORUS (P2O5) - TOTAL POTASSIUM (K20) - TOTAL MAGNESIUM (MgO) - WATER-SOLUBLE CHLORIDES - TOTAL CADMIUM (Cd) - TOTAL CHROMIUM (Cr) - TOTAL COPPER (Cu) - TOTAL MERCURY (Hg) - TOTAL NICKEL (Ni) - TOTAL LEAD (Pb) - TOTAL ZINC (Zn) 390 to 550 kg/t; 270 to 410 kg/t; 11.0 to 41.0 kg/t; 0.8 to 4.5 kg/t; 10.0 to 36.0 kg/t; 20.0 to 33.0; 12.0 to 18.0 kg/t; 2.4 to 3.2 kg/t; 7 9.0 to 102.0 kg/t; .5 to 7.9 kg/t; 7.3 to 10.7 kg/t; 0.1 to 0.4 mg/kg; 18.0 to 32.0 mg/kg; 11.5 to 43.0 mg/kg; 0.1 to 0.6 mg/kg; 7.5 to 17.0 mg/kg; 8.5 to 23.0 mg/kg; 70.0 to 120.0 mg/kg; b) the mineral phase obtained by calcining contains the following components: - silicon in the form of free silicon dioxide; - sodium; - potassium; - carbonate ions; and - crystallographic analysis reveals the presence of kaliophilite and gismondine in a ratio varying from 1 to 3; 28090 c) the organic phase, separated out using a solvent has the following characteristics: - melting point: 35 to 45°C; - acid number: 6 to 12; - saponification number: 95 to 110; and d) observation under the microscope of the filtration residue of the matter dissolved in the solvent reveals the presence of wool dusts.

Analysis of the dry matter of the essentially 10 nitrogenous ameliorator and of the essentially potassic ameliorator according to the invention is carried out using conventional techniques, with which a person skilled in the art is perfectly familiar.

For example, the essentially nitrogenous ameliorator is 15 identified by shaking it in the presence of a solvent such as ether or dichloromethane, in a weight ratio of about 1:10.

The solution obtained is filtered, and then the residue is washed with fresh solvent.

Observation under the microscope of the filtration residue thus obtained reveals the presence of small fibres of the textile used, in particular wool.

Furthermore, the solvent is evaporated to recover the organic phase formed by the wool grease present in the wool 25 wash water concentrate used. This organic phase is characterized using conventional techniques, with which a person skilled in the art is perfectly familiar.

For example, the essentially potassic ameliorator according to the invention is identified as follows. 30 1° Identification of the mineral phase: The ameliorator is calcined at about 600°C and the mineral residue obtained is analysed. 2° Identification of the organic phase: The ameliorator is dissolved in a solvent such as ether 35 or dichloromethane, in a weight ratio of about 1:10. 280902 The mixture obtained is allowed to settle and the solution is then filtered.

The next steps of the identification ofthe organic phase are implemented as in the case of the essentially 5 nitrogenous ameliorator.

According to one advantageous form of embodiment, the invention also relates to a process for manufacturing the organic ameliorator defined hereabove, characterized in that it essentially consists in: 1° using an installation essentially comprising: - a mixer the lower portion of which is equipped with means for introducing natural textile dusts, possibly mixed with potash ashes, and the upper portion of which is equipped with means for introducing pre-heated concentrate of wool wash waters; and - a drier preferably comprising an Archimedean screw below the heating system, the said mixer and the said drier being connected, at their respective upper portions, by means for extracting the 20 mixture formed in the mixer and conveying it to the drier and, at their respective lower portions, by means for recycling the dried product, the said drier being further equipped, in its lower portion, with means for extracting the dried product; 2° pre-heating the drier to the selected drying temperature, in a range of 140 to 160°C; 3° feeding the mixer with solid matter composed of natural textile dusts and, possibly, potash ashes, in the chosen proportions; 4° passing the solid matter through the drier to raise its temperature; v ° recycling the heated solid matter to the mixer; 6° introducing into the mixer the concentrate heated to a temperature close to that of the x-ecycled matter, in the 35 chosen proportion; 280902 8 7° with the installation thus now operational, continuing to introduce solid matter and concentrate, in the chosen proportions, while maintaining the drier at the selected temperature and recycling the dried matter; - extracting the excess dried matter, at the output from the drier, in the form of an organic ameliorator; and - possibly, granulating and/or packing this ameliorator.

According to one preferred form of embodiment, the 10 proportion of recycled dried product represents 100 to 120% of the mass of the starting materials introduced into the installation.

The invention also relates to an installation for implementing the process defined hereabove, characterized in 15 that it essentially comprises: - a mixer the lower portion of which is equipped with means for introducing natural textile dusts, possibly mixed with potash ashes, and the upper portion of which is equipped with means for introducing pre-heated concentrate of wool wash waters; and - a drier preferably comprising an Archimedean screw below the heating system, the said mixer and the said drier being connected, at their respective upper portions, by means for extracting the 25 mixture formed in the mixer and conveying it to the drier and, at their respective lower portions, by means for recycling the dried product, the said drier being further equipped, in its lower portion, with means for extracting the dried product.

As a drier, use can be made of the "drier for moist products" which is marketed by the company Society PROCALEX, 5 avenue Princesse Alice, MONTE CARLO MC 98000, Monaco, and which is the subject-matter of patent application FR-A- 2 712 076 (93 13119). 28090 The following examples are intended to illustrate and permit a clearer understanding of the invention.

Example 1: Preparation of an essentially potassic organic. ameliorator; Use is made of a drier marketed by the PROCALEX company, the references of which are given above, equipped with an Archimedean screw beneath the heating system. The drier is heated, while still empty, to an internal 10 temperature of 150°C and is then fed, at a rate of 350 kg/h, with a pre-mixture of wool dusts and potash ashes, in a ratio of 10:7.5. These materials, which are further mixed in the mixer, are sent to the drier, which is filled and then discharged into the recycling circuit, which returns 100% of 15 the dried matter to the mixer. Recycling enables the temperature of the mixture to be raised from 25 to 100°C. The drier is then fed with a wool wash water concentrate having a dry matter content of 60 to 70 weight % and is heated to a temperature of 100°C, at the rate of 800 kg/h. 20 As feeding is continuous and recycling is permanent, the dry mixture of starting materials "overflows" from the drier into its lower portion designed for extraction.

Starting the drying process in this way prevents the concentrate from cooling, which would result in the 25 coagulation of the mixture through solidification of the fatty substances. The Archimedean screw, provided beneath the heating system of the drier, enables the mixture to be propelled forwards as it dries, thus avoiding the formation of lumps liable to block the system.

X By proceeding in this way, from: - 20 tons of concentrate, containing 70 weight % of dry matter, of wool wash waters, i.e. 53.3 weight % of concentrate; 28090 - 10 tons of wool dusts obtained from combing and carding operations, i.e. 26.7 weight %; and - 7.5 tons of potash ashes, i.e. 20 weight %, - 2 8 tons of ameliorator, the analysis of which is given in the following table, are obtained. 28090 11 MEASURED ON MEASURED ON AGRONOMIC VAT.ITR DRY MATTER RAW MATTER DRY MATTER 1000.0 968.9 ORGANIC MATTER 323.2 313.1 ORGANIC CARBON kg/t 214.2 207 .6 TOTAL NITROGEN (N, Kjeldahl) ..kg/t 11.0 .6 C/N RATIO 19.5 19.5 WATER pH .5 TOTAL CALCIUM (in CaO) 21.67 21.00 TOTAL PHOSPHORUS (in P2O5). ..kg/t 3.8 3.7 TOTAL POTASSIUM (in K2O)... ..kg/t 136.6 132.3 TOTAL MAGNESIUM (in MgO)... 8.6 8.3 ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIBILITY AT 25°C, OUTDOOR 1/25, mS/cm 8.7 AMMONIA NITROGEN (N OF NH4) .kg/t 0.94 0.91 WATER-SOLUBLE CHLORIDES 12.69 12.30 MEASURED ON MEASURED ON DRY PRODUCT RAW PRODUCT UNDESIRABLE AND NON-ANALYSAELE SUBSTANCES 0 0 HEAVY METALS TOTAL CADMIUM (Cd) mg/kg 0.2 0.2 TOTAL CHROMIUM (Cr) .mg/kg 40.1 38. 9 TOTAL COPPER (Cu) .mg/kg 36.2 .1 TOTAL MERCURY (Hg) .mg/kg 0.2 0.2 TOTAL NICKEL (Ni) .mg/kg 16.5 16.0 TOTAL LEAD (Pb) .mg/kg 18. 6 18.0 TOTAL ZINC (Zn) .mg/kg 141.4 137 .0 280902 Example 2: Preparation o_f essentially potassic organic ameliorators Proceeding by analogy with Example 1, from: 5 - 50 weight % of wool wash water concentrate containing 70% dry matter; - 25 weight % of wool dusts; and - 25 weight % of potash ashes, the following pondered mean values, measured on dry product 10 are obtained : agronomic vat.ttf: YEAR 1994 YEAR 1995 ORGANIC MATTER 477.3 472.4 ORGANIC CARBON kg/t 338. 6 326.1 TOTAL NITROGEN (N, Kjeldahl) ....kg/t 22.1 18.2 AMMONIA NITROGEN (N OF NH4) 2.2 2.0 ORGANIC NITROGEN kg/t 19. 9 16.2 C/N RATIO 24.5 23.8 TOTAL CALCIUM (in CaO) 14.7 13.4 TOTAL PHOSPHORUS (in P2O5) kg/t 2.7 2.9 TOTAL POTASSIUM (in K20) 86.5 91.8 TOTAL MAGNESIUM (in MgO)........ 6.3 6.2 WATER- -SOLUBLE CHLORIDES (CI) 8.8 9.2 hf.avy METALS TOTAL CADMIUM (Cd) 0.1 0.1 TOTAL CHROMIUM (Cr) 18.7 22.1 TOTAL COPPER (Cu) 14 .1 12.6 TOTAL MERCURY (Hg) 0.1 0.4 TOTAL NICKEL (Ni) 7.8 .7 TOTAL LEAD (Pb) 9.2 .0 TOTAL 1 ZINC (Zn) 71.7 97.0

Claims

28090 Example 3; Preparation Of an—essentially nitrogenous organic ameliorator: Proceeding as in Example 1, from: 5 - 21 tons, containing 70 weight % of dry matter, of wool wash water concentrate, i.e. 70 weight % of concentrate; and - 9 tons of wool dusts, i.e. 30 weight %, approximately 20 tons of ameliorator are obtained. 10 The pondered mean values, measured on dry product, are as follows: agronomic: vat.uf. YEAR 1 YEAR 15 1994 1995 ORGANIC MATTER 601.0 590.7 ORGANIC CARBON 436.2 419.0 TOTAL NITROGEN (N, Kjeldahl)... 26.5 22.0 20 AMMONIA NITROGEN (N OF NH4).... kg/t 2.7 2.5 ORGANIC NITROGEN 23.8 19.5 C/N RATIO 28.4 27.0 TOTAL CALCIUM (in CaO) 12.1 11.1 TOTAL PHOSPHORUS (in P2O5) 2.2 2.4 25 TOTAL POTASSIUM (in K2O) 59.7 64.0 TOTAL MAGNESIUM (in MgO) 4.9 4.9 WATER-SOLUBLE CHLORIDES (CI)... kg/t 6.0 6.3 HEAVY METALS TOTAL CADMIUM (Cd) 0.1 0.1 30 TOTAL CHROMIUM (Cr) 13.9 14.6 TOTAL COPPER (Cu) 10.0 8.7 TOTAL MERCURY (Hg) 0.1 0.3 TOTAL NICKEL (Ni) 5.9 6.5 TOTAL LEAD (Pb) 7.7 6.7 35 TOTAL ZINC (Zn) 49.1 68.4 280902 14 WHAT VIE CLAIM IS:

1. Dry organic ameliorator containing nitrogen and potassium, characterized in that it essentially results from the drying in a drier, at a temperature of 140 5 to 160°C, of a mixture of: - 40 to 70 weight % of a wool wash water concentrate having a dry matter content of 50 to 70 weight%; - 20 to 40 weight % of natural textile dusts; and - 0 to 25 weight % of potash ashes obtained by 10 incineration or pyrolysis of wool wash waters.

2. Ameliorator according to claim 1, characterized in that it is essentially nitrogenous and has been obtained from a mixture of: - 60 to 70 weight % of a wool wash water concentrate, 15 and - 30 to 40 weight % of natural textile dusts.

3. Ameliorator according to claim 1, characterized in that it is essentially potassic and has been obtained from a mixture of: 20 - 40 to 55 weight % of a wool wash water concentrate; - 20 to 35 weight % of natural textile dusts; and - 20 to 25 weight % of potash ashes.

4. Ameliorator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the natural textile dusts are 25 ent irely, or in part, wool dusts, obtained during the carding and combing operations.

5. Ameliorator according to claim 2, characterized in that : a) it has approximately the following dry matter content: 30 - ORGANIC MATERIALS 490 to 700 kg/t; - ORGANIC CARBON 350 to 54 0 kg/t; - TOTAL NITROGEN (N, Kjeldahl) 14.0 to 50.0 kg/t; - AMMONIA NITROGEN (N OF NH4) 1.0 to 6.0 kg/J - ORGANIC NITROGEN 12.0 to 4 4 35 - C/N RATIO 22.0 to 39^.-0; 280902 15 - TOTAL CALCIUM (CaO) 9.0 to 17.0 kg/t; - TOTAL PHOSPHORUS (P2O5) 1.5 to 3.0 kg/t; - TOTAL POTASSIUM (K2O) 48.0 to 75.0 kg/t; - TOTAL MAGNESIUM (MgO) 4.0 to 7.5 kg/t; 5 - WATER-SOLUBLE CHLORIDES 5.0 to 7.0 kg/t; - TOTAL CADMIUM (Cd) 0.1 to 0.4 mg/kg; - TOTAL CHROMIUM (Cr) 13.0 to 29.0 mg/kg; - TOTAL COPPER (Cu) 7.5 to 34.0 mg/kg; - TOTAL MERCURY (Hg) 0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg; 10 - TOTAL NICKEL (Ni) 3.0 to 9.0 mg/kg; - TOTAL LEAD (Pb) 5.0 to 21.0 mg/kg; - TOTAL ZINC (Zn) 45.0 to 90.0 mg/kg; b) the organic phase, separated out using a solvent, has the following characteristics: 15 - melting point: 35 to 45°C; - acid number: 6 to 12; - saponification number: 95 to 110; and c) observation under the microscope of the filtration residue of the matter dissolved in the solvent reveals the 20 presence of wool dusts.

6. Ameliorator according to claim 3, characterized in that: a) it has approximately the following dry material content: - ORGANIC MATERIALS 390 to 550 kg/t; 25 - ORGANIC CARBON 270 to 410 kg/t; - TOTAL NITROGEN (N, Kjeldahl) 11.0 to 41.0 kg/t; - AMMONIA NITROGEN (N OF NH4) 0.8 to 4.5 kg/t; - ORGANIC NITROGEN 10.0 to 36.0 kg/t; - C/N RATIO 20.0 to 33.0; 30 - TOTAL CALCIUM (CaO) 12.0 to 18.0 kg/t; - TOTAL PHOSPHORUS (P2O5) 2.4 to 3.2 kg/t; - TOTAL POTASSIUM (K2O) 79.0 to 102.0 kg/t; - TOTAL MAGNESIUM (MgO) 5.5 to 7.9 kg/t; - WATER-SOLUBLE CHLORIDES 7.3 to 10.7 kg/t; 35 - TOTAL CADMIUM (Cd) 0.1 to 0.4 mg/kg; 280 90 16 - TOTAL CHROMIUM (Cr) - TOTAL COPPER (Cu) - TOTAL MERCURY (Hg) - TOTAL NICKEL (Ni) 18.0 to 32.0 mg/kg; 11.5 to 43.0 mg/kg; 0.1 to 0.6 mg/kg; 5 - TOTAL LEAD (Pb) - TOTAL ZINC (Zn) 7.5 to 17.0 mg/kg; 8.5 to 23.0 mg/kg; 70.0 to 120.0 mg/kg; b) the mineral phase obtained by calcining contains the following components: - silicon in the form of free silicon dioxide; - potassium; - carbonate ions; and - crystallographic analysis reveals the presence of kaliophilite and gismondine in a ratio varying from 1 to 3; 15 c) the organic phase, separated out using a solvent has the following characteristics: 20 d) observation under the microscope of the filtration residue of the matter dissolved in the solvent reveals the presence of wool dusts.

7. Ameliorator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it takes the form of granules, packed 25 or non-packed.

8. Ameliorator according to claim 7, characterized in that it is packed, in particular in bags, for retailing.

9. Process for manufacturing the ameliorator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it 30 essentially consists of: 1° using an installation essentially comprising: - a mixer the lower portion of which is equipped with means for introducing natural textile dusts, possibly mixed with potash ashes, and the upper portion of which is 10 sodium; - melting point: 35 to 45°C; - acid number: 6 to 12; - saponification number: 95 to 110; and 280902 17 equipped with means for introducing pre-heated concentrate of wool wash waters; and - a drier, 5 the said mixer and the said drier being connected, at their respective upper portions, by means for extracting the mixture formed in the mixer and conveying it to the drier and, at their respective lower portions, by means for recycling the dried product, the said drier being further 10 equipped, in its lower portion, with means for extracting the dried product; 2° pre-heating the drier to the selected drying temperature, in a range of 140 to 160°C; 3° feeding the mixer with solid matter composed of natural 15 textile dusts and, possibly, potash ashes, in the chosen proportions; 4° passing the solid matter through the drier to raise its temperature; 5° recycling the heated solid matter to the mixer; 20 6° introducing into the mixer the concentrate heated to a temperature close to that of the recycled matter, in the chosen proportion; 7° with the installation thus now operational, continuing to introduce solid matter and concentrate, in the chosen 25 proportions, while maintaining the drier at the selected temperature and recycling the dried matter; - extracting the excess of dried matter, at the output from the drier, in the form of an organic ameliorator; and possibly, granulating and/or packing this 30 ameliorator.

10. Process according to claim 9, characterised in that the drier comprises an Archimedean screw below the heating system.

11. Process according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the proportion of recycled dried product represents 100.to 120% of the mass of the starting materials introduced into the installation. 28 0 902 18

12. Installation for implementing the process according to any one of claims 9 to 11,characterized in that it essentially comprises: - a mixer the lower portion of which is equipped with 5 means for introducing natural textile dusts, possibly mixed with potash ashes, and the upper portion of which is equipped with means for introducing pre-heated concentrate of wool wash waters; and - a drier, 10 the said mixer and the said drier being connected, at their respective upper portions, by means for extracting the mixture formed in the mixer and conveying it to the drier and, at their respective lower portions, by means for 15 recycling the dried product, the said drier being further equipped, in its lower portion, with means for extracting the dried product.

13. Installation according to claim 12, characterised in that the drier comprises an Archimedean screw below the heating system.

14. Use of the ameliorator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the ameliorator is spread on the fields.

15. Use according to claim 14, characterised in that the ameliorator is spread on the fields in agriculture.

16. Use of the ameliorator according to claim 7, characterized in that the ameliorator is projected onto the crops.

17. Use according to claim 16, characterised in that the ameliorator is projected onto crops in agriculture or in wine-growing. /

18. A dry organic ameliorator as claimed in claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to any example thereof.

19. Process as claimed in claim 9 substantially as herein described with reference to any example thereof.

20. Use of an ameliorator as claimed in claim 14 substantially as herein described with reference to any example thereof.