Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
  • A01C1/00—Apparatus, or methods of use thereof, for testing or treating seed, roots, or the like, prior to sowing or planting
  • A01C1/06—Coating or dressing seed
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
  • A01C1/00—Apparatus, or methods of use thereof, for testing or treating seed, roots, or the like, prior to sowing or planting
  • A01C1/04—Arranging seed on carriers, e.g. on tapes, on cords ; Carrier compositions
  • A01C1/046—Carrier compositions
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09D—COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR
  • C09D191/00—Coating compositions based on oils, fats or waxes; Coating compositions based on derivatives thereof
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09D—COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR
  • C09D7/00—Features of coating compositions, not provided for in group C09D5/00; Processes for incorporating ingredients in coating compositions
  • C09D7/40—Additives
  • C09D7/60—Additives non-macromolecular
  • C09D7/61—Additives non-macromolecular inorganic
  • C09D7/62—Additives non-macromolecular inorganic modified by treatment with other compounds
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09D—COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR
  • C09D7/00—Features of coating compositions, not provided for in group C09D5/00; Processes for incorporating ingredients in coating compositions
  • C09D7/40—Additives
  • C09D7/66—Additives characterised by particle size
  • C09D7/69—Particle size larger than 1000 nm
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
  • A01N25/00—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, characterised by their forms, or by their non-active ingredients or by their methods of application, e.g. seed treatment or sequential application; Substances for reducing the noxious effect of the active ingredients to organisms other than pests
  • A01N25/08—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, characterised by their forms, or by their non-active ingredients or by their methods of application, e.g. seed treatment or sequential application; Substances for reducing the noxious effect of the active ingredients to organisms other than pests containing solids as carriers or diluents
  • A01N25/10—Macromolecular compounds

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to the application of dry powdered seed treatment used to enhance seed cosmetics and improve treated seed flow and plantability while minimizing fugitive dust during application of the powdered treatment to the seed. More specifically, the present invention involves the discovery of a new powdered seed treatment composition that lubricates seeds while effectively minimizing fugitive dust.
• a common practice in modem agriculture is to treat crop seeds prior to planting with pesticides that protect the seeds from disease and insects and other pests. More recently, the use of biological agents to protect plants and promote seedling growth has also become a more common practice. These practices have intensified over the past 20 years as better crop seed with advanced genetics to improve yield have increased in value and thus the importance for producers to be successful in establishing the crop the first time the seeded is planted. Further, seeding equipment (planters and seed drills) have evolved with new levels of precision to singulate and plant seeds precisely with respect to depth, spacing, population, and even seed orientation within the soil. The new seeding devices involve many mechanical and air driven complexities that along with electronic automation work together to accomplish the desired seeding performance.
• seed lubricants to improve seed flow and plantibility.
• the most well-known seed lubricants are talc and graphite.
• Other dry lubricants are also known to decrease wear on seeding mechanisms. These lubricants are applied dry and mixed onto the seed after any liquid seed treatments have been applied. The lubricant can be applied either shortly after liquid seed treatments have been applied or in the field at the time of planting before the seed is loaded into the planting and seeding systems.
• dry powdered seed treatment lubricants are often used to improve the flow and planting characteristics of seed that has been treated with a liquid seed treatment products. While dry powdered seed treatment products are traditionally applied by the farmer/grower in the field at the time of planting the seed, commercial seed care operators have begun adding dry powdered seed coating lubricants immediately following liquid seed treatment application. This commercial application has been made feasible by the use of specialty coated products such as very finely ground mica coated with a lubricating and cosmetic agent that shines the seed.
• the new “coated” powders can be effectively applied in either the continuous flow treating systems or the batch seed treating systems, immediately following the liquid treatment application but while the seed is still within the applicator.
• the treatment zone is typically within the final third of the secondary mixing phase (polishing drum), after slurry based seed treatment has been distributed on the seed, but while treated seed remains in a post-treatment “tack” stage.
• particulate matter air pollution comprised of fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller. These particles are small enough to get deep into workers lungs. Fine inhalable particles also cause visibility issues.
• the fugitive dust problem in commercial seed care operation facilities creates the need for expensive dust control and air exchange systems. Fugitive dust also has a negative impact on worker job satisfaction.
• the present invention is a powdered lubricant composition that minimizes fugitive dust and a method of treating seeds with dry lubricant that minimizes fugitive dust.
• a composition comprising mica coated with titanium dioxide and oil powder has been found to be an effective seed lubricant that minimizes fugitive dust during application without disrupting the intended performance of the powdered lubricant in terms of seed flow and plantability.
• An embodiment of the composition comprises a finely ground mica coated with titanium dioxide.
• the finely ground mica coated with titanium dioxide has a particle size ranging from 10 to 60 microns.
• the composition of finely ground mica coated with titanium dioxide may have 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, or 75% mica measured by weight.
• the composition of finely ground mica coated with titanium dioxide may have 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, or 50% titanium dioxide measured by weight.
• the composition of finely ground mica coated with titanium dioxide has 50%-75% mica and 25%-50% titanium dioxide (both measured by weight).
• the preferred finely ground mica coated with titanium dioxide is commercially available from Agrilead, Inc. and is referred to in the testing as PIXY.
• An embodiment of the composition comprises oil powder made from natural oils.
• the oil powder is produced with soybean or corn oil. While any oil powder may be used, it is preferable to use an oil powder produced without added heat during the encapsulation process.
• Some oil powders are produced by spray drying. The process of spray drying during the encapsulation process requires the use of intense heat.
• the preferred embodiment comprises oil powder made without the use of spray drying or intense heat. Such oil powders are commercially available.
• the embodiments that comprise oil powder made without spray drying or intense heat during the encapsulation process result in a greater reduction of fugitive dust than embodiments that comprise oil powder made by spray drying.
• composition comprises oil where that oil powder comprises maltodextrin.
• amount of maltodextrin in the oil powder ranges from 40%-60% by weight.
• amount of oil in the oil powder ranges from 40%-60% by weight.
• the oil powder is comprised of 60% oil and 40% maltodextrin by weight.
• the oil powder comprises 60% soybean oil and 40% maltodextrin by weight.
• the composition may also include a flow agent or an anti-caking agent.
• Preferred flow agents include tricalcium phosphate, magnesium stearate, sodium bicarbonate, silicon dioxide, calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, and amorphous silica.
• a preferred embodiment comprises amorphous silica.
• the composition comprises 70%-80% finely ground mica coated with titanium dioxide and 15%-30% oil powder (both measured by weight). In another embodiment the composition comprises 75% finely ground mica coated with titanium dioxide and 25% oil powder (both measured by weight). A preferred embodiment of the composition comprises 79% finely ground mica coated with titanium dioxide, 18.5% oil powder, and 2.5% flow agent (all measured by weight).
• Fugitive dust was measured by an air quality monitor device. Specifically, the HHTP21Particulate meter and particle counter manufactured by Omega was used to quantify the amount of fugitive dust in the air during testing. The device was set for testing the levels of particulate matter with size of 2.5 microns or less (PM2.5) suspended in a cubic meter of air space. The measurement is expressed as ⁇ g/m 3 . Samples were measured at regular time intervals from a distance between 2-6 feet from the hopper or simulated augur.
• test batches were loaded into a hopper by pouring the batches into an empty hopper.
• the hopper was not activated during the test.
• the only dust created was from the act of pouring the batches into the hopper.
• the air quality was measured before the batches were loaded into the hopper and at regular intervals thereafter.
• Batch A was the commercially available PIXY product (finely ground mica coated with titanium dioxide).
• Batch B was the commercially available PIXY product mixed with oil powder where the oil powder consisted of 60% soybean oil and 40% maltodextrin.
• the PIXY with oil powder showed significantly less air pollution than PIXY alone.
• Another experiment measured the air quality during a simulated seed application process whereby the dry lubricant is dispensed into a tumbling drum of seed with an augur that meters the powder onto the seed.
• the augur was manufactured by Changing Times of Watertown South Dakota.
• Batch A was the commercially available PIXY product (finely ground mica coated with titanium dioxide).
• Batch B was the commercially available PIXY product mixed with oil powder where the oil powder consisted of 60% soybean oil and 40% maltodextrin, Air quality was measured before the augur was activated and then again at regular intervals.
• composition with the oil powder did not demonstrate any increase in air pollution while the commercially available product more than quadrupled the air pollution level.
• the seed flow rate was measured for three different compositions and one control.
• references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology.
• references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description.
• a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included.
• the present technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Soil Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Nanotechnology (AREA)
• Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
• Pretreatment Of Seeds And Plants (AREA)
• Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
• Glanulating (AREA)
• Lubricants (AREA)
• Pigments, Carbon Blacks, Or Wood Stains (AREA)

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• 2018
  • 2018-09-24 WO PCT/US2018/052485 patent/WO2019060852A2/fr active Application Filing
  • 2018-09-24 US US17/298,825 patent/US20220030760A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2018-09-24 US US16/140,306 patent/US10986769B2/en active Active

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