WO1992004824A1 - Plant growing medium consisting of mineral fibres and containing a binder and a tenside - Google Patents

Plant growing medium consisting of mineral fibres and containing a binder and a tenside Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1992004824A1
WO1992004824A1 PCT/DK1991/000278 DK9100278W WO9204824A1 WO 1992004824 A1 WO1992004824 A1 WO 1992004824A1 DK 9100278 W DK9100278 W DK 9100278W WO 9204824 A1 WO9204824 A1 WO 9204824A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tenside
growing medium
plant growing
mineral
binder
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/DK1991/000278
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Povl Nissen
Original Assignee
Grodania A/S
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Grodania A/S filed Critical Grodania A/S
Publication of WO1992004824A1 publication Critical patent/WO1992004824A1/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G24/00—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor
    • A01G24/10—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor based on or containing inorganic material
    • A01G24/18—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor based on or containing inorganic material containing inorganic fibres, e.g. mineral wool
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G24/00—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor
    • A01G24/40—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor characterised by their structure
    • A01G24/44—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor characterised by their structure in block, mat or sheet form

Definitions

  • Plant growing medium consisting of mineral fibres and containing a binder and a tenside
  • the present invention relates to a plant growing medium consisting of mineral fibres and containing a binder and a tenside.
  • the binder used in the prior art plant growing media comprising mineral fibres serves to contribute a sufficient stability of shape to the mineral fibre layer and hence porosity so as to allow the plants to germinate and grow in the medium.
  • Phenolformaldehyd resins which are characterized by being stable while at the same time suffering from the disadvantage of being hydrophobic are typically used as a binder.
  • the tensides which have been used so far such as ethylene condensates and propylene oxide condensates, exhibit a small tolerance of toxicity to plants of about twice the amount dosed, and therefore it is necessary carefully to analyse the final products to ensure that the tenside content is sufficient to contribute suitable water-absorbing properties to the fibre product while on the other hand not being so high so as to cause problems of plant toxicity.
  • US patent No. 3,861,895 discloses a method of manufacturing mineral wool for insulating purposes comprising applying a mixture of 1-30% by weight of a non-ionic tenside and 70-99% by weight of a polyalkylene glycol having a viscosity in the range of from 35 to 180,000 mm 2 /s at 38°C to hot mineral fibres formed by high speed centrifugation of a mineral melt in order to eliminate or to reduce the formation of dust and to avoid the disadvantageous formation of smoke which is associated with the use of mineral oils as dust settling agent.
  • the object of the invention is to produce a plant growing medium of the type mentioned above which is more homogeneous and less toxic to plants and containing a tenside which is miscible with water and which has a low toxicity to plants and a uniform tenside distribution in the mineral fibre product.
  • this object is obtained with a plant growing medium which is characterized in that the tenside substantially consists of one or more low molecular polyalkylene glycols.
  • a tenside in the form of polyalkylene glycol and in particular polyethylene glycol (PEG) it has surprisingly been found that an improved distribution of the tenside is obtained both in relation to the mineral fibres and to the binder.
  • the effect of the tenside used and the improved tenside distribution is a higher water capacity after watering and an improved water retention of the mineral wool. Furthermore, the production costs are reduced as the requirements for the supply, dosage and control apparatus can be reduced.
  • the mineral wool may be cut into smaller units greater possibilities are provided for using it as a growing medium for micro-propagated plants/plant parts from the meristematic culture or the like.
  • Polyalkylene glycols and break-down products thereof have a very low degree of toxicity to plants.
  • the tolerance is more than 30 times the actual amount dosed before growth inhibition begins to show which results in less waste in the production, e.g. in connection with shifts between different types of plant growing media comprising mineral fibres.
  • the concentration of tenside in the surface of the mineral fibre layer is higher than in its interior.
  • Polyalkylene glycols and break-down products thereof show no foaming tendency in aqueous solutions. This is an advantage, e.g. in cases where the plant growing medium is used by professional nurserymen in growing systems where the nutrient solution is recycled as the sensors for determining the pH-value (acidity) and the EC-value (conductivity) etc. are not coated with foam or in any other way prevented from performing correct measurements.
  • the low molecular polyethylene glycol preferably has a molecular weight of from 200 to 1000, and the polyethylene glycol is preferably used in an amount of from 20 to 60% by weight of solids in relation to the binder.
  • the blend of polyethylene glycol and binder is preferably used in an amount of from 1.0 to 5.0% by weight of solids in relation to the mineral fibres.
  • mineral fibres includes fibres made from i.a. minerals (rock wool fibres), slags (slag wool fibres) and glas (glas wool fibres).
  • Fig. 1 shows the retention curves for an average of 8 tests.
  • FIG. 2 shows the average water content of 12 testings expressed as a function of the suction pressure. As will appear from Fig. 2 the water retention shown by curve (d) is considerably higher than the water retention shown by curve (e), whereas the water reabsorption ability is almost identical for the two mineral wool types.
  • Fig. 3 shows a block diagram showing the water content, expressed as a function of time, of mineral wool growing blocks containing PEG, the hatched area, and Triton CF-10. As will appear from Fig. 3 the water retention of the growing blocks containing PEG is significantly higher than that of the blocks containing Triton CF-10 even after 3 hours of drainage.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)
  • Hydroponics (AREA)

Abstract

A plant growing medium consisting of mineral fibres and containing a binder and a tenside, which tenside substantially consists of one or more low molecular polyethylene glycols.

Description

Plant growing medium consisting of mineral fibres and containing a binder and a tenside
The present invention relates to a plant growing medium consisting of mineral fibres and containing a binder and a tenside.
The binder used in the prior art plant growing media comprising mineral fibres serves to contribute a sufficient stability of shape to the mineral fibre layer and hence porosity so as to allow the plants to germinate and grow in the medium.
Phenolformaldehyd resins which are characterized by being stable while at the same time suffering from the disadvantage of being hydrophobic are typically used as a binder.
In the manufacture of mineral fibre products for insulating purposes dust tends to be formed in such large amounts that the dust constitutes a potential factor of irritation. Therefore, it is desirable furthermore to add to the mineral fibre product a small amount of mineral oil which binds the dust but at the same time increases the hydrophobicity of the mineral fibre product.
As a plant growing medium a hydrophilic mineral fibre product is desired and this is why a tenside is added to the mineral fibres.
The tensides which have been used so far, such as ethylene condensates and propylene oxide condensates, exhibit a small tolerance of toxicity to plants of about twice the amount dosed, and therefore it is necessary carefully to analyse the final products to ensure that the tenside content is sufficient to contribute suitable water-absorbing properties to the fibre product while on the other hand not being so high so as to cause problems of plant toxicity.
The use of i.a. the present tenside does not result in the desired uniformity in the distribution of the tenside, and therefore it has been necessary to use the tenside in a larger amount than what is theoretically optimum. Such an obligatory overdosage of tenside may reduce the water retention of the fibre product and hence its suitability as a plant growing medium just as the risk of plant detrimental concentrations of tenside is increased.
US patent No. 3,861,895 discloses a method of manufacturing mineral wool for insulating purposes comprising applying a mixture of 1-30% by weight of a non-ionic tenside and 70-99% by weight of a polyalkylene glycol having a viscosity in the range of from 35 to 180,000 mm2/s at 38°C to hot mineral fibres formed by high speed centrifugation of a mineral melt in order to eliminate or to reduce the formation of dust and to avoid the disadvantageous formation of smoke which is associated with the use of mineral oils as dust settling agent.
From the US patent mentioned above it does not appear that the mineral wool products disclosed therein are suitable as a plant growing medium.
The object of the invention is to produce a plant growing medium of the type mentioned above which is more homogeneous and less toxic to plants and containing a tenside which is miscible with water and which has a low toxicity to plants and a uniform tenside distribution in the mineral fibre product.
According to the invention this object is obtained with a plant growing medium which is characterized in that the tenside substantially consists of one or more low molecular polyalkylene glycols.
By using a tenside in the form of polyalkylene glycol and in particular polyethylene glycol (PEG) it has surprisingly been found that an improved distribution of the tenside is obtained both in relation to the mineral fibres and to the binder. The effect of the tenside used and the improved tenside distribution is a higher water capacity after watering and an improved water retention of the mineral wool. Furthermore, the production costs are reduced as the requirements for the supply, dosage and control apparatus can be reduced.
As a result thereof it is possible to produce a mineral wool growing medium having a reduced density and having the same water retention as that of the prior art products, thus resulting in considerable savings in terms of mineral wool and binder/tenside.
Thus, compared to what has been obtained with the prior art products a much more homogeneous product is obtained which e.g. may be cut into thin slabs having a higher stability of structure, thereby resulting in a growing medium which is suitable for cultures, such as e.g. herbs, which up to now have been very difficult to grow in mineral wool growing media. Furthermore, due to the homogeneity of the mineral wool it is possible to obtain improved propagation blocks for cultures such as e.g. lettuce by using the mineral wool according to the invention, and as a result thereof an extra yield of 12-13% is obtained due to a reduced loss of plants.
As the mineral wool may be cut into smaller units greater possibilities are provided for using it as a growing medium for micro-propagated plants/plant parts from the meristematic culture or the like.
It has been reported from several testing sites that an improved root development has been observed in external growing tests of the mineral wool products according to the invention compared to corresponding standard products.
Polyalkylene glycols and break-down products thereof have a very low degree of toxicity to plants. Thus, the tolerance is more than 30 times the actual amount dosed before growth inhibition begins to show which results in less waste in the production, e.g. in connection with shifts between different types of plant growing media comprising mineral fibres.
Moreover, the need for a continuos determination of the tenside content during production is reduced.
Furthermore, in order to ensure a hydrophilic surface on the mineral wool it is preferred that the concentration of tenside in the surface of the mineral fibre layer is higher than in its interior.
Polyalkylene glycols and break-down products thereof show no foaming tendency in aqueous solutions. This is an advantage, e.g. in cases where the plant growing medium is used by professional nurserymen in growing systems where the nutrient solution is recycled as the sensors for determining the pH-value (acidity) and the EC-value (conductivity) etc. are not coated with foam or in any other way prevented from performing correct measurements.
The low molecular polyethylene glycol preferably has a molecular weight of from 200 to 1000, and the polyethylene glycol is preferably used in an amount of from 20 to 60% by weight of solids in relation to the binder. The blend of polyethylene glycol and binder is preferably used in an amount of from 1.0 to 5.0% by weight of solids in relation to the mineral fibres.
The expression mineral fibres includes fibres made from i.a. minerals (rock wool fibres), slags (slag wool fibres) and glas (glas wool fibres).
The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the following examples.
Example 1
A comparison was made of the water retention between (a) a mineral wool having horizontal fibres and an average density of 63.7 kg/m3 and comprising PEG, (b) a mineral wool comprising PEG having an extra PEG-dosage on the surface so that the concentration in the surface of the mineral fibre layer is higher than in its interior and having an average density of 69.3 kg/m3, and (c) a corresponding standard mineral wool having an average density of 67.2 kg/m3 and comprising the tenside Triton CF-10 by increasing the suction pressure to 17.5 cm water column followed by decreasing the pressure. Fig. 1 shows the retention curves for an average of 8 tests. As will appear from the Figure the mineral wool (a) and (b) having PEG show a considerably higher water retention (the upper curves) and the reabsorption of water is also higher (the lower curves). A higher concentration of tenside in the surface of the mineral fibre layer than in its interior results in a further improvement of the water retention and the reabsorption of water (b) .
Exampl e 2
A comparison was made of the water retention between (d) a mineral wool having vertical fibres and an average density of about 62 kg/m3 and comprising PEG, and (e) a corresponding standard mineral wool under the same conditions as the ones set forth in example 1. Fig. 2 shows the average water content of 12 testings expressed as a function of the suction pressure. As will appear from Fig. 2 the water retention shown by curve (d) is considerably higher than the water retention shown by curve (e), whereas the water reabsorption ability is almost identical for the two mineral wool types.
Example 3
The water retention of mineral wool growing blocks of the dimensions 10 cm x 10 cm x 6.5 cm and having vertical fibres and containing PEG (average density 74.6 kg/m3) and Triton CF-10 (average density 73.8 kg/m3), respectively, was investigated at 20 minutes' intervals in drainage tests on a mineral wool slab having vertical fibres and a density of 43 kg/m3. Fig. 3 shows a block diagram showing the water content, expressed as a function of time, of mineral wool growing blocks containing PEG, the hatched area, and Triton CF-10. As will appear from Fig. 3 the water retention of the growing blocks containing PEG is significantly higher than that of the blocks containing Triton CF-10 even after 3 hours of drainage.

Claims

P a t e n t C l a i m s
1. A plant growing medium consisting of mineral fibres and containing a binder and a tenside, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the tenside substantially consists of one or more low molecular polyalkylene glycols.
2. A plant growing medium according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the polyalkylene glycols used preferably are low molecular polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of from 200 to 1000.
3. A plant growing medium according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the polyalkylene glycol is used in an amount of from 20 to 60% by weight of solids in relation to the binder.
4. A plant growing medium according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the blend of binder and polyalkylene glycol is used in an amount of from 1.0 to 5.0% by weight of solids in relation to the mineral fibres.
5. A plant growing medium according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the concentration of tenside in the surface of the mineral fibre layer is higher than in its interior.
PCT/DK1991/000278 1990-09-21 1991-09-18 Plant growing medium consisting of mineral fibres and containing a binder and a tenside WO1992004824A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DK228390A DK228390D0 (en) 1990-09-21 1990-09-21 PLANT CULTIVATION MEDIUM OF MINERAL FIBERS AND CONTAINING A BINDING AND TENSID
DK2283/90 1990-09-21

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1992004824A1 true WO1992004824A1 (en) 1992-04-02

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DK (1) DK228390D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1992004824A1 (en)

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001082683A1 (en) * 2000-04-28 2001-11-08 Rockwool International A/S Plant growth substrates
EP1226749A1 (en) * 2001-01-25 2002-07-31 Bakelite AG Method for manufacturing of water absorbing fibrous materials
EP1880600A1 (en) 2006-07-20 2008-01-23 Rockwool International A/S Growth substrates, their production and their use
EP1880598A1 (en) 2006-07-20 2008-01-23 Rockwool International A/S Growth substrates, their production and their use
EP1880599A1 (en) 2006-07-20 2008-01-23 Rockwool International A/S Growth substrates, their production and their use
EP1880596A1 (en) 2006-07-20 2008-01-23 Rockwool International A/S Growth substrates, their production and their use
EP1880597A1 (en) 2006-07-20 2008-01-23 Rockwool International A/S Growth substrates, their production and their use
EP1889859A1 (en) * 2006-08-18 2008-02-20 Rockwool International A/S Hydrophilic binder system for porous substrates
EP1897433A1 (en) * 2006-09-06 2008-03-12 Rockwool International A/S Aqueous binder composition for mineral fibres
EP1961291A1 (en) 2007-07-23 2008-08-27 Rockwool International A/S Mineral wool growth substrate and its use
EP2080431A1 (en) 2008-01-18 2009-07-22 Rockwool International A/S Method of growing plants
WO2012028650A1 (en) 2010-08-31 2012-03-08 Rockwool International A/S A method of growing plants
US8205380B2 (en) 2006-07-20 2012-06-26 Rockwool International A/S Method of growing plants
EP2809849B1 (en) 2012-01-30 2017-08-23 Rockwool International A/S A drain element
US11813833B2 (en) 2019-12-09 2023-11-14 Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, Llc Fiberglass insulation product

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE373265B (en) * 1969-11-25 1975-02-03 Rockwool As MINERAL WOOL PRODUCT FOR USE PREFERABLY IN AGRICULTURE AND GARDEN DISHES, WHICH HAS THE POSSIBILITY TO BE MATERALLY MOISTURED BY WATER, AND PROCEDURES FOR ITS MANUFACTURING
WO1991008662A1 (en) * 1989-12-08 1991-06-27 Rockwool International A/S Plant growing medium containing mineral fibres

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE373265B (en) * 1969-11-25 1975-02-03 Rockwool As MINERAL WOOL PRODUCT FOR USE PREFERABLY IN AGRICULTURE AND GARDEN DISHES, WHICH HAS THE POSSIBILITY TO BE MATERALLY MOISTURED BY WATER, AND PROCEDURES FOR ITS MANUFACTURING
WO1991008662A1 (en) * 1989-12-08 1991-06-27 Rockwool International A/S Plant growing medium containing mineral fibres

Cited By (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001082683A1 (en) * 2000-04-28 2001-11-08 Rockwool International A/S Plant growth substrates
EP1226749A1 (en) * 2001-01-25 2002-07-31 Bakelite AG Method for manufacturing of water absorbing fibrous materials
WO2008009461A1 (en) 2006-07-20 2008-01-24 Rockwool International A/S Method of growing plants
WO2008009465A1 (en) 2006-07-20 2008-01-24 Rockwool International A/S Growth substrates, their production and their use
EP1880599A1 (en) 2006-07-20 2008-01-23 Rockwool International A/S Growth substrates, their production and their use
EP1880596A1 (en) 2006-07-20 2008-01-23 Rockwool International A/S Growth substrates, their production and their use
EP1880597A1 (en) 2006-07-20 2008-01-23 Rockwool International A/S Growth substrates, their production and their use
WO2008009467A1 (en) 2006-07-20 2008-01-24 Rockwool International A/S Growth substrates, their production and their use
US8020344B2 (en) 2006-07-20 2011-09-20 Rockwool International A/S Method of growing plants
EP1880598A1 (en) 2006-07-20 2008-01-23 Rockwool International A/S Growth substrates, their production and their use
WO2008009460A1 (en) 2006-07-20 2008-01-24 Rockwool International A/S Growth substrate, their production and their use
WO2008009462A1 (en) 2006-07-20 2008-01-24 Rockwool International A/S Method of growing plants
US8181390B2 (en) 2006-07-20 2012-05-22 Rockwool International A/S Growth substrates, their production and their use
US8205380B2 (en) 2006-07-20 2012-06-26 Rockwool International A/S Method of growing plants
EP1880600A1 (en) 2006-07-20 2008-01-23 Rockwool International A/S Growth substrates, their production and their use
WO2008020073A1 (en) * 2006-08-18 2008-02-21 Rockwool International A/S Hydrophilic binder system for porous substrates
EP1889859A1 (en) * 2006-08-18 2008-02-20 Rockwool International A/S Hydrophilic binder system for porous substrates
EP1897433A1 (en) * 2006-09-06 2008-03-12 Rockwool International A/S Aqueous binder composition for mineral fibres
US8044168B2 (en) 2006-09-06 2011-10-25 Rockwool International A/S Aqueous binder composition for mineral fibers
RU2446119C2 (en) * 2006-09-06 2012-03-27 Роквул Интернэшнл А/С Aqueous binding composition for mineral fibre, article and method of making said article
WO2008028923A1 (en) 2006-09-06 2008-03-13 Rockwool International A/S Aqueous binder composition for mineral fibres
EP1961291A1 (en) 2007-07-23 2008-08-27 Rockwool International A/S Mineral wool growth substrate and its use
EP2080431A1 (en) 2008-01-18 2009-07-22 Rockwool International A/S Method of growing plants
WO2012028650A1 (en) 2010-08-31 2012-03-08 Rockwool International A/S A method of growing plants
US9609813B2 (en) 2010-08-31 2017-04-04 Rockwool International A/S Method of growing plants
EP2809849B1 (en) 2012-01-30 2017-08-23 Rockwool International A/S A drain element
EP2809849B2 (en) † 2012-01-30 2020-11-18 Rockwool International A/S A drain element
US11813833B2 (en) 2019-12-09 2023-11-14 Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, Llc Fiberglass insulation product

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU8620991A (en) 1992-04-15
DK228390D0 (en) 1990-09-21

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