WO2022010829A1 - Système de distribution de fibres de verre pour favoriser la germination et la nutrition de semences dans des cultures agricoles ou la croissance de plantes - Google Patents

Système de distribution de fibres de verre pour favoriser la germination et la nutrition de semences dans des cultures agricoles ou la croissance de plantes Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022010829A1
WO2022010829A1 PCT/US2021/040422 US2021040422W WO2022010829A1 WO 2022010829 A1 WO2022010829 A1 WO 2022010829A1 US 2021040422 W US2021040422 W US 2021040422W WO 2022010829 A1 WO2022010829 A1 WO 2022010829A1
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Prior art keywords
glass fibers
soil
soil amendment
further comprise
amendment
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PCT/US2021/040422
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English (en)
Inventor
David Wolf
Xiaomin Guo
Yuxuan GONG
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Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, Llc
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Application filed by Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, Llc filed Critical Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, Llc
Publication of WO2022010829A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022010829A1/fr

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
    • C05G—MIXTURES OF FERTILISERS COVERED INDIVIDUALLY BY DIFFERENT SUBCLASSES OF CLASS C05; MIXTURES OF ONE OR MORE FERTILISERS WITH MATERIALS NOT HAVING A SPECIFIC FERTILISING ACTIVITY, e.g. PESTICIDES, SOIL-CONDITIONERS, WETTING AGENTS; FERTILISERS CHARACTERISED BY THEIR FORM
    • C05G3/00—Mixtures of one or more fertilisers with additives not having a specially fertilising activity
    • C05G3/80—Soil conditioners
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01P—BIOCIDAL, PEST REPELLANT, PEST ATTRACTANT OR PLANT GROWTH REGULATORY ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR PREPARATIONS
    • A01P21/00—Plant growth regulators

Definitions

  • the general inventive concepts relate to systems and methods that use fiberglass to promote seed germination and facilitate nutrient delivery for agricultural crop or plant growth.
  • Glass fibers have been widely used in building materials, biomaterials, and composite materials.
  • a glass fiber has a manipulatable and controllable fiber diameter, aspect ratio (i.e., the ratio of the fiber’s length to the fiber’s diameter), and morphology, as well as chemistry and surface properties, depending on the process used to manufacture the glass fiber. These properties may allow glass fiber, including stone wool and slag wool, to be beneficial to agricultural applications.
  • Glass fiber when manufactured in a mat form, has been used to control the erosion of soil against heavy rain and slippage due to sandy soil, the success of which can be attributed to the high aspect ratio of the glass fiber.
  • glasses have been used as a controlled-release fertilizer in some applications.
  • Fritted nutrients have been used to promote the growth of wasabi root in cold weather.
  • Fritted nutrients are trace elements such as zinc, copper, manganese, boron, iron, potassium, or molybdenum that are contained within a finely ground glass powder.
  • the glass ion exchanges with the proton in water and the hydroxide group breaks the Si-O-Si bond in the glass network, with these reactions releasing plant-beneficial nutrients and other trace elements.
  • Other conventional materials e.g., soil amendments
  • used to promote plant/crop growth include, for example, super absorbent polymers (SAPs), silicas, biochar, and mulch.
  • inventive glass-based materials including the systems and methods utilizing the materials, achieve comparable or better results than conventional approaches and materials, and do so at a reduced cost, at a reduced dosage, and/or while avoiding one or more drawbacks associated with the conventional approaches and materials.
  • the general inventive concepts relate to a fiberglass-based material functioning as a new delivery system to aid seed germination and nutrition in agricultural crop or plant growth due, at least in part, to the fiberglass media having a high surface-area-to-volume ratio and being soluble in an aqueous environment.
  • a soil amendment for promoting the growth of a plant comprises: a plurality of discrete glass fibers; wherein the glass fibers comprise about 20 wt.% to about 75 wt.% of SiCh , about 1 wt.% to about 15 wt.% of AI2O3, and about 2 wt.% to about 25 wt.% of Na?0; wherein the glass fibers have a ratio of Si to (Si+Al) greater than about 0.7; wherein the glass fibers have an average fiber diameter in the range of 1 pm to 10 pm; wherein the soil amendment has a density in the range of 10 kg/m 3 to 50 kg/m 3 ; and wherein the soil amendment is operable to increase the plant-available-water level of the soil by about 30% to about 260% at a level of about 0.5 wt.% to 3.0 wt.% of the soil amendment.
  • the glass fibers further comprise about 0.01 wt.% to about 20 wt.% of CaO. In some exemplary embodiments, the glass fibers have a ratio of Na to (Na+Ca) in the range of about 0.3 to about 0.9.
  • the glass fibers further comprise about 0.01 wt.% to about 10 wt.% of MgO.
  • the glass fibers further comprise about 0.01 wt.% to about 15 wt.% of FeiCb or FeO.
  • the glass fibers further comprise about 0.01 wt.% to about 30 wt.% of B2O3. In some exemplary embodiments, the glass fibers have a ratio of Na to (Na+B) less than about 0.6.
  • the glass fibers further comprise about 0.01 wt.% to about 10 wt.% of L O.
  • the glass fibers further comprise about 0.01 wt.% to about 25 wt.% of K2O.
  • the glass fibers further comprise about 0.01 wt.% to about 10 wt.% of P2O5.
  • the glass fibers further comprise about 0.01 wt.% to about 5 wt.% of CuO or CU2O.
  • the glass fibers further comprise about 0.01 wt.% to about 3 wt.% of SeC .
  • the glass fibers further comprise about 0.005 wt.% to about 5 wt.% of ZnO.
  • the glass fibers further comprise about 0.01 wt.% to about 3 wt.% of Cl.
  • the glass fibers further comprise about 0.01 wt.% to about 10 wt.% of MnO or MnCh. [0021] In some exemplary embodiments, the glass fibers further comprise about 0.01 wt.% to about 3 wt.% of Mo.
  • the glass fibers form a plurality of nodules having an average largest linear dimension in the range of about 1 mm to about 10 mm.
  • each of the nodules has a spherical shape and the largest linear dimension is a diameter of the spherical shape.
  • the glass fibers form a non-woven mat having a width, a length, and a thickness.
  • the width is in the range of about 10 mm to about 1 m; the length is in the range of about 10 mm to about 1,000 m; and the thickness is in the range of about 1 mm to about 50 mm.
  • the width is about 10 mm, the length is about 10 mm, and the thickness is about 10 mm.
  • the width is about 50 mm, the length is about 1,000 m, and the thickness is about 10 mm.
  • the mat will typically have a density in the range of about 10 kg/m 3 to about 50 kg/m 3 .
  • the glass fibers of the mat are held together by a binder.
  • the glass fibers of the mat are held together by mechanical entanglement.
  • the glass fibers have an average half-life in the soil in the range of about six months to about eighteen months.
  • the glass fibers have an average half-life in the soil of about twelve months.
  • the soil amendment further comprises an additive applied to a surface of the glass fibers.
  • the additive is at least one of a herbicide, an insecticide, a nematicide, and a fungicide.
  • the additive is a hormone.
  • the additive is an agricultural biological.
  • the additive is a surfactant.
  • the additive makes the glass fibers more hydrophilic. In some exemplary embodiments, the additive makes the glass fibers more hydrophobic.
  • a system for promoting the growth of a plant comprises: a seed corresponding to the plant, wherein an outer surface of the seed is at least partially coated with a fiberglass media, and wherein a thickness of the coating is less than a largest thickness of the seed.
  • a method of promoting the growth of a plant comprises: placing a seed corresponding to the plant within a quantity of a soil; and placing a soil amendment comprising a plurality of discrete glass fibers in the soil in proximity to the seed; wherein the soil amendment constitutes about 0.5 wt.% to 3.0 wt.% of the soil; wherein the glass fibers comprise about 20 wt.% to about 75 wt.% of SiC , about 1 wt.% to about 15 wt.% of AI2O3, and about 2 wt.% to about 25 wt.% of Na?0; wherein the glass fibers have a ratio of Si to (Si+Al) greater than about 0.7; wherein the glass fibers have an average fiber diameter in the range of 1 pm to 10 pm; wherein the soil amendment has a density in the range of 10 kg/m 3 to 50 kg/m 3 ; and wherein the soil amendment increases the plant-available-water
  • Figure 1A is a front elevational view of a fiberglass nodule for promoting plant growth, according to one exemplary embodiment.
  • Figure IB is a perspective view of a fiberglass mat for promoting plant growth, according to one exemplary embodiment.
  • Figure 1C is a perspective cut-away view of a fiberglass coating for promoting plant growth, according to one exemplary embodiment.
  • Figure 2 is a graph showing the relationship between the density of the fiberglass media density and the water holding capacity of the fiberglass media.
  • Figure 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the fiber diameter, the product of the nodule density and the nodule diameter, and the ratio of the fiber surface area to the nodule surface area of the fiberglass media.
  • Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an extended hydration process and a chemical agent transport process, as the fiberglass media is hydrated and then dehydrated by diffusion of chemical -laden water to the soil, according to one exemplary embodiment.
  • Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a hydrophobic region of the fiberglass media, surrounded by a hydrophilic region, where the hydrophobic region traps air for soil aeration.
  • Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the nutrient delivery and pH balancing mechanisms of the fiberglass media, according to one exemplary embodiment.
  • the general inventive concepts encompass a fiberglass-based media functioning as a new delivery system to aid seed germination and nutrition in agricultural crop or plant growth due, at least in part, to the fiberglass media having a high surface-area-to-volume ratio and being soluble in an aqueous environment.
  • the fiberglass media can take any suitable form.
  • the fiberglass media 100 is a nodule 102, as shown in FIG. 1A.
  • the nodule 102 is generally an irregularly-shaped body.
  • the irregularly-shaped body can have a string-like portion and/or a spherical-like portion.
  • the nodule 102 has a somewhat spherical shape.
  • the nodule 102 has a nodule diameter ri d , which represents the largest length across or through the nodule. In some exemplary embodiments, the nodule diameter ri d is in the range of 1 mm to 10 mm.
  • the nodule diameter ri d could be in the range of 10 mm to 38 mm or 10 mm to 51 mm.
  • the nodule 102 is formed of glass fibers, which may or may not be held together with a binder (as described below).
  • the nodules could be formed in a manner similar to loosefill insulation product (using chopped/milled glass fibers).
  • the fiberglass media 120 is a mat 122, as shown in FIG. IB.
  • the mat 122 is generally a planar-shaped body.
  • the mat is generally a non-woven mat.
  • the mat could be formed in a manner similar to a fiberglass batt insulation product.
  • the mat 122 may have any practical dimensions (i.e., thickness, width, and length).
  • the mat 122 is typically cut (illustrated by dashed line 124) from a formed roll 126 of the fiberglass material. Because the dimensions of the fiberglass material are really only limited by its manufacturing and storing processes, the dimensions of the mat 122 can vary widely. In some exemplary embodiments, a thickness of the mat 122 is in the range of 1 mm to 50 mm.
  • a width of the mat 122 is in the range of 10 mm to 1 m. In some exemplary embodiments, a length of the mat 122 is in the range of 10 mm to 1,000 m.
  • the dimensions of the mat 122 will depend upon its intended application. For example, if the mat 122 is being used in a greenhouse to produce seedlings, the mat 122 might have dimensions of 10 mm x 10 mm x 10 mm (i.e., a pod). Alternatively, if the mat 122 is being placed into a furrow created by a piece of farm equipment, the mat 122 might have dimensions of 10 mm x 50 mm x 1,000 m.
  • the fiberglass media 140 is a coating 142 applied to a seed 144, as shown in FIG. 1C.
  • the coating 142 at least partially encapsulates the seed 144.
  • the coating 142 completely encapsulates the seed 144.
  • a coating thickness c t is less than or equal to the largest dimension of the seed 144.
  • the fiberglass media 140 may be applied to the seed 144 in any suitable manner.
  • conventional seed coating techniques include the use of a fluidized bed, a rotary coater, a rotating pan, etc. It may be the case that a slurry of glass fibers, a binder (as described below), and other ingredients (e.g., fillers) are applied to the seed 144 and allowed to cure or otherwise harden.
  • any suitable technique for applying the fiberglass media 140 to or around the seed 144 can be used.
  • resonant acoustic mixing may be one such technique.
  • the fiberglass media 140 can assume any form suitable for use as a growth media given the intended application (e.g., agriculture, horticulture, etc.).
  • the fiberglass media 140 could simply be a quantity of loose glass fibers, a collection of entangled (e.g., needled) glass fibers, a quantity of texturized glass fibers (often referred to as “glass wool”), etc.
  • the fiberglass media 140 will act as an inorganic soil amendment.
  • the fiberglass media (e.g., fiberglass media 100, 120, 140) encompassed by the general inventive concepts will typically comprise a glass formed from a composition including: 20 wt.% to 75 wt.% of S1O2; 1 wt.% to 15 wt.% of AI2O3; and 2 wt.% to 25 wt.% of Na20.
  • the glass composition includes one or more of CaO, MgO, Fe203 or FeO, B2O3, LbO, K2O, P2O5, CuO or CU2O, SeCh, ZnO, Cl, MnO or Mn0 2 , and Mo in oxide form.
  • the glass composition includes two or more of CaO, MgO, Fe 2 0 3 or FeO, B 2 O 3 , LbO, K 2 O, P 2 O 5 , CuO or CU 2 O, Se0 2 , ZnO, Cl, MnO or Mn0 2 , and Mo in oxide form.
  • the glass composition includes three or more of CaO, MgO, Fe 2 0 3 or FeO, B 2 O 3 , LbO, K 2 O, P 2 O 5 , CuO or CU 2 O, Se0 2 , ZnO, Cl, MnO or Mn0 2 , and Mo in oxide form.
  • the glass composition includes four or more of CaO, MgO, FeiCb or FeO, B2O3, LhO, K2O, P2O5, CuO or CU2O, Se02, ZnO, Cl, MnO or MnC , and Mo in oxide form.
  • the glass composition includes five or more of CaO, MgO, Fe203 or FeO, B2O3, LhO, K2O, P2O5, CuO or CU2O, Se02, ZnO, Cl, MnO or Mn0 2 , and Mo in oxide form.
  • the glass composition includes six or more of CaO, MgO, Fe 2 0 3 or FeO, B2O3, LhO, K2O, P2O5, CuO or CU2O, Se0 2 , ZnO, Cl, MnO or Mn0 2 , and Mo in oxide form.
  • the glass composition includes seven or more of CaO, MgO, Fe 2 0 3 or FeO, B2O3, LhO, K2O, P2O5, CuO or CU2O, Se0 2 , ZnO, Cl, MnO or Mn0 2 , and Mo in oxide form.
  • the glass composition includes eight or more of CaO, MgO, Fe 2 0 3 or FeO, B2O3, LhO, K2O, P2O5, CuO or CU2O, Se02, ZnO, Cl, MnO or Mn02, and Mo in oxide form.
  • the glass composition includes nine or more of CaO, MgO, Fe203 or FeO, B2O3, LhO, K2O, P2O5, CuO or CU2O, Se02, ZnO, Cl, MnO or Mn0 2 , and Mo in oxide form.
  • the glass composition includes ten or more of CaO, MgO, Fe 2 0 3 or FeO, B2O3, LhO, K2O, P2O5, CuO or CU2O, Se0 2 , ZnO, Cl, MnO or Mn0 2 , and Mo in oxide form.
  • the glass composition includes CaO, MgO, Fe 2 0 3 or FeO, B2O3, LhO, K2O, P2O5, CuO or CU2O, Se0 2 , ZnO, Cl, MnO or Mn0 2 , and Mo in oxide form. In general, intentional inclusion of any of these constituents will be at a level greater than a trace amount or an impurity.
  • the glass composition includes 0 wt.% to 20 wt.% of CaO. In some exemplary embodiments, the glass composition includes 0 wt.% to 10 wt.% of MgO. In some exemplary embodiments, the glass composition includes 0 wt.% to 15 wt.% of Fe 2 0 3 or FeO. In some exemplary embodiments, the glass composition includes 0 wt.% to 30 wt.% of B2O3. In some exemplary embodiments, the glass composition includes 0 wt.% to 10 wt.% of LhO. In some exemplary embodiments, the glass composition includes 0 wt.% to 25 wt.% of K2O.
  • the glass composition includes 0 wt.% to 10 wt.% of P2O5. In some exemplary embodiments, the glass composition includes 0 wt.% to 5 wt.% of CuO or CU2O. In some exemplary embodiments, the glass composition includes 0.01 wt.% to 3 wt.% of Se0 2. In some exemplary embodiments, the glass composition includes 0.005 wt.% to 5 wt.% of ZnO. In some exemplary embodiments, the glass composition includes 0 wt.% to 3 wt.% of Cl. In some exemplary embodiments, the glass composition includes 0 wt.% to 10 wt.% of MnO or Mn0 2.
  • the glass composition includes 0 wt.% to 3 wt.% of Mo.
  • the glass composition used to form the fiberglass media is typically suitable for melting using various types of furnaces (e.g., electric, gas, a combination of both) in both laboratory and manufacturing scale.
  • furnaces e.g., electric, gas, a combination of both
  • the liquidus temperature and rheological working range of glasses for different manufacturing processes can be adjusted via the manipulation of the glass chemistry in the given range.
  • a typical melting temperature for the glass composition ranges from 2,100 °F to 2,800 °F, depending on the glass chemistry.
  • the glass composition can be melted at a given temperature for 30 mins to several hours depending on the rheological properties and spatial-composition of the glass melts inside the furnace.
  • the fiberizing process i.e., the process of forming fibers from the molten glass
  • the fiberizing process can be performed by continuous and discontinuous methods including drawing from a precious metal bushing, a rotary process utilizing internal centrifuge, a cascade process using external centrifuge, a flame attenuation process, or a combination of one or more of these fiberizing techniques.
  • the fiberizing process can involve both the flame attenuation process and the rotary process to achieve a desirable fiber diameter, morphology, and surface area, as well as other physical properties and appearance of interest.
  • the glass fibers are attenuated from the device and are blown generally downwardly within a forming chamber so as to be deposited onto a forming conveyor.
  • a chemical agent e.g., a sizing composition
  • the chemical agent may be applied to the fibers as a solution or dispersion in an organic or aqueous medium.
  • the composition is applied to the fibers as an aqueous solution.
  • the temperature of the glass and the surrounding forming area is usually high enough to evaporate the water from the aqueous solution before the fibers have been collected.
  • a chemical agent could also be applied to the surface of a glass fiber at a subsequent step in the manufacturing process, after the fibers have been initially collected.
  • a chemical agent e.g., a binder composition
  • a binder composition such as a resin
  • the necessity, as well as the type and amount, of the binder composition will typically depend on the form of the fiberglass media, for example, the nodule 102, the mat 122, or the coating 142.
  • a binder is not used to hold the glass fibers together.
  • the glass fibers could be held together by mechanical entanglement (e.g., needling).
  • any suitable binder may be used.
  • the binder is based on a thermosetting binder.
  • the binder may be a PUF (phenol-urea-formaldehyde), a PF (phenol-formaldehyde), or a non- added formaldehyde binder.
  • non-added formaldehyde binders include, but are not limited to, polyesters, polyamides, and melanoidin-based binders. Polyester and polyamide-based binders may comprise monomeric or polymeric carboxylic acids; monomeric or polymeric polyols; and monomeric or polymeric amines, preferably primary or secondary amines.
  • the melanoidin-based binder may be based on a reducing sugar and an amine or ammonia component.
  • the binder is based on a thermoplastic binder.
  • the binder may be mainly water-insoluble or mainly water- soluble.
  • the binder may comprise processing aides like oils, silanes, silicones, and surfactants.
  • the fiberglass media may be mainly free of a binder and only contain processing aides, wherein the processing aides may comprise oils, silanes, silicones, and surfactants.
  • one or more additives can be incorporated into the sizing and/or the binder or the processing aides associated therewith.
  • the sizing and/or the binder function as a release agent for the additives.
  • certain additives could be used to control the rate of release of other additives.
  • the additives include protective additives for the plant that leach into the seed or soil when hydrated, such as herbicides, insecticides, nematicides, and/or fungicides.
  • the additives include plant growth additives, such as nutrients or hormones.
  • the additives include one or more agricultural biologicals.
  • the additives include soil enrichening additives such as surfactants that enhance the water holding capacity of the soil (also known as “moisturizers” or “soil loosening agents” or “humectants”).
  • soil enrichening additives such as surfactants that enhance the water holding capacity of the soil (also known as “moisturizers” or “soil loosening agents” or “humectants”).
  • the additives include an additive (e.g., a surfactant) that makes the glass fibers more hydrophilic, which in turn enhances the water holding capacity and subsequent water release ability of the fiberglass media.
  • an additive e.g., a surfactant
  • the additives include an additive (e.g., a silicone oil) that makes the glass fibers more hydrophobic, which in turn creates regions within the fiberglass media where air can be trapped to provide enhanced soil aeration despite the presence of hydration (i.e., exposure of the fiberglass media to water, such as water passing through or around the fiberglass media).
  • an additive e.g., a silicone oil
  • hydrophilic and hydrophobic characteristics of the glass fibers these properties can be achieved within the same product form (i.e., fiberglass media) by having the hydrophilic fiber bundles created in one part of the process, having the hydrophobic fiber bundles created in another part of the process, and then having them intermixed in desired proportions downstream in the process.
  • the ratio of hydrophilic fibers and hydrophobic fibers it is possible to tune the fiberglass media to provide more or less aeration versus extended hydration, as desired for a particular application.
  • other substances such as a de-dusting oil, a lubricant, a dye, etc., may also be applied to the glass fibers together with the aforementioned additives.
  • the average surface area of the glass fibers can range from 0.01 m 2 /g to 20 m 2 /g depending on the forming process and the glass chemistry that enables that process. Also, the morphology of the resultant fibers or bundles of fibers can be aligned, tortured, cross-linked, and woven depending on the post-fiberizing processing technology and the desired product form.
  • the glass fibers will typically have a relatively large fiber diameter distribution ranging from 0.1 microns to 40 microns.
  • the glass fibers used in the fiberglass media will generally have an average fiber diameter in the range of 1 microns to 10 microns (or in the range of 3 microns to 10 microns), which is controlled by the fiberizing process and glass rheological properties at the designated operating temperature.
  • the high surface-area-to-volume ratio enables deposition of functional chemistry (e.g., nutrients, pesticides [weed, insect, fungus]) on the glass surface that would be released/activated by the infusion of water upon hydration.
  • the surface-area-to-volume ratio of the fiberglass media is a function of its density.
  • the fiberglass media will typically have a density in the range of 10 kg/m 3 to 50 kg/m 3 , which corresponds to a surface-area-to-volume ratio in the range of 5,000 m 1 to 27,000 m 1 .
  • the fiberglass media Due to its high porosity (e.g., > 95% open volume in some instances), the fiberglass media is able to hold a significant amount of liquid water within its volume when saturated. Likewise, the porosity of the fiberglass media is a function of its density. As noted above, the fiberglass media will typically have a density in the range of 10 kg/m 3 to 50 kg/m 3 , which corresponds to a porosity in the range of 20 cm 3 /gm to 100 cm 3 /gm. The porosity of the fiberglass media can be readily controlled, at least for those embodiments where a binder is used to hold the glass fibers together.
  • the fiberglass media is hydrated upon placement within the soil and slowly releases the water (extended hydration) and intended chemistry (transport) to the soil, at the soil- media interface, initially and with repeated cycles of re-hydration.
  • the efficacy of this release of water from the fiberglass media could be assessed, for example, by measuring the plant available water (PAW).
  • PAW is the difference between the field capacity (i.e., the maximum amount of water the soil can hold) and the wilting point (i.e., the point at which a plant can no longer extract water from the soil).
  • Field capacity is determined by mass and measures the total % water content after thorough saturation followed by freely draining for 24 hours.
  • the permanent wilting point is determined by the Sunflower Method for Permanent Wilting Point. This method is designed to measure the moisture content of soils when a plant reaches the permanent wilting point (PWP).
  • This point is where a plant wilts and can no longer recover its turgidity when placed in a saturated atmosphere for 12 hours.
  • This method uses a dwarf sunflower bioassay.
  • the assessment could involve multiple samples and encompass different amounts of fiberglass media (e.g., 0%, 15%, 30%, and 50% by volume), different soil types (e.g., high clay, high organic matter, high sand/silt), etc.
  • fiberglass media e.g., 0%, 15%, 30%, and 50% by volume
  • soil types e.g., high clay, high organic matter, high sand/silt
  • Such PAW levels for an exemplary fiberglass media (in the form of nodules) by soil type, dosage, and relative to control (i.e. unamended soil) are shown in Table 1.
  • the fiberglass media can achieve comparable or better levels of PAW at a lower dosage than some conventional soil amendments (e.g., silicas, biochar, mulch).
  • some conventional soil amendments e.g., silicas, biochar, mulch.
  • the fiberglass media can achieve comparable or better levels of PAW at a lower cost than some conventional soil amendments (e.g., SAPs).
  • the fiberglass media can avoid various drawbacks associated with conventional soil amendments, such as soil pH sensitivity (e.g., SAPs) and high material variability (biochar).
  • soil pH sensitivity e.g., SAPs
  • biochar high material variability
  • hydration creates a water film around and throughout the nodule/mat/coating, allowing ionic exchange between the H+ of water and the alkaline ions present in the glass fibers.
  • This film is rich in alkaline oxides (that diffuse into the soil, providing nutrients (e.g., Na, Ca, Mg, B, Fe, K) and elevating the pH).
  • the fiberglass media is operable to release one or more of Na, Ca, Mg, B, Fe, K, P, Se, Zn, Cl, and Mo into the soil to provide necessary nutrient and micronutrients to a plant.
  • the release of these oxides will be time-delayed because the solubility of glass is a function of the surrounding conditions (temperature, moisture content, etc.). This delayed release could extend over the life of the plant (i.e., from planting to harvesting) or some portion thereof.
  • the rate of release of ions (nutrients) from the glass fibers, as the glass dissolves can be engineered (ignoring environmental factors, such as soil temperature, soil pH, etc.) to be regulated by multiple factors including, for example, the surface area of the glass fibers, the surface area of the nodule, and the glass chemistry.
  • the fiberglass media can effectively dissolve in soil.
  • the dissolution over time is such that the fiberglass media essentially turns into a powder (e.g., having particle sizes in the range of 10 nm to 40 pm) and becomes part of the soil, as opposed to a visibly discemable additive.
  • the rate of dissolution of the fiberglass media is impacted, at least in part, by various properties of the fiberglass media (including its form) and, thus, can be controlled to a certain extent.
  • This ability to control the rate of dissolution of the fiberglass media can be important given the variability of the applicable plant life, the geographical and seasonal differences in environmental factors, the different types of soil (e.g., sand, clay, silt, blended) to be amended, etc.
  • the fiberglass media has a half-life in the range of six months to eighteen months. In some exemplary embodiments, the fiberglass media has a half-life of twelve months.
  • the dissolution process begins at the surface of the glass fiber and is therefore proportional to the fiber surface area.
  • the fiber surface area is a function of the fiber diameter, nodule diameter, glass density, and nodule density, all of which are controllable to varying degrees.
  • the nodule form of the fiberglass media once the ion/nutrient departs the glass surface, it must then diffuse to the nodule-soil interface, where the rate of diffusion into the soil is a function of the nodule surface area and therefore the nodule diameter.
  • the glass chemistry impacts the overall rate of dissolution of the glass fibers, as certain constituents may have a faster rate of dissolution than other constituents.
  • the dissolution rate of the fiberglass media is attributable, at least in part, to having a ratio of Si to (Si+Al) greater than 0.7.
  • the dissolution rate of the fiberglass media is attributable, at least in part, to having a ratio of Na to (Na+B) less than 0.6.
  • the dissolution rate of the fiberglass media is attributable, at least in part, to having a ratio of Na to (Na+Ca) in the range of 0.3 to 0.9.
  • various forms of fiberglass media can be achieved downstream of the fiberizing section, including a nodule (see FIG. 1 A), a mat (see FIG. IB), and a seed coating (see FIG. 1C).
  • the glass fibers can be blown into a forming chamber where they are deposited with little organization, or in varying patterns, onto a traveling conveyor so as to form a mat.
  • the coated fibrous mat which would include a binder as a chemical agent, is transferred out of the forming chamber to a transfer zone where the mat vertically expands due to the resiliency of the glass fibers.
  • the coated mat is then transferred to a curing oven, where heated air is blown through the mat, or to a curing mold, where heat may be applied under pressure, to cure the binder and rigidly attach the glass fibers together.
  • This mat product can then be used as a planting media, as described herein.
  • Fibers that are not bound or held together by a binder.
  • the fibers are blown into a forming chamber where they are deposited with little organization, or in varying patterns, onto a traveling conveyor (so as to form a mat) or into a duct for transport. Subsequently, the fibrous mat is transferred out of the forming chamber to a transfer zone where the fibers may expand due to their resiliency.
  • the expanded glass fibers can then be sent through a mill (e.g., a hammermill) to be cut apart where chemical agents could also be added.
  • the fibers once formed may be pulverized, cut, chopped or broken into suitable lengths for the plant growth application.
  • a mill e.g., a hammermill
  • the resulting glass fiber products could take the form of nodules, which are roughly spherical in shape and have a diameter that ranges from 1 mm to 10 mm. These nodules could be used directly as a soil additive or could be used in a subsequent seed coating operation, for example, employing conventional seed coating technology (e.g., fluidized bed, rotary coater, rotating pan).
  • This fiberglass media independent of whether it is in the form of a nodule, mat, or coating, can deliver multiple benefits to soil-based plant growth, including extended hydration, the transport of water-activated chemical enriching agents, soil aeration, nutrient supply, and pH balancing of the soil.
  • the fiberglass media may be used in any suitable soil- based agriculture or plant application, including for turf and lawn grasses.
  • Extended hydration depends on the water holding capacity of the fiberglass media (grams of water per grams of fiberglass), which is a function of the density of the fiberglass media.
  • the graph 200 of FIG. 2 shows this relationship by plotting a water holding capacity range from 6 to 200 for the density range of 5 kg/m 3 to 150 kg/m 3 .
  • the transport of chemical agents depends on the ratio of the surface area of the glass fibers where the agents are deposited to the outer surface area of the fiberglass media consuming space in the soil (e.g., nodule outer surface area), which is a function of the fiber diameter, the nodule diameter, and the media density. The higher the surface area ratio, the more chemical agents that could conceivably be contained within a fixed soil volume.
  • the graph 300 of FIG. 3 shows this relationship by plotting a surface area ratio range from 7 to 400 for the fiber diameter range of 1 pm to 20 pm and the range of the product of the nodule density and the nodule diameter from 0.5 kg/m 2 to 1.5 kg/m 2 .
  • the extend hydration mechanism is illustrated via the diagram 400 of FIG. 4.
  • the fiberglass media e.g., nodule, mat, coating
  • the fiberglass media then slowly releases the water (extended hydration) and chemistry (transport) to the soil by diffusion, initially and with repeated cycles of re-hydration.
  • the soil aeration mechanism is illustrated via the diagram 500 of FIG. 5.
  • the fiberglass media e.g., nodule, mat, coating
  • the fiberglass media is formed to have regions of hydrophobicity. These regions are formed during the manufacturing process by applying a non-wetting chemistry (e.g., silicone) to those glass fibers or resulting fiberglass media (e.g., nodules). Any fibers or nodules with the non-wetting chemistry would later become a source of soil aeration, whereas any nodules without the chemistry would later become a source of water holding.
  • the general inventive concepts encompass controlling the manufacturing process such that a certain percentage of the fibers/nodules are hydrophobic (aerators) and the balance are hydrophilic (hydrators).
  • the air entrainment capability of the fiberglass media is linked to the quantity and size of the nodules.
  • the volume of aeration would then be the number of hydrophobic nodules times average nodule volume.
  • the nutrient delivery and pH balancing mechanisms are illustrated via the diagram 600 of FIG. 6.
  • the fiberglass media e.g., fiberglass media 100, 120, 140
  • the fiberglass media when applied in the field, interacts with water through an ionic exchange process.
  • Glass network modifiers such as FeO, CaO, MgO, Na?0, and K2O; termination of -Si-O-Si- network
  • ion-exchanges with H+ to form silicic acid -Si-OHs, which is soluble in aqueous conditions and enables the dissolution of the glass fibers inside soil.
  • -OH groups at pH larger than 7 react with -Si-O-Si- to break the bond and form additional silicic acid. This process is controlled by surface reaction as well as diffusion process, and thus allowing the nutrients to be slowly released into the soil to avoid any harmful chemical burning of plants.
  • the release rate can be manipulated or engineered, for example, via the adjustment of the glass chemistry, the mixture of organic matter applied onto the glass fibers, or a combination of both, as well as other suitable techniques.
  • a typical life span of soda- lime-silicate glass fiber inside soil can be as long as a year. Therefore, the fiberglass media products disclosed herein can provide nutrition to plants on a year- or season-long basis.
  • the fiberglass media products disclosed herein can slowly improve the soil quality by shifting the pH of soil into a desirable range of 5.5 to 7.5 depending on the chemistry of the glass.
  • the rate of pH balance, as well as the associated improvement of soil quality, is subject to the chemistry of the glass fibers and the form of the fiberglass media product being used.
  • the form of the fiberglass media (e.g., nodule 102, mat 122, coating 142) being used will typically depend on the particular application. Some suitable applications include, but are not limited to, various agricultural applications, various landscaping applications, and various gardening applications.
  • a nodule form of the fiberglass media could be used in transplanting or during seed planting.
  • transplanting particularly in arid climates
  • hydration must be present during the time immediately following the transplant or the plant will die.
  • Hydrated nodules likely in the form of a slurry, would be deposited in the soil along with the transplanted root ball.
  • seed planting nodules would be deposited in the furrow at seed depth in the seed line such that the nodules and seeds are in proximity to one another.
  • the nodules could be pre-hydrated at the time of planting or could be naturally hydrated with rainfall.
  • a mat form of the fiberglass media could be used to grow seedlings, where the mat functions initially as the growing media at the seed stage (soil substitute) and later accompanies the seedling in the transplanting process.
  • the mat During the germination period, the mat is providing structure for root growth, hydration, and nutrition.
  • the mat During the transplanting, the mat is providing root support and hydration.
  • the mat After transplanting, the mat provides extended hydration from its water holding capacity and nutrition with pH balancing from its dissolution.
  • suitable seedlings include, but are not limited to, sugarcane, tomatoes, and trees (reforestation).
  • a potential problem with applying the fiberglass media in the form of a nodule is that its effectiveness is a strong function of its proximity to the seed. This problem can be remedied by applying the fiberglass media to the seed in the form of a coating in a factory by adapting conventional methods for seed coating (e.g., fluidized bed, rotary coater, rotating pan). The fiberglass-coated seed can then be planted in the soil to enjoy the growth benefits described herein without the concern of the seed and the fiberglass media being separated in the planting process.
  • seed coating e.g., fluidized bed, rotary coater, rotating pan

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Botany (AREA)
  • Plant Pathology (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Soil Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Glass Compositions (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne des systèmes et des procédés qui utilisent de la fibre de verre comme additif à base de sol pour améliorer la germination des semences et la croissance des plantes. La fibre de verre est utilisée pour fournir une hydratation prolongée grâce à sa capacité à retenir et à libérer lentement de l'eau, à distribuer des produits chimiques nécessaires pour les végétaux qui sont portés sur la surface de la fibre de verre (par exemple, pesticides, hormones), permettre une aération du sol, libérer des nutriments (Na, Ca, Mg, B, Fe, K) dans le sol, et effectuer un ajustement du pH par la dissolution du verre dans le sol.
PCT/US2021/040422 2020-07-07 2021-07-06 Système de distribution de fibres de verre pour favoriser la germination et la nutrition de semences dans des cultures agricoles ou la croissance de plantes WO2022010829A1 (fr)

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Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3607322A (en) * 1969-05-22 1971-09-21 Owens Corning Fiberglass Corp Light transmitting glass fibers, core and cladding glass compositions
US5037470A (en) * 1985-12-17 1991-08-06 Isover Saint-Gobain Nutritive glasses for agriculture
US5917110A (en) * 1996-10-18 1999-06-29 Tetra Technologies, Inc. Moisture-resistant calcium containing particles
US20020043019A1 (en) * 2000-08-25 2002-04-18 Todomu Nakashima Agri- and horticultural material
US20090258776A1 (en) * 2006-09-13 2009-10-15 Saint-Gobain Isover Compositions for mineral wool
US20090312171A1 (en) * 2005-07-05 2009-12-17 Toshikatu Tanaka Glass Fiber Composition, Glass Fiber, and Glass Fiber Containing Composition Material
WO2016186906A1 (fr) * 2015-05-19 2016-11-24 Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, Llc Plaque d'isolation de conduits et des enceintes
US20170094960A1 (en) * 2015-10-01 2017-04-06 Ipm Products Manufacturing, Llc Insect control device and method of using the same
US20170210677A1 (en) * 2011-06-06 2017-07-27 Cool Planet Energy Systems, Inc. Additive infused biochar
US20180230039A1 (en) * 2014-09-22 2018-08-16 Jushi Group Co., Ltd. Glass fiber composition, glass fiber and composite material therefrom

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3607322A (en) * 1969-05-22 1971-09-21 Owens Corning Fiberglass Corp Light transmitting glass fibers, core and cladding glass compositions
US5037470A (en) * 1985-12-17 1991-08-06 Isover Saint-Gobain Nutritive glasses for agriculture
US5917110A (en) * 1996-10-18 1999-06-29 Tetra Technologies, Inc. Moisture-resistant calcium containing particles
US20020043019A1 (en) * 2000-08-25 2002-04-18 Todomu Nakashima Agri- and horticultural material
US20090312171A1 (en) * 2005-07-05 2009-12-17 Toshikatu Tanaka Glass Fiber Composition, Glass Fiber, and Glass Fiber Containing Composition Material
US20090258776A1 (en) * 2006-09-13 2009-10-15 Saint-Gobain Isover Compositions for mineral wool
US20170210677A1 (en) * 2011-06-06 2017-07-27 Cool Planet Energy Systems, Inc. Additive infused biochar
US20180230039A1 (en) * 2014-09-22 2018-08-16 Jushi Group Co., Ltd. Glass fiber composition, glass fiber and composite material therefrom
WO2016186906A1 (fr) * 2015-05-19 2016-11-24 Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, Llc Plaque d'isolation de conduits et des enceintes
US20170094960A1 (en) * 2015-10-01 2017-04-06 Ipm Products Manufacturing, Llc Insect control device and method of using the same

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