Abstract: The invention relates to methods and systems for coating substrates. In particular, the invention relates to methods and systems in which the coating and curing steps are performed in separate vessels. These methods and systems provide a more effectively controlled and efficient coating process.

Abstract: A controlled release fertilizer including a fertilizer granule, having an outer surface, a coating of biopolymer composition on the outer surface of the fertilizer granule, wherein the biopolymer composition includes at least one biopolymer, and a process of making the controlled release fertilizer including the steps of screening fertilizer granules to a preselected granule size, heating a biopolymer to become substantially fluid, and applying the biopolymer onto the surface of the fertilizer granule to produce a coating on the granule of a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A controlled release fertilizer including a fertilizer granule, having an outer surface, a coating of biopolymer composition on the outer surface of the fertilizer granule, wherein the biopolymer composition includes at least one biopolymer, and a process of making the controlled release fertilizer including the steps of screening fertilizer granules to a preselected granule size, heating a biopolymer to become substantially fluid, and applying the biopolymer onto the surface of the fertilizer granule to produce a coating on the granule of a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A urea fertilizer having reduced ammonia volatilization upon application to soil including a central particle having an outer surface and comprising ammonia volatilization inhibiting compounds containing one or more of boron and iodine, and a coating of urea on the outer surface of the central particle, and further a process of making the fertilizer including the steps of: granulating ammonia volatilization inhibiting compounds containing one or more of boron and iodine, with a binder to produce volatilization inhibitor particles; screening the inhibitor particles to a preselected particle size; spraying melted urea onto the surface of the inhibitor particles to produce a coating on the inhibitor particles; granulating the coated inhibitor particles with sprayed melted urea to produce granules of urea coated central volatilization particles; and cooling the granules.

Abstract: A fertilizer supplying animal nutrients including a core particle having an outer surface and comprising compounds containing animal nutrients, and a coating of urea on the outer surface of the core particle, and further a process of making the fertilizer including the steps of: screening animal nutrient core particles comprising a powdered substance containing an animal nutrient, to a preselected particle size; spraying melted urea onto the surface of the nutrient core particles to produce a coating on the nutrient core particles; granulating the nutrient core particles with sprayed melted urea to produce nutrient core granules; and cooling the nutrient core granules.

Abstract: A controlled release agricultural absorbent based product including particles of an absorbent material containing capillaries/voids between 10-200 microns in cross-sectional diameter which is impregnated in an amount of 40-95% of the capillaries/voids volume with an agriculturally beneficial material, at least including ureaform, and said beneficial material being selected from the group consisting of fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, being produced by a process including steps of 1) introducing water to particles of absorbent material to result in absorption of water within the absorbent material, 2) heating the absorbent particles and water to transform the water within the absorbent particles to steam, 3) introducing the absorbent particles to an agriculturally beneficial material, at least including ureaform, to saturate the beneficial material, 4) granulating the beneficial material and saturated absorbent particles to solidify and harden the mixture, resulting in the agglomeration of

Abstract: An extended release fertilizer that includes an absorbent material containing capillaries/voids between 10-200 microns in cross-sectional diameter which is impregnated in an amount of 40-95% of the capillaries/voids volume with an agriculturally beneficial material, or alternatively includes a holding agent retaining an agriculturally beneficial material, wherein the beneficial material at least includes calcium sulfate, and the beneficial material is selected from the group consisting of fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, with the resulting material being agglomerated into granules.

Abstract: A controlled release agricultural absorbent based product including particles of an absorbent material containing capillaries/voids between 10-200 microns in cross-sectional diameter which is impregnated in an amount of 40-95% of the capillaries/voids volume with an agriculturally beneficial material selected from the group consisting of fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, being produced by a process including steps of 1) introducing water to particles of absorbent material to result in absorption of water within the absorbent material, 2) heating the absorbent particles and water to transform the water within the absorbent particles to steam, 3) introducing the heated absorbent particles to an agriculturally beneficial material in aqueous solution to essentially saturate the absorbent particles with the agriculturally beneficial material, 4) granulating the combination of agriculturally beneficial material and saturated absorbent particles to solidify and harden the mixture, resulting in th

Abstract: A controlled release agricultural absorbent based product including particles of an absorbent material containing capillaries/voids between 10-200 microns in cross-sectional diameter which is impregnated in an amount of 40-95% of the capillaries/voids volume with an agriculturally beneficial material selected from the group consisting of fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, being produced by a process including steps of 1) introducing water to particles of absorbent material to result in absorption of water within the absorbent material, 2) heating the absorbent particles and water to transform the water within the absorbent particles to steam, 3) introducing the heated absorbent particles to an agriculturally beneficial material in aqueous solution to essentially saturate the absorbent particles with the agriculturally beneficial material, 4) granulating the combination of agriculturally beneficial material and saturated absorbent particles to solidify and harden the mixture, resulting in th

Abstract: Uniform, free-flowing, non-friable P.sub.2 S.sub.5 granules having a predetermined reactivity can be produced by accretion by spraying molten P.sub.2 S.sub.5 Sonto cascading, smaller solid particles of P.sub.2 S.sub.5. The process can be used to produce any reactivity grade of P.sub.2 S.sub.5 by adjusting processing conditions. The process can also be used to produce P.sub.2 S.sub.5 in a form suitable for bulk shipping.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in prilling whereby water is atomized into a prill tower to affect faster solidification of the prill, and in particular, the outside surface of the prill by providing an increased rate of surface cooling while reducing the required air flows in the tower. This results in a major reduction in air pollution potential in the form of both fume and particulate while at the same time allowing substantial production rate increases. Specifically, the invention relates to quick freezing the outside surface of the prill by flash evaporation of finely atomized water particles on the surface of the prill or in extremely close proximity to the prill to greatly lower the vapor pressure at the prill's surface and by continued flash evaporation to enhance cooling so as to allow upward flowing air to be reduced to a point where micro-prills which are formed in prilling can settle in the prill tower while obtaining the same or increased production rates.

Abstract: Uniform, free-flowing, non-friable P.sub.2 S.sub.5 granules having a predetermined reactivity can be produced by accretion by spraying molten P.sub.2 S.sub.5 onto cascading, smaller solid particles of P.sub.2 S.sub.5. The process can be used to produce any reactivity grade of P.sub.2 S.sub.5 by adjusting processing conditions. The process can also be used to produce P.sub.2 S.sub.5 in a form suitable for bulk shipping.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously producing polymer coated particles, and in particular, a polymer coated fertilizer, wherein the coating material used is, for example, an aqueous film forming latex. The coating process is conducted with a plurality of fluidized beds, connected in series, under conditions such that, preferably, the relative humidity of the air in the initial coating zones is maintained below the critical relative humidity of the particle to be coated. The apparatus and process provides a method to prepare coated particles having a narrow coating weight distribution, and thus allows for the economical production of a slow release fertilizer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously producing polymer coated particles, and in particular, a polymer coated fertilizer, wherein the coating material used is, for example, an aqueous film forming latex. The coating process is conducted with a plurality of fluidized beds, connected in series, under conditions such that, preferably, the relative humidity of the air in the initial coating zones is maintained below the critical relative humidity of the particle to be coated. The apparatus and process provides a method to prepare coated particles having a narrow coating weight distribution, and thus allows for the economical production of a slow release fertilizer.

Abstract: A granulated potassium sulfate product suitable for coating or other rigorous handling and a process for producing the product. The granulated potassium sulfate product comprises a hardening agent, e.g., ammonium phosphate, and a coating agent, e.g., aluminum sulfate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously producing polymer coated particles, and in particular, a polymer coated fertilizer, wherein the coating material used is, for example, an aqueous film forming latex. The coating process is conducted with a plurality of fluidized beds, connected in series, under conditions such that, preferably, the relative humidity of the air in the initial coating zones is maintained below the critical relative humidity of the particle to be coated.

Abstract: A spray header and nozzle assembly which includes a first elongated tubular member and a second elongated tubular member of a smaller diameter than the first tubular member coaxially disposed within the first tubular member to form an annular space between the first and second tubular members and a plurality of spray nozzle assemblies in fluid communication with the inside of the second tubular member. The spray nozzle assemblies are perpendicularly disposed to the axis of both tubular members and recessed into the annular space. Also, the nozzle assemblies include a first tube extending a predetermined distance beyond the circumference of the first tubular member and a second tube of a smaller diameter than the first tube coaxially disposed within the first tube and recessed into the first tube.

Abstract: A prilling apparatus and process for producing seed material for size enlargement processes such as a granulation process for bisphenol. The apparatus includes a fluidized bed system with a spray header therein for producing spray droplets of material in a gaseous stream such as nitrogen to form prills of less than about 1 mm diameter.

Abstract: Sulfur coated plant fertilizer granules, each such granule including a core granule of fertilizer having a crystalline component, a bonding layer having a mixture of the fertilizer granule crystalline component and crystalline sulfur, coating the granule, the bonding layer crystalline fertilizer component being integral with the fertilizer granule crystalline component at the bonding layer-granule interface, and an outer layer of sulfur having crystallized sulfur, the outer layer sulfur being integral with the bonding layer sulfur at the bonding layer-outer layer interface, the crystalline fertilizer component of the bonding layer and the sulfur of the bonding layer being interwoven, enabling the sulfur outer layer to be tightly bound to the fertilizer granule.

Abstract: A process of removing dust collected on the internal surfaces of a shell and tube type heat exchanger after passing a dust containing gas stream through the shell-side of a heat exchanger, by passing a heating fluid through the tube-side of the heat exchanger at a temperature sufficient to melt the dust particles, and collecting the melt at the bottom most portion of the heat exchanger in a melt collection device such as a pan or container.