Abstract: A biostimulating substance, useful in agriculture, horticulture and microbial processes, is composed of acetic acid and a fossil humic substance containing solid humins and humic acid. A method for improving the biostimulating properties and stability of dispersions of fossil humic substances containing peat or lignite includes the step of mixing a fossil humic substance with acetic acid in an amount sufficient that the resulting suspension contains at least about 5 to about 25% by weight organic solids. The modified humic substance can be used as a biostimulant for enhancing plant growth and health and for increasing digestion of organic solids by microorganisms in sewage plants and similar facilities.

Abstract: Peats, mucks, soils, anaerobic sludges, lignites and other humus materials containing humic substances are slurried in the natural wet state with additional water at low pH to free humic acid from salts it may have formed in the natural state and to disperse the humic acid as a fine suspension in the water. The resulting slurry is then screened to remove coarse material such as stones, fibers and cellulosic materials that may be present, and the liquid phase compromising a dispersion of humic acid is settled or otherwise treated to remove heavy inorganic fines if present. The dispersion is then filtered to yield a relatively pure and dry filter cake, comprising crude humic acid. This product may be converted to soluble humate salts by adding a solubilizing agent such as sodium hydroxide, separating residual insolubles and drying the concentrated solution.

Abstract: High analysis liquid fertilizers comprising the reaction product of urea and phosphoric acid having a pH between 1.5 and 4 and optionally containing the reaction product of urea and sulfuric acid, various trace elements including those normally found as contaminants in wet process phosphoric acid, potash and gelling agents, said fertilizers being further characterized as having total analysis of N, P.sub.2 O.sub.5 and K.sub.2 O of at least 25 weight percent and preferably 30 weight percent or greater.

Abstract: A flavoring or sweetening agent comprising potassium-magnesium-calcium glycyrrhizin of the formula K.sub.x Mg.sub.y Ca.sub.z G wherein G is glycyrrhizic acid and the sum of x,2y and 2z is 2 and a process for recovering this product from licorice root are disclosed.

Abstract: Glycyrrhizin-free fractions from licorice root are obtained by selective extraction and fractionation. The glycyrrhizin-free fractions are described, as in the manner for obtaining them and uses of the fractions as natural flavorants, flavor potentiators and adjuvants, as surface active agents, including wetting, foaming, emulsifying, dispersing and settling agents. Products containing the glycyrrhizin-free fractions are also described.