Abstract: Techniques and systems for neutralizing discharge waters from ballast and/or cooling water biocidal treatment and disinfection systems are provided.

Abstract: An electrodialysis device and method for selective removal of drinking water target ions were provided. It belongs to the technical field of drinking water safety. A method of electrodialysis with slightly brackish water is proposed. By means of ion electromigration control, the resistance is converted from the single membrane resistance to the diffusion boundary layer resistance; and the diffusion boundary layer is fully compressed by controlling the electrodialysis membrane, the electrodialysis membrane stack, and the electrodialysis process parameters. So that the relative electromigration rate of the target ions is improved. According to the method, the initial concentration effect, the competition effect, the synergistic effect, the concentration diffusion, the differential pressure permeation, and other influences of electrodialysis are integrated for selectively removing the target ions.

Abstract: Method of removing of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water are described. The methods involve sparging a gas into a container of water; and collecting an aerosol released in a volume above the water.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of resource utilization-oriented treatment technologies for wastewater, and more particularly, to a resource utilization-oriented treatment method for a spent electroless nickel plating bath. The method includes oxidation de-complexation, synchronous precipitation of nickel and phosphorus, secondary precipitation of nickel, and resource utilization of sodium salt. In the present disclosure, in a reaction process, no sludge is generated to avoid secondary pollution to the environment. Further, the present disclosure has the advantages of short flow and less chemical use, greatly reducing treatment costs. In this way, this method is a low-cost and clean resource utilization-oriented treatment method capable of achieving resource utilization-oriented recovery of nickel, phosphorus, sodium, sulfate radical, or chlorine in the spent electroless nickel plating bath.

Abstract: A water treatment system that can effectively remove persistent organic materials is provided. Water treatment system has: means for adding halogen oxoacid that adds halogen oxoacid to water to be treated that contains organic materials; and ion exchanger loaded apparatus that is positioned downstream of means for adding halogen oxoacid, wherein at least anion exchangers are loaded in ion exchanger loaded apparatus. The water to be treated to which the halogen oxoacid has been added is supplied to ion exchanger loaded apparatus.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method for treating a wastewater stream, comprising the steps of:—introducing O3 in the wastewater stream, thereby dissolving at least part of the O3 in the wastewater stream;—optionally irradiating the wastewater stream with ionizing radiation; and—optionally contacting the wastewater stream with a heterogeneous catalyst. In case the ozone treatment is combined with a heterogeneous catalyst, the wastewater treatment can be more effective than with ozone treatment alone, depending on the type of impurities in the wastewater stream. The type of heterogeneous catalyst can be chosen depending on the source of the wastewater and the specific pollutants associated with such wastewater sources. Advantageously, the ozone required for this process can be generated by electrolysis of water.

Abstract: In some implementations, a method may include introducing into a contaminated media a suspension of a bioremediation composition. In addition, the method may include where the bioremediation composition may include a first bioremediation composition having a first blend of one or more electrolyte solutions capable of ionic conduction and a second bioremediation composition having a second blend of one or more active materials and being capable of electric conduction.

Abstract: Systems for use in one or more sludge or waste collection devices (e.g., containers, vessels or basins). One such system is a sludge removal system for removing sludge from one or more sludge collection devices. The sludge removal system includes one or more sludge removal grids disposed in one or more sludge collection devices. Each sludge removal grid preferably includes at least one header and a plurality of sludge collection laterals. Another such system includes a fluid distribution system for distributing one or more fluids in one or more sludge or waste collection devices. A movement restricting or prevention member is provided in both the fluid distribution and sludge removal systems to prevent or restrict movement of the sludge collection laterals and the fluid distribution laterals away from or towards a floor of a corresponding collection device without anchoring or fixing the laterals to the floor.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention describe a tube diffuser design and associated saddle design that allow the two elements to be easily and quickly attached to each other in the field for the purpose of aerating wastewater. The tube diffuser is cylindrical and includes a gas distribution section spanning across an interior diameter of the tube diffuser. The saddle includes a pair of engagement arms that are able to couple to this gas distribution section of the tube diffuser. Once the tube diffuser is attached to the saddle and the assembly is submerged in wastewater, the saddle may be used to transport air from an air distribution pipe to the tube diffuser. The air may then be made to leave the tube diffuser as a plume of air bubbles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and to a device for continuous cleaning of process water circulating in a device for treating waste paper.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a water softener, a humidifier base, and a humidifier. The water softener includes: a housing internally provided with a resin cavity and sequentially provided with a water inlet and a water outlet along a flowing direction of a water flow; a snap provided on the housing; and a positioning column provided on the end of the housing corresponding to the water inlet and extending toward a direction away from the housing. By providing the snap and the positioning column, when the water softener needs to be assembled, it is merely required to mount the snap and the positioning column to the corresponding parts of one humidifier; in this case, a water flow will enter the water softener through the water inlet to implement a subsequent water softening operation.

Abstract: An integrated equipment and treatment method for synchronous ecological treatment of domestic sewage and sludge, the equipment includes a one-piece box-shaped main body divided into several tank compartments which includes an anaerobic tank, a sludge reduction and denitrification tank, an aerobic tank, a sedimentation tank, and a disinfection tank, an inlet pipe for sewage and sludge entrance and an outlet pipe for exit of effluent after treatment. The sludge reduction and denitrification tank is equipped with variable microporous aeration pipes, worm fillers and multi-functional water quality online detectors. The aerobic tank is equipped with aeration pipeline components and DO online detectors. The sewage and sludge are guided to passing through the different tank compartments in order for simultaneous sewage treatment and sludge reduction. The removal rate of total nitrogen is as high as 85%, and the simultaneous reduction effect of sludge can reach more than 60%.

Abstract: A water purifier comprising a pre-treatment filter connectable to an inlet flow path; an auxiliary filter including a filter cap and a filter body, connectable to a first connection flow path; a membrane filter including a filter cap and a filter body, so that water discharged from the auxiliary filter is introduced through a second connection flow path; a post-treatment filter including a filter cap and a filter body, so that water discharged from the membrane filter is introduced through a third connection flow path; a branch flow path that branches off from an upstream side of the first connection flow path and merges on a downstream side of the first connection flow path; an electrolysis module arrangeable along the branch flow path; and an opening/closing valve arrangeable along the first connection flow path so that water flows to the first connection flow path or the branch flow path.

Abstract: A method of minimizing the formation of a rhodium-platinum defect in a glass or glass ceramic material or in the melt thereof is provided. The method includes providing a vessel made of a platinum-rhodium alloy for use in a manufacturing process for obtaining the material, and an interface between the vessel and the melt is present. The method can include providing sufficient partial pressures of hydrogen outside and inside the vessel for controlling the partial pressure of oxygen in a region of the melt adjacent to the interface. A method of minimizing the formation of, or counteracting the impact of, a localized thermal, electrical, or composition cell in the melt during a manufacturing process is also provided. The method can include adding a multivalent compound to the melt, adding a mixer to the finer tube, adding a mixing step to the manufacturing process, or amplifying the mixing.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a thermal insulation apparatus and a crucible production device. The thermal insulation apparatus is configured for supporting a mold, and includes: a housing, a first flange, a second flange and a plurality of reinforcing members, and the housing, the first flange and the second flange are coaxially arranged. An inner wall of the housing is enclosed to form an accommodating cavity, and the accommodating cavity is configured for accommodating the mold; a water-cooling cavity is enclosed between the inner wall and an outer wall of the housing; the first flange is connected to a top portion of the housing, so as to fix an upper edge of the mold to the top portion of the housing; the second flange is connected to a bottom portion of the housing; and the plurality of reinforcing members are arranged between the bottom portion of housing and second flange.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical fiber preform made of silica-based glass, the method including: forming a core portion; and forming a cladding portion surrounding the core portion, the cladding portion having a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the core portion, wherein the forming the core portion includes: adding an alkali element group consisting of an alkali metal element and an alkaline earth metal element to an inner surface of a glass pipe made of silica-based glass; and integrating the glass pipe and a glass rod disposed inside the glass pipe to form an integrated rod after the adding.

Abstract: Manufacturing glass ceramic materials comprises ceramming a glass to grow a crystalline tungsten bronze phase comprising nanoparticles having a formula MxWO3, where M includes a dopant cation, and where 0<x<1.

Abstract: The near-infrared absorbing glass, which contains at least four kinds of main cations selected from the group consisting of P ions, Li ions, Cu ions, Al ions, Ba ions, Sr ions, Ca ions, Mg ions, Zn ions, K ions, Na ions, La ions, Gd ions, and Y ions, contains P ions, Li ions, and Cu ions as essential cations, and contains at least O ions as anions, wherein a ratio (O ion/P ion) of a content of O ions relative to a content of P ions is 3.15 or less; in a glass composition indicated by anion %, a content of O ions is 90.0 anion % or more; and in an oxide-based glass composition on a molar basis, a total content of oxides of the main cations is 90.0% or more, and a total content (MgO+Al2O3) of MgO and Al2O3 is 8.0% or less.

Abstract: An enamel composition for a cooking appliance is prepared by a preparation method. The enamel composition includes glass frits, a siloxane-based compound, a silane-based compound, and mill addition. The mill addition includes one or more materials selected from a group comprised of SiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, and TiO2, thereby suppressing defects such as chipping even when the enamel composition is used at high temperature, for pyrolysis of contaminants.

Abstract: Provided are black crystallized glass that is safe and easy to produce, and reinforced crystallized glass of the black crystallized glass. Crystallized glass and reinforced crystallized glass containing, by wt % in terms of oxide, 40.0% to 70.0% of a SiO2 component, 11.0% to 25.0% of an Al2O3 component, 5.0% to 19.0% of a Na2O component, 0% to 9.0% of a K2O component, 1.0% to 18.0% of one or more components selected from a MgO component and a ZnO component, 0% to 3.0% of a CaO component, 1.0% to 3.5% of a TiO2 component, and 1.0% to 6.5% of a Fe2O3 component, and not containing a CoO component and a Co3O4 component.

Abstract: To provide a glass article suitable for a top plate for a cooker, in which a color tone of a colored layer is not impaired. A glass article is characterized by including a Li2O—Al2O3—SiO2-based crystallized glass sheet having lightness L* of 70 or greater, chromaticity a* of within ±5, and chromaticity b* of within ±5 at a thickness of 3 mm, and a colored layer formed on a back surface of the glass sheet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chemically strengthened glass having a thickness of t (unit: µm) and a relative permittivity of 7.0 or less at 20° C. and a frequency of 10 GHz, in which a value of Z determined by the following formula is 0.65 or more, where S1 is an entropy function calculated from an amount of alkali ions in a center portion of the glass, S2 is an entropy function calculated from an average amount of alkali ions from a glass surface to a depth of 0.05t, and X (unit: MPa) is an average value of a compressive stress in a region from the glass surface to the depth of 0.05t: Z = (S2 - S1) × 10 + X/1000.

Abstract: An antimicrobial coating solution developed to be used on glass surfaces is provided. In an alcohol and/or water environment, the antimicrobial coating solution includes at least one copper salt in a hydrate form and at least one tin source. A process of applying the antimicrobial coating solution to a complex shaped glass surface is further provided. The antimicrobial coating solution is configured to be applied to the complex shaped glass surface when a temperature of the complex shaped glass surface is 400° C. and higher. The complex shaped glass surface is a flat glass or a glassware.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a coating-attached glass article having improved easy-to-clean properties. The provided coating-attached glass article includes a glass substrate and an easy-to-clean coating on the glass substrate. The coating includes cerium oxide, and a contact angle of water on a surface of the coating is 60° or more and 130° or less. The coating improves, for example, the ease of removal of dirt resulting from a water drop adhered to the surface. The glass substrate may be formed of a reinforced glass.

Abstract: A coating provides a high solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) and a low overall heat transfer coefficient (U-value) to trap and retain solar heat. The coating and coated article are particularly useful for use in architectural transparencies in northern climates. The coating includes a first dielectric layer; a continuous metallic layer formed over at least a portion of the first dielectric layer, the metallic layer having a thickness less than 8 nm; a primer layer formed over at least a portion of the metallic layer; a second dielectric layer formed over at least a portion of the primer layer; and an overcoat formed over at least a portion of the second dielectric layer. When used on a No. 3 surface of a reference IGU, the coating provides a SHGC of greater than or equal to 0.6 and a U-value of less than or equal to 0.35.

Abstract: Vitreous material treatment uses a piece of vitreous material having two opposite faces and a laser emission beam source. The vitreous material is heated, and a laser beam radiated on one of the faces of the vitreous material to scan following a line surpassing the opposite edges of the face of the vitreous material while the vitreous material oscillates along a path. The scan is performed while the vitreous material is heated. The vitreous material is cooled. The laser beam scan follows a line surpassing the opposite edges of the face. The scan performed oscillating between a first point and a second point.

Abstract: A new integrated method to capture polluted CO2 using CaO produced from phosphogypsum calcination using sulfur as non-CO2 fuel where (1) both pollutants of phosphogypsum and CO2 are transformed into environmentally neutral or useful products such as limestone or clinker and sulfuric acid; (2) low-CO2 CaO produced from calcination of phosphogypsum with sulfur as fuel can be used to produce low-CO2 clinker that replaces the use of high-CO2 limestone as raw material; (3) the use of sulfur as fuel to calcine phosphogypsum allows the production of low-cost sulfuric acid.

Abstract: Cementitious compositions and methods for the preparation of corresponding cementitious compositions, appropriate oxidatively degraded polysaccharides and methods for producing the same, as well as the use of oxidatively degraded polysaccharides as water reducing agents in cementitious compositions, wherein the compositions include an oxidatively degraded polysaccharide as a water reducing agent to provide similar water reducing properties to cementitious composition formulated with lignosulfonates. The oxidatively degraded polysaccharides have the advantage over lignosulfonates of a lower price and a more consistent quality and are expected to be compatible with polycarboxylatether cement additives.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to char bricks and methods of making char bricks. A composition (e.g., a char brick) includes about 0% to about 10% sand, about 30% to about 70% pyrolysis char (PC), and about 30% to about 60% cement. The PC has a particle size distribution from about 50 ?m to about 500 ?m. A method of making the composition includes mixing dry ingredients into a dry mixture, mixing the dry mixture with water to create a wet mixture; molding the wet mixture into a composition; and curing the composition. The dry ingredients include sand, pyrolysis char (PC), and cement. The PC has a particle size distribution from about 50 ?m to about 500 ?m.

Abstract: Methods for the treatment of non-hardened cement compositions, especially returned concrete, and admixtures suitable to be used in such methods. The admixtures include modified starch and a sugar. Also, solid granules obtained by the methods and fresh concrete or mortar utilizing solid granules thus obtained.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to formulations for cementitious materials and/or mortar prepared with minimal components. The present disclosure relates to formulations for cementitious materials and/or mortar that are low carbon dioxide (CO2) emitting formulations having tailorable rheology, controllable set times, and that can be prepared with pozzolanic materials. The present disclosure relates to formulations solidified with a silicate solution to form a hardened material.

Abstract: In a hydraulic composition for additive manufacturing which includes (A) at least one water-soluble hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose selected from hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, (B) a defoamer, (C) cement, (D) water, (E) polyvinyl alcohol and (F) borax, the water-soluble hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose has an alkoxy group degree of substitution of from 1.6 to 2.0 and a 2 wt % aqueous-solution viscosity at 20° C. of from 50 to 1,000 mPa·s, the polyvinyl alcohol has a degree of saponification of from 70 to 90 mol % and a 4 wt % aqueous-solution viscosity at 20° C. of from 20 to 80 mPa·s, and the water is added in an amount of from 25 to 70 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the cement. The composition has a good extrudability from a nozzle and a good self-supportability following deposition.

Abstract: In a hydraulic composition for additive manufacturing which includes (A) at least one water-soluble hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose selected from hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, (B) a defoamer, (C) cement, (D) water and (E) diutan gum, the water-soluble hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose has an alkoxy group degree of substitution of from 1.6 to 2.0 and a 2 wt % aqueous-solution viscosity at 20° C. of from 50 to 1,000 mPa·s and the water is added in an amount of from 25 to 70 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the cement. The composition has a good extrudability from a nozzle and a good self-supportability following deposition.

Abstract: A low melting-point porous ceramic material, a sintering temperature of the low melting-point porous ceramic material is 680-830° C., a porosity of the low melting-point porous ceramic material is 24-42%, raw materials of the low melting-point porous ceramic material comprise a binder (i.e., a temporary binder) and powder of raw materials.

Abstract: This invention relates to a ceramic composite that may be used for various purposes including for assembly into a therapeutic device for treating a human or animal body with irradiation of nonthermal far infrared (FIR) radiation. More specifically, while all FIR-related prior art is only radiating broadband blackbody thermal radiation, said ceramic composite can emit not only the usual blackbody thermal radiation but also the inventive nonthermal FIR-photon radiation in the 3 - 16 µm wavelength spectrum. As a result, the overall measurable radiation in 8 - 14 µm wavelength range from said ceramic composite has an approximated blackbody temperature that is at least 1° C. higher than the actual temperature of said ceramic composite, signifying an effective emissivity greater than 1.0, while 1.0 emissivity is a theoretical limit assigned to an ideal black body and thus unsurpassable.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of forming a chamber component for a process chamber. The methods may include filling a mold with nanoparticles or plasma spraying nanoparticles, where at least a portion of the nanoparticles include a core particle and a thin film coating over the core particle. The core particle and thin film are formed of, independently, a rare earth metal-containing oxide, a rare earth metal-containing fluoride, a rare earth metal-containing oxyfluoride, or combinations thereof. The nanoparticles may have a donut-shape having a spherical form with indentations on opposite sides. The methods also may include sintering the nanoparticles to form the chamber component and materials. Further described are chamber components and coatings formed from the described nanoparticles.

Abstract: A composite material, compositions, processes and methods of using coal and coal by-products composite ceramics is provided for use as a safe, non-toxic material for construction, building and architecture components. The composite material disclosed herein is formed from resin/coal aggregates that contain and prevent the release of harmful impurities that naturally occur in both coal and coal by-products while the advantages of coal-based composites are made available to the building industry. The strength, density and porosity of the composites can be tailored within a wide range to fit the final application by controlling the materials, form factor and processing parameters during fabrication.

Abstract: A silicon carbide ceramic honeycomb structure having large numbers of axially penetrating flow paths partitioned by porous silicon carbide cell walls, the cell walls comprising silicon carbide particles as aggregate and binder layers for binding the silicon carbide particles, the binder layers having at least a cordierite phase and a spinel phase, and the molar ratio M1 of the cordierite phase [=cordierite phase/(cordierite phase+spinel phase)] being 0.4-0.9.

Abstract: A process for preparing a sintered silicon carbide body including sintering a sample including silicon carbide particles to form a shaped sintered silicon carbide body, the particles containing a silicon carbide core and a surface layer containing carbon and oxygen, the sample having at least 90 weight % being C or Si and having a carbon to silicon molar ratio molC/molSi higher than 1 and a carbon in excess to oxygen molar ratio Cex/molO which is higher than 0.5 and lower than 5.3.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced composite component may include interleaved fiber layers and ceramic particle layers coated with matrix material. The fiber reinforced composite component may be fabricated by forming a fibrous preform, needling the fibrous preform to form a plurality of z-direction fibers, and densifying the fibrous preform. The fibrous preform may be fabricated by forming a first ceramic particle layer over a first fiber layer, disposing a second fiber layer over the first ceramic particle layer, forming a second ceramic particle layer over the second fiber layer, and disposing a third fiber layer over the second ceramic particle layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a super-insulating material for a vacuum insulated structure for an appliance includes disposing hollow glass spheres within a rotating drum, wherein a plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between the hollow glass spheres. An anchor material is disposed within the rotating drum. The hollow glass spheres and the anchor material are rotated within the rotating drum, wherein the anchor material is mixed with the hollow glass spheres to partially occupy the interstitial spaces. A silica-based material is disposed within the rotating drum. The silica-based material is mixed with the anchor material and the hollow glass spheres to define a super-insulating material, wherein the silica-based material attaches to the anchor material and is entrapped within the interstitial spaces. The silica-based material and the anchor material occupy substantially all of an interstitial volume defined by the interstitial spaces.

Abstract: The method for shaping a carrier sheet of high hardness, in particular a gres sheet, comprises the steps of providing a solid carrier sheet of high hardness having a thickness of at least 6 mm; covering a front surface of the carrier sheet with a removable vibration-absorbing protective layer; providing the surface of the protective layer remote from the carrier sheet with a glass sheet; on the back surface of the carrier sheet opposite the front surface thereof, forming a plurality of cavities according to a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed are a sagger for sintering lithium composite transition metal oxide and a preparation method thereof. The sagger includes a substrate layer and a shallow layer on a surface of the substrate layer, and a coating layer. The substrate layer is prepared from the following raw materials: silicon carbide, magnesia-alumina spinel, aluminum oxide-magnesium oxide-yttrium oxide composite fiber, zircon powder and a binding agent; the shallow layer is prepared from the following raw materials: silicon carbide, magnesia-alumina spinel, aluminum oxide-titanium oxide composite fiber, yttrium oxide-zirconium oxide composite fiber and a binding agent; and the coating layer is prepared from the following raw materials: silicon carbide, magnesia-alumina spinel, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide fiber, lithium composite transition metal oxide powder and a binding agent. The sagger of the present disclosure has properties of good corrosion resistance and a small coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: A new integrated method based on upgrading low-grade calcareous phosphate ore with low CO2 emissions and low phosphogypsum waste production is disclosed. The method is an alternative integrated method that increases P2O5 recovery, reduces costs, minimizes the environmental impact of product phosphogypsum and CO2, and overcomes limitations due to different impurities that have negatively affected the yield of traditional processes to a wide range of natural phosphate sources.

Abstract: The present application relates to an iron impregnated biochar and its use as a fertilizer. The iron impregnated biochar of the present application has a ratio of iron (III) to iron (II) ranging from 5:1 to 10:1. The biochar may be produced by a method including treating the biomass with an iron (II) ion solution, pyrolyzing the iron (II)-treated biomass in an oxidative environment and recovering the biochar product from the pyrolyzed iron (II)-treated biomass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an organic agricultural composition comprising at least one micronutrient in its elemental form or salts or complexes or derivatives thereof and at least one hydrocolloid, wherein the composition is in the granular or wettable powder or suspension form, and wherein the hydrocolloid has viscosity of ?400 cps at ?30% (w/w) aqueous dispersion of the hydrocolloid. The composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 to 20 microns. The invention also relates to a process of preparing an organic agricultural composition comprising at least one micronutrient in its elemental form or salts or complexes or derivatives thereof and at least one hydrocolloid; wherein the composition is in the form of water dispersible granules or spheronised granules or wettable powder or suspension, and wherein the hydrocolloid has viscosity of ?400 cps at ?30% (w/w) aqueous dispersion of the hydrocolloid.

Abstract: These is provided a process and a system for treating a livestock waste and produce fertilizers. The process can include subjecting a livestock waste to a preparation treatment to produce a stabilized livestock waste, the preparation treatment including aerating the livestock waste with an oxygen-containing gas. The process can further include subjecting the stabilized livestock waste to a bioreaction treatment to produce an aerated livestock product. The bioreaction treatment can include aerating the stabilized livestock waste with an oxygen-containing gas that can be supplied by a distribution system to enable aerobic reactions to occur within the stabilized livestock waste. The aerated livestock product can include a solid component and a liquid component, and can be further separated in a solid-liquid separation treatment to produce respective fertilizers, or be used as is as a fertilizer.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and compositions that utilize microorganisms integrated with plants for improvement of carbon dioxide conversion and sequestration in soil.

Abstract: Methods for stimulating plant growth and/or promoting plant health using free enzymes or recombinant microorganisms that overexpress enzymes are provided. Plant seeds coated with free enzymes or recombinant microorganisms that overexpress enzymes are also provided. Compositions comprising a fertilizer and an enzyme or a recombinant microorganism that overexpresses an enzyme are provided. Modified enzymes having ACC deaminase activity, recombinant microorganisms expressing the modified enzymes, plant seeds treated with the modified enzymes or recombinant microorganisms, and methods for stimulating plant growth and/or promoting plant health using the modified enzymes or recombinant microorganisms are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a conditioning agent for reducing water absorption and dust formation of a particulate fertilizer, comprising 50 to 60 weight % of wax, 30 to 40 weight % of oil, 1 to 15 weight % of a resin being oil-soluble and miscible with wax and oil, and optionally 0.01 to 2.0 weight % of a viscoelastic elastomer which is soluble in oil. The conditioning agent may be applied to a particulate substrate, in particular a fertilizer particulate substrate, to reduce the moisture uptake and the dust formation of the substrate, in particular wherein the substrate is blended with other particulate compositions.