Compressed coconut coir pith granules and methods for the production and use thereof

Abstract

Compressed coconut coir pith granules having unique physical and horticultural characteristics are provided along with methods for producing such compressed products by subjecting coconut coir pith to compaction utilizing a roll compactor and subsequently granulating the compacted material.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A compressed coconut coir pith granule produced by a method comprising:
 a) subjecting a coconut coir pith substrate material to roll compaction; and   b) granulating the roll compacted coconut coir pith material to form the compressed coconut coir pith granule.   
     
     
         2 . The compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 1  wherein the coconut coir pith substrate material comprises a mixture of coir pith and coir fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 1  wherein the coconut coir pith substrate material comprises a mixture of coconut coir pith and up to about 50% (by weight) of a horticulturally acceptable organic or non-organic media. 
     
     
         4 . The compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 3  wherein the horticulturally acceptable organic media is sphagnum peat, humus peat, sedge peat, bark fines, rice hulls or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 1  wherein the granules are randomly shaped and angular in surface appearance. 
     
     
         6 . The compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 1  wherein the granule is sized greater than about 32 mesh (US sieve size) and passes through about a 1½ inch screen. 
     
     
         7 . The compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 1  wherein the moisture content of loose coir pith in the coconut coir pith substrate material is less than about 25% by weight. 
     
     
         8 . The compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 1  wherein the granule has enhanced physical integrity and abrasion resistance. 
     
     
         9 . The compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 1  wherein the granules are completely expanded within about 15 seconds after exposure to moisture. 
     
     
         10 . The compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 9  wherein the granules have an apparent expansion ratio of between about 2:1 and about 5:1 when exposed to moisture. 
     
     
         11 . The compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 1  wherein expanded coir particles formed from the compressed coconut coir pith granule have a water holding capacity of 6 times their weight. 
     
     
         12 . The compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 1  wherein the compressed granules are free flowing and have a bulk density in a range of from about 200 kg/m 3  to about 600 kg/m 3 . 
     
     
         13 . The compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 1  wherein the coconut coir pith substrate is subjected to compaction in a roll compactor at a pressure in the range of about 1500 to about 2500 psi. 
     
     
         14 . An expandable potting mix comprising the compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A garden soil amendment comprising the compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A flower and/or vegetable furrow covering comprising the compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A seeding or vegetative plant propagule mulch, amendment or planting media comprising the compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . A method for preparing compressed coconut coir pith granules comprising:
 a) subjecting a coconut coir pith substrate material to roll compaction; and   b) granulating the roll compacted coconut coir pith material to form the compressed coconut coir pith granule.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the coconut coir pith substrate material comprises a mixture of coir pith and coir fiber. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the coconut coir pith substrate material comprises a mixture of coconut coir pith and up to about 50% (by weight) of a horticulturally acceptable organic or non-organic media. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the horticulturally acceptable organic media is sphagnum peat, humus peat, sedge peat, bark fines, rice hulls, biofuel waste, agricultural, horticultural materials, silvicultural materials, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the granules are randomly shaped and angular in surface appearance. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the granule is sized greater than about 32 mesh (US sieve size) and passes through about a 1½ inch screen. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the moisture content of loose coir pith in the coconut coir pith substrate material is less than about 25% by weight. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the compressed coconut coir pith granules have enhanced physical integrity and abrasion resistance. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the granules produced thereby are completely expanded within about 15 seconds after exposure to moisture. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the granules have an apparent expansion ratio of between about 2:1 and about 5:1 when exposed to moisture. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18  wherein expanded coir particles formed from the compressed coconut coir pith granule have a water holding capacity of 6 times their weight. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the compressed granules are free flowing and have a bulk density in a range of from about 200 kg/m 3  to about 600 kg/m 3 . 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the coconut coir pith substrate is subjected to compaction in a roll compactor at a pressure in the range of about 1500 to about 2500 psi. 
     
     
         31 . A compressed coconut coir pith granule which is free flowing and has a bulk density ranging from about 200 kg/m3 to about 600 kg/m3. 
     
     
         32 . The compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 31  wherein the granules are completely expanded within about 15 seconds after exposure to moisture. 
     
     
         33 . The compressed coconut coir pith granule of  claim 31  wherein the coconut coir pith granule is formed by roll compaction at a pressure in the range of about 1500 to about 2500 psi.