Agricultural binder system, agricultural blend, and process of forming an agricultural blend

Abstract

The present disclosure describes an agricultural blend and a process of forming an agricultural blend. The agricultural blend includes a slag by-product from a process having a slag other than stainless steel slag or includes 11 atomic % silicon from a soluble compound and total silicon of less than about 30 atomic % silicon or greater than about 39 atomic % silicon. The process includes producing a slag by-product and blending the slag by-product with a liquid binder system to form the agricultural blend, the slag not being stainless steel slag.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An agricultural blend, comprising:
 a slag by-product, the slag by-product including a soluble compound having silicon; and   a binder system;   wherein the slag by-product in the agricultural blend is from a process having a slag other than stainless steel slag.   
     
     
         2 . The agricultural blend of  claim 1 , wherein the slag other than stainless steel slag is selected from the group consisting of carbon steel slag, aluminum slag, phosphate slag, copper slag, zinc slag, non-ferrous slag, argon oxygen decarburization slag, alloy steel slag, blast furnace slag, blast oxygen furnace slag, coal slag, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The agricultural blend of  claim 1 , wherein the agricultural blend is agglomerated. 
     
     
         4 . The agricultural blend of  claim 1 , wherein the agricultural blend is pelletized. 
     
     
         5 . The agricultural blend of  claim 1 , further comprising a sulfate source. 
     
     
         6 . The agricultural blend of  claim 1 , further comprising a micronutrient packet. 
     
     
         7 . The agricultural blend of  claim 1 , wherein the soluble compound includes monosilic acid. 
     
     
         8 . The agricultural blend of  claim 1 , wherein the soluble compound includes polysilic acid. 
     
     
         9 . The agricultural blend of  claim 1 , wherein the soluble compound includes an organosilicon. 
     
     
         10 . The agricultural blend of  claim 1 , wherein the soluble compound includes calcium silicate. 
     
     
         11 . The agricultural blend of  claim 1 , wherein the soluble compound includes calcium inosilicate. 
     
     
         12 . An agricultural blend, comprising:
 a soluble compound;   an insoluble compound; and   a binder system;   wherein the agricultural blend includes greater than 10 atomic % silicon from the soluble compound; and   wherein the agricultural blend includes total silicon of less than about 30 atomic % silicon or greater than about 39 atomic % silicon.   
     
     
         13 . The agricultural blend of  claim 12 , wherein the soluble compound and the insoluble compound are a by-product from a non-metal slag. 
     
     
         14 . The agricultural blend of  claim 12 , wherein the soluble compound and the insoluble compound are a by-product from a metal slag. 
     
     
         15 . The agricultural blend of  claim 12 , further comprising a sulfate source. 
     
     
         16 . The agricultural blend of  claim 12 , wherein the soluble compound includes monosilic acid. 
     
     
         17 . The agricultural blend of  claim 12 , wherein the soluble compound includes polysilic acid. 
     
     
         18 . The agricultural blend of  claim 12 , wherein the soluble compound includes calcium silicate. 
     
     
         19 . The agricultural blend of  claim 12 , wherein the soluble compound includes calcium inosilicate. 
     
     
         20 . A process of forming an agricultural blend, the process comprising:
 producing a slag;   producing a slag by-product from the slag, the slag by-product including a soluble compound having silicon; and   blending the slag by-product with a liquid binder system to form the agricultural blend;   wherein the slag is not stainless steel slag.