Coated inorganic materials and methods for forming the coated inorganic materials

Abstract

A composition and method for producing an inorganic material with an inorganic coating. The inorganic coating may include ammonium sulfate. The present disclosure also provides a fertilizer having an inorganic coating. A method according to the present disclosure includes granulating an inorganic material and coating the organic material in situ with a reactive coating composition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preparing a fertilizer composition comprising:
 a) placing a first inorganic material in a setting for mixing;   b) exposing the first inorganic material to a solution comprising ammonium sulfate and calcium nitrate; and   c) forming a coating of a second inorganic material around granules of the first inorganic material to form the fertilizer composition.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step of spraying the solution comprising ammonium sulfate and calcium nitrate on the first inorganic material to from the second inorganic. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step of drying the coating comprising the second inorganic material. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic coating composition further comprises a compound selected from a group consisting of potassium sulfate, potassium magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate and calcium ammonium nitrate. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a weight percentage of ammonium sulfate in the inorganic coating composition is between about 8% and about 25%. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a weight percentage of calcium nitrate in the inorganic coating composition is between about 9% and about 25%. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein preparing an inorganic coating combination further comprises a step of adding an organic binder component. 
     
     
         8 . A method of making a coated inorganic material, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. forming a reactive layer around an inorganic material; and   b. coating the inorganic material with an inorganic coating composition comprising one or both of:
 i. calcium sulfate dihydrate; and 
 ii. ammonium sulfate. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the inorganic coating results from calcium salt and the sulfate salt chemically reacting while at least some of the calcium salt and the sulfate salt are in contact with the organic material. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein coating the inorganic material further comprises a step of spraying the coating composition on the inorganic material. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein coating the inorganic material further comprises the steps of:
 creating a hot ash out of the chosen inorganic coating composition; and   spreading the hot ash over the inorganic material.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising drying the coated inorganic material. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the coating composition comprises a compound selected from a group consisting of ammonium sulfate, calcium nitrate, potassium sulfate, potassium magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate and calcium ammonium nitrate. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein a weight percentage of ammonium sulfate in the coating composition is between about 5% and about 45%. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein a weight percentage of calcium nitrate in the coating composition is between about 5% and about 25%. 
     
     
         16 . A fertilizer granule comprising:
 a core made of an inorganic material; and   an outer coating made of an inorganic material comprising calcium sulfate dihydrate.   
     
     
         17 . The fertilizer granule according to  claim 16 , wherein the outer coating has a thickness between about 10 microns and about 100 microns. 
     
     
         18 . The fertilizer granule according to  claim 16 , wherein a weight percentage of calcium sulfate dihydrate in the fertilizer granule is between about 1% and about 25%. 
     
     
         19 . The fertilizer granule according to  claim 16 , wherein a weight percentage of nitrogen in the fertilizer granule is about 15%. 
     
     
         20 . The fertilizer granule according to  claim 16 , wherein the core comprises at least one of: potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, potassium magnesium sulfate, and/or magnesium sulfate.