Aragonite Based Ground Covering

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023160149-A1
Application number	US-202318155275-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 17, 2023
Priority date	Dec 16, 2019
Publication date	May 25, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Compositions and methods are presented in which aragonite, and especially oolitic aragonite particles are used as infill material in an artificial turf structure or as sub-growth substrate for natural grass. Advantageously, oolitic aragonite particles provide: a superior microporous surface for effective water saturation to impart thermal control and environmental compatibility; ammonia neutralization of urine by reducing urea hydrolysis with the free calcium presented in the aragonite particles; and aragonite particle uniformity allowing for reduced compaction and desirable water draining.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . An agricultural composition, comprising:
a plurality of oolithic aragonite particles and an agriculturally relevant agent coupled to the aragonite particles, wherein the agriculturally relevant agent is selected from the group consisting of a fertilizer, a fungicide, an insecticide, and an herbicide.

22 . The agricultural composition of claim 21 , wherein the aragonite particles are impregnated or coated with the agriculturally relevant agent.

23 . The agricultural composition of claim 22 , wherein the aragonite particles have an average particle size of less than 1 mm.

24 . The agricultural composition of claim 22 , wherein the aragonite particles have a uniformity coefficient of between about 1.2 to about 1.8.

25 . The agricultural composition of claim 21 , wherein the agriculturally relevant agent is a fertilizer.

26 . The agricultural composition of claim 25 , wherein the fertilizer comprises urea or ureaammonium nitrate.

27 . The agricultural composition of claim 26 , wherein the agriculturally relevant agent is present in liquid form in the aragonite particles.

28 . The agricultural composition of claim 27 , wherein the agriculturally relevant agent is liquid urea that forms calcium nitrate in the aragonite particles.

29 . A method of reducing urea volatilization in soil, comprising:
placing a plurality of oolithic aragonite particles into soil, wherein the soil is subject to treatment with a urea-based fertilizer; and wherein the oolithic aragonite particles are placed into the soil in an amount that provides sufficient exchangeable calcium ions to reduces a rate of hydrolysis of the urea and/or that binds ammonium ions to the aragonite particles.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the oolithic aragonite particles are placed into the soil prior to the treatment with the urea-based fertilizer.

31 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the oolithic aragonite particles are placed into the soil together with the treatment with the urea-based fertilizer.

32 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the oolithic aragonite particles comprise the urea-based fertilizer.

33 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the aragonite particles have an average particle size of less than 1 mm.

34 . The agricultural composition of claim 29 , wherein the aragonite particles have a uniformity coefficient of between about 1.2 to about 1.8.

35 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the aragonite particles are impregnated or coated with one or more of a fungicide, an insecticide, an herbicide, and a fertilizer.

36 . A method of treating soil, comprising:
placing a layer of oolithic aragonite particles in soil to thereby form a sub-growth substrate layer, wherein the layer has a thickness that retains fertilizer or reduces elution of soluble nitrates, nitrites and ammonia from the soil.

37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the aragonite particles have an average particle size of less than 1 mm.

38 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the aragonite particles have an aeration porosity of the microporous oolitic particles is between 15-30%.

39 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the wherein the aragonite particles are placed into the soil in an amount that provides sufficient exchangeable calcium ions to bind ammonium ions to the aragonite particles.

40 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the wherein the aragonite particles are placed into the soil in an amount that provides a drainage layer to the soil.

Assignees

• Calcean Minerals And Mat Llc
• Nant Holdings Ip Llc

Inventors

• Meherg Harold
• Myers Anthony
• Soon-Shiong Patrick

Classifications

• A01G24/42

  of granular or aggregated structure · CPC title

• A01G9/033

  Flat containers for turf, lawn or the like, e.g. for covering roofs · CPC title

• E01C13/083 Primary

  Construction of grass-grown sports grounds; Drainage, irrigation or heating arrangements therefor · CPC title

• E01C13/02

  Foundations, e.g. with drainage or heating arrangements {(E01C13/003, E01C13/083, E01C13/10 take precedence; drainage of soil E02B11/00)} · CPC title

• C05D3/02

  from limestone, calcium carbonate, calcium hydrate, slaked lime, calcium oxide, waste calcium products · CPC title