Solid phase matrix for crop protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023389543-A1
Application number	US-202118249111-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 11, 2021
Priority date	Oct 15, 2020
Publication date	Dec 7, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a solid phase matrix comprising a layer of lignocellulosic fibers that can be used as effective cargo delivery for crop protection. Also disclosed is a mechanized planter for wrapping or encasing a plant seed, seed piece, seedling, or slip into the disclosed solid phase matrix. Also disclosed is a method for protecting a plant or plant that involves wrapping or encasing the plant or plant part in the disclosed solid phase matrix.

First claim

1 . A solid phase matrix comprising a layer of lignocellulosic fibers,
wherein at least 50% of the lignocellulosic fibers have an average length of from 0.5 to 50 mm, and wherein the lignocellulosic fibers comprise banana pulp fibers in an amount of from 10 wt % to 90 w % of the solid phase matrix.

2 . The solid phase matrix of claim 1 , wherein the lignocellulosic fibers further comprise wood or recovered paper fibers.

3 . The solid phase matrix of claim 2 , wherein the wood or recovered paper fibers comprises old corrugated cardboard (OCC).

4 . The solid phase matrix of claim 1 , wherein the lignocellulosic fibers further comprise fibers from non-banana plants.

5 . The solid phase matrix of claim 4 , wherein the non-banana plants are selected from the group consisting of wheat, rice, bagasse, bamboo, gampi, rush, and mulberry.

6 . The solid phase matrix of claim 1 , wherein the matrix has an air resistance less than 500 Gs.

7 . The solid phase matrix of claim 6 , wherein the matrix has an air resistance of less than 250 Gs.

8 . The solid phase matrix of claim 1 , wherein the matrix has a water sorbency of at least 0.1 mg/gm, and a water absorbency of at least 0.01 mg/gm.

9 . The solid phase matrix of claim 1 , wherein the matrix has a burst index less than 15 kPa·m 2 /g.

10 . The solid phase matrix of claim 9 , wherein the matrix has a burst index less than 5 kPa·m 2 /g.

11 . The solid phase matrix of claim 1 , wherein the matrix has a basis weight less than 200 gsm.

12 . The solid phase matrix of claim 11 , wherein the matrix has a basis weight less than 125 gsm.

13 . The solid phase matrix of claim 1 , wherein the banana pulp fibers are derived from the banana plant rachis, penducle, pseudostem, fruit peel, leaves or any combination thereof.

14 . The solid phase matrix of claim 13 , wherein the banana pulp fibers are mechanically disintegrated.

15 . The solid phase matrix of claim 1 , wherein the banana pulp fibers are produced from a pulp having a Canadian Standard Method (CSF) test freeness of from 300-700.

16 . The solid phase matrix of claim 15 , wherein the banana pulp fibers are produced from a pulp having a CSF test freeness of 500 to 650.

17 . The solid phase matrix of claim 1 , where the matrix has a small molecule absorbance capacity of at least 1 mg/gm for neutral compounds, at least 300 μg/gm for positively charged compounds, and at least 150 μg/gm for negatively charged compounds.

18 . The solid phase matrix of claim 17 , further comprising an agrochemical internalized to the solid phase matrix.

19 . The solid phase matrix of claim 18 , wherein the agrochemical is a pesticide, herbicide, nematocide, fungicide, insecticide, micronutrient, fertilizer, or plant growth regulator or combination there of.

20 . The solid phase matrix of claim 19 , where the agrochemical is abamectin or fluopyram.

21 . The solid phase matrix of claim 18 , where the half-life of the agrochemical in the soil is increased by at least 200% when absorbed into the solid phase matrix.

22 . The solid phase matrix of claim 1 , wherein the layer of lignocellulosic fibers further comprises a dry or wet strength additive.

23 . The solid phase matrix of claim 1 , where the matrix comprises pores having an average diameter of 1 to 3 mm.

24 . The solid phase matrix of claim 23 , where the pores are present at a density of 200 to 600 pores per m 2 .

25 . The solid phase matrix of claim 1 , where the matrix is folded into a pouch sized to accommodate a root stock, plant seed, seed piece, seedling, or slip.

26 . The solid phase matrix of claim 1 , where the matrix is shredded or configured as a pellet for sustained release of an agrochemical in or on soil.

27 . The solid phase matrix of claim 1 , where the matrix is configured as a liner in a planting container.

28 . A mechanized planter, comprising: 1) a hopper configured to be filled with a plant seed, seed piece, seedling, or slip, 2) hopper configured to feed the solid phase matrix of claim 1 , 3) a mechanism for wrapping or encasing the plant seed, seed piece, seedling, or slip into the solid phase matrix, and 4) a mechanism for planting the wrapped or encased plant seed, seed piece, seedling, or slip into a soil.

29 . A method for protecting a plant or plant part, comprising wrapping or encasing the plant or plant part in the solid phase matrix of claim 1 prior to planting.

30 . A method of making banana pulp fibers, comprising cutting the banana plant or plant part in small pieces and soaking it in water for mechanical disintegration into pulp fibers.

31 . A method of making banana paper matrix, comprising slurry making and refining of banana pulp fibers and forming in a paper matrix via drainage, pressing and drying.

32 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising internal or surface additives selected from the group consisting of dry strength agents, wet strength agents, and sizing agents.

Assignees

• Univ North Carolina State

Inventors

• Guenther Richard H
• Khan Saad A
• Opperman Charles H
• Pal Lokendra
• Sit Tim L
• Davis Eric Lee
• Pirzada Tahira

Classifications

• A01N25/34 Primary

  Shaped forms, e.g. sheets, not provided for in any other sub-group of this main group · CPC title

• D21H11/14

  Secondary fibres (working-up waste paper D21C5/02) · CPC title

• D21H11/12 Primary

  Pulp from non-woody plants or crops, e.g. cotton, flax, straw, bagasse · CPC title

• D21B1/068

  by cutting actions · CPC title

• A01N43/40

  six-membered rings · CPC title