Compressed coconut coir pith granules and methods for the production and use thereof
View Patent ↗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.
1. A composition produced by a method comprising:
a. subjecting a substrate material consisting of coconut coir pith to roll compaction; and
b. granulating the roll compacted material to form a granulated composition;
wherein the granulated composition retains a final moisture content of about 8% to about 17%.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the coconut coir pith substrate material comprises a mixture of coir pith and coir fiber.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the granulated composition is randomly shaped and angular in surface appearance.
4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the granulated composition is sized greater than about 32 mesh (US sieve size) and passes through about a 1½ inch screen.
5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the granulated composition has enhanced physical integrity and abrasion resistance.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the granulated composition completely expands within about 15 seconds after exposure to moisture.
7. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the granulated composition has an apparent expansion ratio of between about 2:1 and about 5:1 when exposed to moisture.
8. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the granulated composition has a water holding capacity of 6 times its weight.
9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the granulated composition is free flowing and have a bulk density in a range of from about 200 kg/m 3 to about 600 kg/m 3 .
10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the substrate material is subjected to compaction in a roll compactor at a pressure in the range of about 1500 to about 2500 psi.
11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises
d. recycling oversized or undersized granulated compositions.
12. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the substrate material is subject to a preconditioning step of reducing the length of coir fibers before said roll compaction.
13. A composition produced by a method comprising:
a. subjecting a substrate material consisting of coconut coir pith to roll compaction; and
b. granulating the roll compacted material to form a granulated composition;
wherein the granulated composition completely expands within about 15 seconds after exposure to moisture.
14. The composition of claim 13 , wherein the substrate material comprises a mixture of coir pith and coir fiber.
15. The composition of claim 13 , wherein the granulated composition is randomly shaped and angular in surface appearance.
16. The composition of claim 13 , wherein the granulated composition is sized greater than about 32 mesh (US sieve size) and passes through about a 1½ inch screen.
17. The composition of claim 13 , wherein the granulated composition has enhanced physical integrity and abrasion resistance.
18. The composition of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises
d. recycling oversized or undersized granulated compositions.
19. The composition of claim 18 , wherein the granulated composition has an apparent expansion ratio of between about 2:1 and about 5:1 when exposed to moisture.
20. The composition of claim 18 , wherein granulated composition has a water holding capacity of 6 times its weight.
21. The composition of claim 13 , wherein the granulated composition is free flowing and have a bulk density in a range of from about 200 kg/m 3 to about 600 kg/m 3 .
22. The composition of claim 13 , wherein the granulated composition is subjected to compaction in a roll compactor at a pressure in the range of about 1500 to about 2500 psi.
23. The composition of claim 13 , wherein the substrate material is subject to a preconditioning step of reducing the length of coir fibers before said roll compaction.
24. A method for preparing compressed coconut coir pith granules comprising:
a. subjecting a substrate material consisting of coconut coir pith to roll compaction; and
b. granulating the roll compacted material to form the granulated compositions;
wherein the composition retains a final moisture content of about 8% to about 17%.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the substrate material comprises a mixture of coir pith and coir fiber.
26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the granulated compositions is randomly shaped and angular in surface appearance.
27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the granulated compositions is sized greater than about 32 mesh (US sieve size) and passes through about a 1½ inch screen.
28. The method of claim 24 , wherein the granulated compositions has enhanced physical integrity and abrasion resistance.
29. The method of claim 24 , wherein the granulated compositions completely expand within about 15 seconds after exposure to moisture.
30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the granulated compositions have an apparent expansion ratio of between about 2:1 and about 5:1 when exposed to moisture.
31. The method of claim 29 , wherein the granulated compositions have a water holding capacity of 6 times its weight.
32. The method of claim 24 , wherein the granulated compositions is free flowing and have a bulk density in a range of from about 200 kg/m 3 to about 600 kg/m 3 .
33. The method of claim 24 , wherein the granulated compositions is subjected to compaction in a roll compactor at a pressure in the range of about 1500 to about 2500 psi.
34. The method of claim 24 , further comprises
d. recycling oversized or undersized granulated compositions.
35. The method of claim 24 , wherein the substrate material is subject to a preconditioning step of reducing the length of coir fibers before said roll compaction.
36. A compressed and granulated composition comprising a substrate material consisting of 100% coir pith; wherein the final moisture content of said composition is about 8% to about 17%; and further wherein the composition is capable of completely expanding in 15 seconds upon contact with water.
37. A method of providing a garden amendment or lawn bare spot repair, said method comprising the steps of:
a. incorporating into soil, pouring onto a soil surface, or sprinkling on a lawn bare spot a composition produced by a method comprising (i) subjecting a substrate material consisting of coconut coir pith to roll compaction; and (ii) granulating the roll compacted material to form a granulated composition, wherein the composition retains a final moisture content of about 8% to about 17%;
b. adding water to the composition; and
c. completely expanding the composition within 15 seconds of adding said water.
38. A method of providing a garden amendment or lawn bare spot repair, said method comprising the steps of:
a. incorporating into soil, pouring onto a soil surface, or sprinkling on a lawn bare spot the composition of claim 36 ;
b. adding water to the composition; and
c. completely expanding the composition within 15 seconds of adding said water.
39. A compressed and granulated composition comprising a substrate material consisting of 100% coir pith; wherein the final moisture content of said composition is about 8% to about 17%.
40. A compressed and granulated composition comprising a substrate material consisting of 100% coir pith; wherein the composition is capable of completely expanding in 15 seconds upon contact with water.