Hydration maintenance apparatus and method
View Patent ↗A material may include a substrate, such as sand, treated with a binder, for securing a layer of hydrating particles thereto. Typical binders may include lignicite, or other naturally occurring materials such as sugars, molasses, corn syrup, gelatin, water, a combination, or the like. Substrates may include natural organic materials or inorganic materials. Various materials can serve as a powdered, polymeric coating. Commonly called acrylamides or polyacrylamides by industrial suppliers, certain polymers have been found to serve well by being comminuted to powder and adhered to the substrate granules.
1. A method comprising:
providing a substrate of a first material as granules;
coating the granules individually with a binder;
providing a powder formed from a second material, being solid and hydrophilic;
adhering the powder to the granules individually, after the binder is already coated on the granules; and
introducing the granules below the surface of the ground.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein distributing the granules further comprises distributing the granules during a period of time.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising covering the granules.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein covering further comprises adding a material after the granules.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second materials is selected from a naturally occurring material, and the second material is selected from the remaining type thereof.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first material is selected from a chemically non-organic material.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the binder is selected from a naturally occurring polymer, a synthetic polymer, and water; and
the method further comprises
distributing the granules, and
exposing the granules to water.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is selected from sand, gravel, vermiculite, pearlite, and a naturally occurring organic substrate.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the powder constitutes from about 1 to about 20 percent of the weight of a granule;
the first material is an organic substrate; and
the second material is an acryl-related polymer.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second material is selected from a commercial polymer commonly referred to as an acrylamide.
11. A method for introducing synthetic polymers beneath the ground, the method comprising:
providing a carrier comprising granules distinct from one another, each having a first effective diameter, and being formed of a material distinct from that of the naturally occurring soil at a location below which the granules are to be introduced;
selecting an absorber formed as a powder having a second effective diameter less than the first diameter, and formed of a material distinct from the carrier and the soil;
selecting a binder;
coating at least a portion of each granule of the carrier with the binder;
adhering the powder to the binder already on each granule;
selecting a location on the surface of the ground and
introducing the granules below the surface.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising distributing the granules.
13. A method comprising:
providing a substrate of a first material as granules;
coating the granules individually with a binder;
providing a powder, selected as a second material to be hydrophilic;
coating the binder, already on the individual granules, with the powder;
selecting a location on the surface of the earth
introducing the granules below the surface.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the first material is a naturally occurring substrate; and
the binder is selected from a naturally occurring material.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the powder is sized to have an effective diameter of from about 20 to about 100 mesh;
the powder coats the granules in an amount of from about one to about 20 percent by weight;
the method further comprises placing the granules in a third material to be introduced underground; and
the method further comprises exposing the granules to water.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the third material is selected to be a naturally occurring material.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the third material is selected from soil and water.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the first material is a naturally occurring substrate;
the binder is selected from a naturally occurring material;
the powder is sized to have an effective diameter of from about 20 to about 100 mesh;
the powder coats the granules in an amount of from about one to about 20 percent by weight;
the method further comprises placing the granules in a third material to be introduced underground.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises exposing the granules to water.