IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,291,489
Granted Patent B2
US 12,291,489 · App. 16/314,689 · Granted May 6, 2025

Synthesis of nanocomposites and their use in enhancing plant nutrition

Inventors: Pratim Biswas (St. Louis, MO); Ramesh Raliya (St. Louis, MO)
Assignee: Washington University
C05B17/00C05B17/02C05C11/00C05F11/08C05G5/27B82Y30/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,291,489
App. No.
16/314,689
Granted
May 6, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure is related to the development of improved fertilizer for precision and sustainable agriculture. A method was developed wherein efficient NPK nanocomposite for plant nutrition was synthesized in a single step using aerosol science and technology concepts. Further a formulation was prepared by addition of ZnO, TiO 2 and other nanoparticles to the NPK nanocomposite. Also, an aerosol based foliar application technique was developed for the precise delivery of nanoparticles to the plants.

Claims (19)

1. A powder composition consisting of:

(a) a plurality of nanocomposite particles each comprising a nanocomposite, wherein the nanocomposite particles have a particle size of about 25 nm to about 500 nm and are soluble in water, wherein each of the nanocomposite particles consists essentially of a combination of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, and wherein each of the nanocomposite particles excludes chitosan, and

(b) a plurality of metal oxide nanoparticles consisting of metal oxide.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the nanocomposite particles comprise at least about 50% available phosphorus.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the nanocomposite particles comprise at least about 20% nitrogen.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the nanocomposite particles comprise at least about 20% potassium.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the nanocomposite particles have a particle size of about 100 nm.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles are about 25 nm.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles are ZnO.

8. A method of delivering the powder composition of claim 1 to a plant, the method comprising administering the composition via aerosol.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the delivery increases the fresh weight of biomass in the plant.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the fresh weight of biomass is increased by greater than 20% relative to a plant administered conventional fertilizer.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the nanocomposite particles are administered at about 100 mg/kg of a nutrient formulation containing the nanocomposite particles.

12. A method of making the nanocomposite particles of claim 1 , the method comprising: (a) using a furnace aerosol reactor comprising an atomizer unit, a hot air oven, and a collection unit, generating one or more aerosol droplets of a precursor solution in the atomizer unit; (b) passing the aerosol droplets through hot air oven to form nanocomposite particles; and (c) collecting the nanocomposite particles using the collection unit, wherein the precursor solution comprises nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method does not generate any byproduct chemical and/or no further downstream processing is required.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the hot-air oven has a temperature of about 25° C. to about 250° C.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pressure of the atomizing unit is about 40 PSI.

16. A method of customizing nanocomposite particles to a plant, the method comprising determining the amount of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium needed by the plant and making nanocomposite particles according to the method of claim 12 , with the determined amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises determining the ratio/amount of nanocomposite particles added, the size of the nanocomposite particles, the shape of the nanocomposite particles, and/or type of nanocomposite particles, and making a composition comprising the nanocomposite particles.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2019
From: BISWAS, PRATIM; RALIYA, RAMESH
To: WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 048552/0720 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Feb 28, 2019
From: WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
To: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 048473/0899 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62357670 · Jul 1, 2016
Provisional Application 62370814 · Aug 4, 2016
Related Publication 20190202750A1 · Jul 4, 2019
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