Use of a liquid composition for coating particles

1 . A method for reducing agglomeration of a granular material, the method comprising contacting a surface of the granular material with a liquid formulation consisting of at least one oil of renewable origin and at least one anionic surfactant comprising at least one functional group having one or more heteroatoms, the electronegativity of which is less than 2.5,

wherein the anionic surfactant is present in a weight ratio of from 0.01 to 0.43, limits included, relative to the oil of renewable origin, and

wherein the anionic surfactant consists of at least one compound of formula (1):

[R 1 -A-(B) n ] m -G  (1)

wherein:

R 1 represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, C 1 -C 30 hydrocarbon chain optionally containing at least one aromatic ring,

A represents a bond or an oxygen atom,

(B) n represents a bond or a sequence of one or more alkylene oxide repeating units, selected from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide and mixtures of these, and n is an integer between 1 and 100, limits included,

m represents an integer of from 1 to 3, limits included,

G is of formula (3):

D represents —O—(F) v —R 2 , wherein

R 2 represents a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, C 1 -C 30 hydrocarbon chain optionally containing at least one aromatic ring, and

(F) v represents a bond or a sequence of one or more alkylene oxide repeating units, selected from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide and mixtures of these, and v is an integer between 1 and 100, limits included,

E represents —O-[J] s -R 3 ,

R 3 represents a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, C 1 -C 30 hydrocarbon chain optionally containing at least one aromatic ring, and

(J) s represents a bond or a sequence of one or more alkylene oxide repeating units, selected from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide and mixtures of these, and s is an integer between 1 and 100, limits included, and

q and r each represent integers selected from 0, 1 and 2, with the proviso that m+q+r=3,

wherein the viscosity of the oil of renewable origin at 20° C. is between 2 mPa·s and 1500 mPas, limits included, as measured by means of a dynamic shear rheometer with parallel plate geometry at a shear rate of 80 s −1 ,

wherein the oil of renewable origin is selected from almond oil, avocado oil, cottonseed oil, cashew nut oil, grapeseed oil, hazelnut oil, rice bran oil, linseed oil, peanut oil, colza oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, corn oil, canola oil, soybean oil, olive oil and an oil derived from a papermaking process, and

wherein the liquid formulation is present on the surface in an amount between 0.02% by weight and 2% by weight, limits included, relative to the total mass of the granular material containing the liquid formulation.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the anionic surfactant is one selected from a monoalkyl ester phosphate, a dialkyl ester phosphate, a monoethoxylated alkyl ester phosphate, and a diethoxylated alkyl ester phosphate.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the anionic surfactant which is mixed with the oil of renewable origin is used at doses of between 1% by weight and 30% by weight, limits included, relative to the oil of renewable origin.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the granular material is a fertilizer.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the granular material is a fertilizer selected from nitrates, nitrophosphates, ammonium phosphate sulfate, ammonium sulfate, calcium ammonium nitrates, calcium nitrate, diammonium phosphate, potassium chloride, monoammonium phosphate, muriate of potash, sulfate of potash, sulfate of potash magnesia, single superphosphate, triple superphosphate, urea, sulfur, polyhalite and other complex or composite fertilizers containing several elements, and those known under the acronym NPK.