IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,534,418
Granted Patent B2
US 12,534,418 · App. 17/762,813 · Granted Jan 27, 2026

Urea calcium sulfate granules and methods for producing and using the same

Inventors: Andrew George Kells (Wilton, GB); Nilkamal Bag (Bangalore, IN); Saleh Nafe Al-Shammari (Riyadh, SA)
Assignee: SABIC AGRI-NUTRIENTS COMPANY
C05C9/02C05G5/12C05G5/38
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,534,418
App. No.
17/762,813
Granted
Jan 27, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A urea calcium sulfate (UCS) fertilizer granule and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. The granule can include a urea-calcium sulfate (UCS) adduct. The method of making can include producing a partially dried material comprising UCS adduct and forming the UCS fertilizer granules by either one or both of feeding the partially dried material into a separate vessel for granulation or granulating after storage of the partially dried material.

Claims (20)

1 . A method of making a calcium sulfate urea (UCS) fertilizer granule, the method comprising:

(a) combining urea, calcium sulfate, and water under conditions sufficient to form an aqueous slurry comprising a UCS adduct;

(b) removing at least a portion of water from the aqueous slurry to form a partially dried material comprising the UCS adduct and storing the partially dried material without mixing for at least 2 hours; and

(c) feeding the partially dried material into a granulator to form the UCS fertilizer granule.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises coating at least a portion of the UCS fertilizer granule.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the UCS fertilizer granule is coated with a wax.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the UCS fertilizer granule formed contains 40 wt. % to 90 wt. % UCS adduct.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the UCS fertilizer granule formed contains 60 wt. % to 90 wt. % UCS adduct.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein step (a) is performed in a vessel different than the granulator from step (c).

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the partially dried material comprises 10 wt. % to 0.6 wt. % water.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the UCS fertilizer granule formed comprises 0.5 wt. % water or less.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises feeding the aqueous slurry from step (a) into a dryer to form the partially dried material.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous slurry formed comprises greater than 10 wt. % to 25 wt. % water.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises contacting the aqueous slurry with steam to heat the aqueous slurry.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein step (c) comprises contacting the partially dried material with steam to heat the partially dried material.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the UCS fertilizer granule in the granulator further comprises combining the partially dried material with additional urea, calcium sulfate, and/or additional UCS adduct.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the UCS fertilizer granule in the granulator further comprises contacting the partially dried material with a scrubber solution.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises storing the partially dried material for 8 hours to 2 weeks before feeding the partially dried material into a granulator.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a weight ratio of urea to calcium sulfate combined in step (a) is 1:1 to 3:1.

17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising combining the UCS fertilizer granule with at least one additional fertilizer to form a fertilizer blend and/or compounded fertilizer.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2024
From: SAUDI BASIC INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
To: SABIC AGRI-NUTRIENTS COMPANY
Reel/Frame 067128/0216 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2024
From: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
To: SAUDI BASIC INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066986/0030 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2022
From: KELLS, ANDREW GEORGE; AL-SHAMMARI, SALEH NAFE; BAG, NILKAMAL
To: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
Reel/Frame 059373/0134 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62910167 · Oct 3, 2019
Related Publication 20220402832A1 · Dec 22, 2022
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