Foaming granule and method for making same
A foaming granule is provided that includes an acid, a gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent, a surfactant foaming agent, and an active agent that is a plant growth enhancer, pest control agent, de-icer or anti-icer. Upon wetting a granule, the acid and neutralizing agent are brought into contact releasing gas that is trapped in the surfactant to form a foam that disperses the active agent to a greater area and more uniformly than a conventional nonfoaming granule containing a like amount of active agent. Dispersal of granules followed by sufficient time for foaming to occur represents a typical use methodology.
1. A foaming granule comprising:
an acid;
a gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent selected from the group consisting of: an inorganic carbonate, inorganic bicarbonate, alkaline peroxide, and alkaline azide, wherein either said acid or said gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent is present as a coating around an interior of the granule;
a surfactant foaming agent; and
an active agent selected from the group consisting of: a pest control agent, a de-icer, and an anti-icer, wherein said acid or said gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent absent from said coating is within the interior of the granule.
2. The granule of claim 1 , wherein said acid is citric acid.
3. The granule of claim 1 , wherein said acid is tartaric acid.
4. The granule of claim 1 , wherein said neutralizing agent is said carbonate.
5. The granule of claim 1 , wherein said neutralizing agent is said bicarbonate.
6. The granule of claim 1 , wherein said surfactant foaming agent is an anionic surfactant.
7. The granule of claim 1 , wherein said pest control agent is an insecticide.
8. The granule of claim 1 , wherein said coating further comprises a binder.
9. The granule of claim 8 , wherein said binder is selected from the group consisting of lignin lignosulfonate salts, nitrolignin and complex carbohydrate-based lignin.
10. The granule of claim 9 , wherein said pest control agent is located within said coating.
11. The granule of claim 1 further comprising a foam stabilizing agent.
12. A process for melting or preventing the formation of ice on a surface comprising:
dispersing a plurality of foaming granules of claim 1 onto the surface having ice thereon or likely to develop ice thereon wherein said active agent is said de-icer or said anti-icer; and
allowing sufficient time for said plurality of foaming granules to react and release said active agent.
13. A foaming granule comprising:
an acid;
a gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent selected from the group consisting of: an inorganic carbonate, inorganic bicarbonate, alkaline peroxide, and alkaline azide, wherein either said acid or said gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent is present as a coating around an interior of the granule;
a surfactant foaming agent; and
a plant growth enhancer, wherein said acid or said gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent absent from said coating is within the interior of the granule.
14. The granule of claim 13 , wherein said neutralizing agent is said carbonate.
15. The granule of claim 13 , wherein said neutralizing agent is said bicarbonate.
16. The granule of claim 13 , wherein said surfactant foaming agent is anionic surfactant.
17. The granule of claim 13 further comprising a foam stabilizing agent.