Patent EP-0117223-B1 (EP)
IPC: C05F11/02
Filed: 1984-01-11
Granted: 1987-06-16
Abstract: 1. Process for the production of humic and fulvic acids and of by products from peat, peaty soils, naturally or artificially humified organic materials, for agricultural, chemical, pharmaceutical, medical and industrial use and for other developments, consisting of : a sorting of the materials to be processed, separating the selected useful material from that devoid of interest ; a breaking up and a sifting of the selected useful material ; the addition of an alkaline solution for the purpose of forming a suspension for the extraction of the humic and fulvic substances contained in this suspension ; the introduction of the suspension into a reactor, keeping it under agitation for a time and at a temperature suitable for the purpose of optimal extraction of the humic and fulvic acids present ; characterised : a) by the subdivision of the useful matter broken up and sifted in accordance with known technology (1) (2) in two cycles : the first (3, 4, 5, 6, 6', 6", 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) for the purpose of the preparation of humic and fulvic acids and of fertilisers or materials for the preparation of fertilisers, the second (19, 20', 20", 21, 4, 5, 16) to obtain a mud rich in humic and fulvic acids and devoid of minerals (iron, aluminium etc.) ; b) for the first cycle, by the addition to the broken up and sifted material in accordance with already known technology (1) (2) of water (3) and of alkali, in a reactor (4) to form a suspension and by the introduction of the suspension into a setting tank (6, 6', 6") leaving it for sedimentation i. e. for the separation of the settled product into various layers, in particular for the separation of a dense lower layer (6"), an intermediate layer (6) ready for use and a fine upper layer (6') ; c) by the separation of the fine upper layer (6') referred to in paragraph b) containing the salts of the humic and fulvic acids, with further successive sedimentations until clarity is obtained, separating for its subsequent treatment the liquid phase from the solid phase which is added to the intermediate layer (6) referred to in paragraph b) ; d) by the treatment of the clear solution (6') referred to in paragraph b) in a column (8) with cation exchange resin enabling the anions to form the desired humic and fulvic acids ; e) by the regeneration (9) of the cation exchange resin, obtaining a by-product usable as a fertiliser ; f) by the separation (10) of the fraction of the middle layer (6) referred to in paragraph b), using it as intermediary matter for the production of solid and liquid fertilisers (13) ; g) by the formation of a fertilising "panel" or an aggregate from the dense lower layer (6") referred to in paragraph b) by drying it and mixing it with other fertilisers for agricultural use (12) ; h) for the second cycle referred to in paragraph a) a disaggregation (19) (crushing) in the presence of water is carried out, then a settling (20', 20"), the lower mineral portion (panel 20") separating from the upper organic portion (20') subjected to a filtration (21) for its introduction into a reactor (4) with return to the first cycle and extraction (5) of a mud rich in humic and fulvic acids (16) devoid of mineral substances for the production of fertiliser complexes or of mixtures.