Patent EA-003331-B1 (EA)
Title: Wet granulation method for generating granules
Inventor: PHINNEY ROBIN
IPC: C05G5/12
Filed: 1999-04-08
Abstract: 1. A method for granulating a feedstock into granules, comprising the steps of: providing a feedstock having about 99.9% particle size of -150 mesh, of said 99.9% particle size of -150 mesh about 90% comprising a particle size of -200 mesh; providing a binder material in an amount between 4% and 8% by weight; contacting said feedstock with said binder in a pan granulator maintaining moisture conditions on said pan where the moisture content on said pan is between 1.5% and 11% by weight; and forming granules on said pan directly from contact of said pre-moistened mixture and said feedstock in the absence of seed or nucleating material. 2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said moisture content is between about 1.5% by weight and about 10.5% by weight. 3. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said moisture content is 8% by weight. 4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said granules are in the size range of -10 mesh to 100 mesh. 5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said method producing at least a 90% yield. 6. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein further comprising of passing said granules on to a second pan granulator. 7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said feedstock is selected from the group comprising of sodium bicarbonate, potassium sulfate, potassium chloride, potassium nitrate, ammonium sulfate and sulfur. 8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said binder comprises about 60% moisture and about 40% solids. 9. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said binder is dry and for providing a required amount of moisture content water is added to said pan. 10. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said feedstock for said second pan includes between about 20% to about 35% sulfur granules in the size range of -10 mesh to about 100 mesh. 11. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second granules from said second pan comprise granules in a size range from between -4 mesh and -8 mesh. 12. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein further comprises the step of adding an oil to formed first granules for dust control prior to further processing. 13. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein said oil comprises an oil selected from the group consisting of canola oil, vegetable oil, mineral oil. 14. A method for granulating a feedstock into granules, comprising the steps of: providing a feedstock having about 99.9% particle size of -150 mesh, of said 99.9% particle size of -150 mesh about 90% comprising a particle size of -200 mesh; providing a binder material comprising about 60% moisture and about 40% solids; in an amount between 4% and 8% by weight; contacting said feedstock with said binder in a pan granulator maintaining moisture conditions on said pan where the moisture content on said pan is between 1.5% and 11% by weight; and forming granules in the size range of -10 mesh to 100 mesh on said pan directly from said pre-moistened mixture and said feedstock in the absence of seed or nucleating material. 15. A sulfur granule formed according to the method as set forth in claim 1. 16. The sulfur granule as set forth in claim 15, wherein comprises ammonium sulfate. 17. The sulfur granule as set forth in claim 15, wherein comprises ammonium nitrate. 18. The sulfur granule as set forth in claim 15, wherein comprises potassium sulfate. 19. The sulfur granule as set forth in claim 15, wherein comprises potassium chloride. 20. The sulfur granule as set forth in claim 15, wherein comprises sulfur. 21. The sulfur granule as set forth in claim 15, wherein having a homogeneous and uniform cross-section. 22. The sulfur granule as set forth in claim 17, wherein having a homogeneous and uniform cross-section. 23. The sulfur granule as set forth in claim 18, wherein having a homogeneous and uniform cross-section. 24. The sulfur granule as set forth in claim 19, wherein having a homogeneous and uniform cross-section.