Methods to convert mealworm castings to fertilizer

{
  "publication_number": "US9394208B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Methods to convert mealworm castings to fertilizer",
  "abstract": "Methods to convert the light and powdery mealworm castings into a suitable fertilizer product are disclosed. The methods can include saturating the mealworm castings using an infusion process with a liquid such as water until an elevated temperature is reached. The mealworm castings can be replenished and the infusion process can be repeated until the targeted N-P-K rating is achieved. The saturated mealworm castings or mealworm cake can be dried and formed into fertilizer pellets or into a granular soil-like product. In some examples, a binding agent such as dried mashed potato extract can be added to the saturated mealworm castings. In some examples, the fertilizer excludes artificially produced chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, and steroids. In some examples, the fertilizer has an N-P-K rating of 4-3-2. In some examples, the mealworm castings are produced by mealworms fed wheat bran and raw carrots.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A fertilizer consisting of: mealworm castings; and a binding agent, the binding agent including at least one of a dried mash potato extract, cornmeal, or hominy, wherein the fertilizer is in pellet form, does not flyaway when spread, and excludes fungi, diseases, artificially produced chemicals, antibiotics, hormones, and steroids.",
    "2. The fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the mealworm castings are produced by mealworms that exclusively consume wheat bran and raw carrots.",
    "3. The fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the fertilizer excludes animal compost, bone meal, blood meal, and bat guano.",
    "4. The fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the mealworm castings are produced by mealworms that exclusively consume at least one of leaves, sticks, grass, new plant growth, dead insects, or grains."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This relates generally to methods to convert mealworm castings to fertilizer, and in particular, methods that employ an infusion process to extract nutrients from mealworm castings.\n\nFertilizer is a substance that can be added to soil to improve the growth of plants. Soil may not provide the essential nutrients that a plant needs for optimum growth and production. After a plant is placed in the soil, the plant can absorb nutrients in the soil as the plant grows. As the plant absorbs nutrients in the soil, the soil can become deficient of nutrients. Fertilizer can be used to replenish the nutrients in the soil.\n\nSome fertilizers can include ingredients such as animal compost, bone and blood meal and bat guano. These ingredients can include fungi, diseases, artificially produced chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, and/or steroids that can be absorbed by the plants or otherwise be detrimental to the plants, and can inhibit plant growth or worse, be fatal to the plants. If the plants produce vegetables or fruits, absorption of these chemicals, hormone antibiotics, and/or steroids can be harmful to individuals that consume the vegetables or fruits. Additionally, the ingredients can lead to a fertilizer with a poor amount of nutrients or N-P-K rating. An alternative source for a nutrient-rich and chemical-free fertilizer may be needed.\n\nAn alternative source for a nutrient-rich and chemical-free fertilizer can be mealworm castings. While the mealworm castings can be used as a granular fertilizer, the mealworm castings can have a light and powdery composition.",
  "cpc": [
    "C05F 3/00",
    "C05B 17/00",
    "C05G 3/0064",
    "C05G 5/20",
    "Y02A 40/20",
    "Y02P 20/145"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "C05B 17/00",
    "C05F 3/00",
    "C05G 3/00"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Joseph J. CARO"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-07-09",
  "publication_date": "2016-07-19",
  "grant_date": "2016-07-19",
  "priority_date": "2014-07-09",
  "application_number": "US-201414326826-A",
  "family_id": "55067070",
  "cited_by_count": 4,
  "citations": [
    "US4258719A",
    "US5741344A",
    "WO1999055644A1",
    "US6488733B2",
    "US20110160058A1",
    "US20110247273A1",
    "US20130019645A1",
    "US20130283872A1",
    "US20130316903A1"
  ]
}