Slow release of fertilizers from carbon nanomaterials

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With a steadily growing global population, it is imperative that all available farmland is intensively utilized andthat crop yields are maximized. Carbon Control Technology (CCT) is one of Sulvaris' promising fertilizertechnology platforms, employing inexpensive and environmentally friendly materials to generate acontrolled-release fertilizer product that will enhance crop yields and minimize waste-products. The challengefacing Sulvaris in the development of CCT into a marketable product is understanding the mechanisms behindthe controlled-release phenomenon so that release characteristics can be optimized. In practice, biomassmaterials are first hydrolyzed to form a porous carbon matrix and the pores are then impregnated with vitalplant nutrients, i.e., nitrogen, potassium, phosphate and sulfur. It is hypothesized that the physical and chemicalproperties of the carbon matrices (e.g., pore sizes, porosity, elemental compositions and wettability) have asignificant effect on the rate at which nutrients are released. To test this hypothesis, a complete understandingof the effect of the microstructure of these structures on release rates and the anion and cation exchangecapacity is required. A collaboration between the Birss team at U of Calgary and Sulvaris will provide thespecific expertise and the state-of-the-art instrumentation required to fully understand the controlled-releasephenomenon. The Birss group has world leadership in nanocarbon technologies, having developed a range ofcarbon powders and membranes that exhibit carefully selected physical and chemical properties. These modelstructures will be used to aid in understanding the relationship between the carbon nanostructure and the rate ofnutrient release, as well as how biomass can be tailored to give similar properties. Samples that demonstrategood preliminary controlled-release properties in the Birss lab will then undergo long-term in situ analysis atSulvaris. With the knowledge gained from this partnership and the benefits in terms of waste management andvalue-added processes of relevance to agriculture, it is expected that Sulvaris will be better positioned for thecommercialization of CCT, resulting in multiple economic benefits for both Alberta and Canada.