Oil and absorbent coated granules containing encapsulated living organisms for controlling agricultural pests

US5358863A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Agriculture · US

Inventors

• Paul C. Quimby, Jr. · Leland, US
• Jennifer L. Birdsall · Bozeman, US
• Anthony J. Caesar · Bozeman, US
• William J. Connick, Jr. · New Orleans, US
• Clyde D. Boyette · Leland, US
• T. Can Caesar · Bozeman, US
• David C. Sands · Bozeman, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 30, 1993
• Grant date: Oct 25, 1994
• Expiry date: Mar 30, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A01N63/30
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Granules of encapsulated living organisms for controlling agricultural pests are provided having a coating of an invert oil that forms a water-in-oil emulsion and an adsorbent for the oil to make the coated granules free-flowing. The oil slows drying of the organisms to maintain vitality of the organisms. The coated granules are produced by encapsulating bacteria, fungi or nematodes that control agricultural pests in alginate, starch or wheat gluten to form granules, coating the granules with a water-in-oil emulsion of the invert oil, coating the granules with the adsorbent for the oil and drying the coated granules to about 1-10% moisture. The adsorbent can be hydrated silica, fumed silica, clay, bran, diatomaceous earth, zeolite, absorbent starch or mixtures thereof.