Abstract

Natural biomineral fertilizers for sustainable farming are produced in an environmentally sound manner from mine waste. Finely divided mine waste and process tailings serve as a novel source of rock powder for use as fertilizer. Mine waste and process tailings may be treated with non-toxic chemicals to selectively remove certain unwanted elements such as mercury. Solid and liquid fertilizers are also obtained by digesting mine waste and process tailings in combination with bio-waste plus selected bacteria under anaerobic conditions. Anaerobic digestion also generates methane gas for use as fuel for generating electricity or for process heating.

IPC Classes  ?

• C05F 11/00 - Other organic fertilisers
• C05D 9/02 - Other inorganic fertilisers containing trace elements
• C05G 3/04 - Mixtures of one or more fertilisers with materials not having a specifically fertilising activity with soil conditioners
• C09K 17/04 - Soil-conditioning materials or soil-stabilising materials containing inorganic compounds only applied in a physical form other than a solution or a grout, e.g. as granules or gases
• C05F 11/08 - Organic fertilisers containing added bacterial cultures, mycelia or the like
• C05F 17/00 - Preparation of fertilisers characterised by biological or biochemical treatment steps, e.g. composting or fermentation
• C05D 1/04 - Fertilisers containing potassium from minerals or volcanic rocks