Method for the production of humic acids, humates, and of compositions wherein they are contained

Claim 1

A method according to claim 1, wherein the step (a) of exothermic fermentation is discontinued when the temperature is reduced down to its initial value.

Claim 17

A method for the production of high yields of highly concentrated humic acids from waste materials selected from the group consisting of garbage, town refuse, byproducts of agriculture, and residues of other industrial fermentations, alone or mixed with each other and separated only from ferromagnetic materials, wherein said waste material is successively submitted to treatment steps comprising: a. an exothermic primary fermentation, controlled in particular by alternate aeration and stirring of the waste material, in order to promote the growth of micro-organisms in the range of natural epiphytic microflora naturally present in the waste material; b. an exothermic secondary fermentation, controlled by stirring and aeration in alternating cycles so that the temperature of the mass is about 20* C after about 2 weeks, thereby promoting the growth of said micro-organisms; c. treatment with dilute acid to a pH value of 5 + or - 0.5 and to a moisture content of 60-70 percent, followed by a fermentation with a massive culture of an eumycetic species selected from the group consisting of Gliocladium roseum, Popularia sphaerospherma, Aspergillus fumigatus, Sordaria fimicola, Mortiorella vinacea, Penicillium glacum, Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus niger and Stisanus sp. at a temperature of 35*-37* C; d. treatment with concentrated alkali to a pH value of 7.0 + or - 0.2 and fermentation with a massive culture of Streptomyces nigrifaciens at a temperature of 28*-30* C; e. fermentation with a massive culture of AzotobacteR chroococcum at a temperature of 28*-30* C; f. extraction of humic acids from the thus treated waste material by means of dilute alkali; and g. flocculation of humic acids from the alkaline solution by the addition thereto of an acid up to the isoelectric point and filtering.

Claim 18

A method for the production of high yields of highly concentrated humic acids from waste materials selected from the group consisting of garbage, town refuse, byproducts of agriculture, and residues of other industrial fermentations, alone or mixed with each other and separated only from ferromagnetic materials, wherein said waste material is successively submitted to treatment steps comprising: a. an exothermic primary fermentation, controlled in particular by alternate aeration and stirring of the waste material, in order to promote the growth of micro-organisms in the range of natural epiphytic microflora naturally present in the waste material; b. an exothermic secondary fermentation, controlled by stirring and aeration in alternating cycles so that the temperature of the mass is about 20* C after about 2 weeks, thereby promoting the growth of said micro-organisms; c. treatment with dilute acid to a pH value of 5 + or - 0.5 and to a moisture content of 60-70 percent, followed by a fermentation with a massive culture of Gliocladium catenulatum at a temperature of 35*-37* C; d. treatment with concentrated alkali to a pH value of 7.0 + or - 0.2 and fermentation with a massive culture of an actinomycetic, polyphenoloxydasic species, non-antagonistic of the Azotobacter chroococcum at a temperature of 28*-30* C; e. fermentation with a massive culture of Azotobacter chroococcum at a temperature of 28*-30* C; f. extraction of humic acids from the thus treated waste material by means of dilute alkali; and g. flocculation of humic acids from the alkaline solution by the addition thereto of an acid up to the isoelectric point and filtering.