Pesticides, insecticides, weed killers, fungicides, and similar substances are known to be sprayed in quantities several times higher than that required for protection against insects, and weeds; it is also known that only 20 to 40% consumption of fertilisers in the soil is achieved, the remaining quantity constituting a source of environmental pollution ; medicines are also taken in quantities far higher than those required and are rapidly metabolised or rejected by the organism.

It is known that the above mentioned products that are widely used, must be introduced in particular methods that will promote a slow controlled quantitative metabolism and for this reason it is necessary to develop encapsulating systems that will lead to a biologically controlled, complete exploitation of the products in order to avoid the creation of toxic conditions in the environment and in every day life. It is also known that any solution provided to this crucial problem, any solution concerning encapsulating of fertilisers

and pesticides exploited in the soil, must be adapted to the needs of the soil which is the principe biological laboratory of the planet.

Bearing in mind this concern, encapsulating fertilisers and pesticides must be compatible with the biological activity and the needs of the soil. Thus, encapsulating weed killers, insecticides and fungicides provided by spraying, must lead to an efficiency with the minimum quantity required, so that no concentration of toxic and poisoning materials develops. Furthermore, encapsulating medicines for provision to humans and animals must lead to a degree of efficiency, i. e. to a complete exploitation of the medicine over longer periods of time achieving an economy of expensive medicines and avoiding side- effects.

The composition of encapsulating systems that provide total or partial insolubility in water and that promotes slow yield of the encapsulated substances has been the topic of intensive research and development, so that at present all possible combinations have been studied and patented. These published solutions operate on the principle of mechanical opening and release with partial solubility in water, so that the conditions of slow yield are satisfied. However, these solutions do not constitute a satisfactory answer to the problem, as they do not correspond to the biological functioning and the needs of the recipient.

The inventor has researched, developed and proved in practice an encapsulating system defined by organic resins with a determined biodegradability corresponding to the biological functioning of the recipient controlled by the presence of special polymerised colophon of the variety of pinus halepensis, that provides to the encapsulating system cohesion of the resin character and constitutes the key of biological operation for opening the encapsulating system. The encapsulating system is formed by mixing different resins of

controlled biodegradability, such as linear paraffin, or non-linear paraffin, polyethylene resins, polyethylene oxide resins, stearines, asphalt and others, or mixtures thereof, depending on the use and on the recipient selected so that they have a melting point between 80 and 130 degrees Celsius. To this mixture, the polymerised special colophon of pinus halepensis with a melting point of 120 to 130 degrees Celsius in a3-10% composition.

The encapsulating system is defined by the use it is offered for, and the tolerance of the recipient in the toxicity and biological behaviour.

In the case of medicines for internal use for humans and animals, the encapsulating system must not introduce toxicity and is thus selected to be a mixture of edible resins such as stearines and linear paraffins. These components in the presence of special colophon, at a ratio of 2-3%, promote the biological controlled yield of the medicines with sufficient activity and duration of activity with a significant reduction of the quantity of the medicine used.

The encapsulating system for pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides supplied by spraying, must be adsorbed by or absorbed by the recipient for controlling the quantity and efficiency. For these reasons a mixture of polyethylene resins and of polyethylene oxide are selected. With this solution, these sprayed toxic and poisoning materials are totally assimilated with a significant reduction of their consumption, thus avoiding concentration on foodstuffs and fruit and discharge to the environment.

The encapsulating system for fertilisers and soil pesticides is selected so as to correspond to the biological activity of the soil and to have a time of release of the encapsulated species, ranging

between very short periods and very long periods. All the above mentioned resin mixtures are suitable for this use. The time of release to the soil is the basic parameter of operation in terms of duration and coverage of the nutritional needs. The encapsulated material, being degraded in the soil, releases carbon and hydrogen to the micro-organisms of the soil, contributing to the development of biological activity, which is a second element of the activity of the encapsulated species in the soil.

The technique of formation of the encapsulated materials and of the encapsulation of products is a simple and effective process. The selected encapsulated material is heated to 170 degrees Celsius, thus coming into a molten state. At this temperature, materials which are stable at such temperature are added, such as phosphoric, sulphuric, potassium fertilisers and some pesticides and insecticides- pesticides. The remaining materials are added at lower temperatures. up to 100 degrees Celsius, depending on their stability. The mixture flows to a pelletiser system wherefrom the products are collected in the form of granules which are packaged and can be marketed. A system of a controlled crusher can be also used in the flowing material, wherefrom the products are collected in a predetermined size distribution and can be also marketed.

The special colophon is an important element, a key-material for the composition of the encapsulation for maintaining the cohesion and the resin nature in the mixture and for promoting other desirable properties to it as well. The stability in water of an encapsulating material containing linear paraffin 33-40%, non linear paraffin 30%, polyethylene resin 17% and special colophon 3-10% has been studied, along with the release of materials in (a) fertilisers 20-20-10 and (b) crushed aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) Table Release of materials and Effect of the special colophon Time Quantity of Colophon/Release of materials (hours) % content of colophon in the mixture 3% 5% 10% (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) 10--5 (8) 10 (15) 20- (15J 10 (15) 25 (28) 30 20 (30) 35 (42) 50 (55) 60 40 (52) 55 (60) 80 (85) 90 60 (70) 80 (85) 100 (100)

(a) Fertiliser; (b) acetylsalicylic acid.

The inventors has studied the biological degradation of the encapsulating material in the soil in the presence of a product developed by themselves that binds water inside its molecule and renders the presence of water permanent for maintaining the biological activity in the soil.

The biological degradation starts from the special colophon, following which ruptures in the system occur leading to the cut-of and the discharge of the contents. The parts that are cut-off consist of resins which encapsulate a quantity of material which is slowly discharged with the biological degradation of the resin bearing it.

Thus, the release of the material to the soil is continuous in a time determined by the initial biological degradation and by the continuing biological degradation of the resins which exhibits great differentiation, hence the encapsulating mixture features short release times and long yield times, by design.

In the case of pesticides, insecticides, fungicides and other materials provided by spraying, the addition of the suitable encapsulating material in their solutions, which as already mentioned is polyethylene resin, effective protection is achieved at a 1/10- 1/20 content of active material for environmental protection and for maintaining quality in the food chain.

SmaipAbf Production of encapsulated fertilisers a) Production of 20-10-5 fertiliser for use in gardens and greenhouses Thirty (30) kg. Of an encapsulating mixture (of a composition of: 45% linear paraffin, 35% non linear paraffin 10% stearine and 10% special colophon) are introduced to a reactor which features strong stirring and heating capacity and are heated to 170 degrees Celsius.

At this temperature, and under strong stirring the addition of 70 kg of fertiliser starts (of a composition: urea 40 kg, potassium polyphosphate 21.7 kg, potassium sulphate 8. 3 kg). The potassium polyphosphate and the potassium sulphate start being added at 1 ? 0 degrees Celsius, but the temperature is gradually lowered to 120 degrees Celsius and the addition of urea starts, while maintaining the temperature to 110 to 120 degrees Celsius. The molten phase is then driven to a pelletizer wherefrom it is collected in granular form and packaged.

b) Production of 5-15-10 fertiliser for use in fruit bearing trees Thirty (30) kg of an encapsulating mixture is added to the reactor (of a composition: polyethylene resin 45%, linear paraffin 10%, non linear paraffin 40% and special colophon 5%). The mixture is heated to 170 degrees Celsius and at this temperature the addition of 70 kg of fertiliser starts (composition: urea 12.6 kg, potassium polyphosphate 36.6 kg and potassium sulphate 20.6 kg) with the polyphosphate being added prior to the sulphate and then after stirring at 120 degrees Celsius, the addition of urea is effected under strong stirring. The molten phase is driven to a pelletiser), collected and stored in granular form. c) Fertiliser 5-15-5 for use in reforesting 31.2 kg of an encapsulating mixture is introduced to the reactor (composition: polyethylene resin 45%, Asphalt 42%, non linear paraffin 7%, special colophon 5%) and is heated under stirring to 170 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, the addition of 68.8 kg of fertilisers under strong stirring (composition: urea 18.8 kg, diammonium polyphosphate 25 kg, potassium polyphosphate 10 kg and Potassium sulphate 15 kg). Potassium polyphosphate and Potassium sulphate are added first, whereas the diammonium polyphosphate and the urea are added when the temperature drops to 110-120 degrees Celsius under strong stirring. The molten phase is discharged to a pelletiser, collected in granules and stored. fikemple Ab 2 a. Three hundred (300) grams of encapsulating material is introduced to a pilot unit under stirring and heating (composition: linear stearine 55%, linear paraffin 30% and special colophon 5%) and

is heated up to 130 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, weed killer is added in a ground form, the whole material is mixed and finally the molten phase at a temperature of 110-120 degrees Celsius is discharged to a pelletizer where it is shaped in spheres, collected and stored. b. Three hundred (300) grams of encapsulating material is introduced to a pilot unit (composition: polyethylene resin 40%, polyethylene oxide resin 40%, linear paraffin 15% and special colophon 5%). The mixture is heated to 120 degrees Celsius and is melted and a ground mixture of insecticides is added to it under stirring and the formed mixture is passed to a pelletiser where it is shaped in granules and packaged. c. Three hundred (300) grams of encapsulating material is introduced to a pilot unit (composition: polyethylene resin 30%, polyethylene oxide resin-40%, linear paraffin 25% and special colophon 5%) and is heated to 120 degrees Celsius. Seven hundred (700) grams of ground fungicide are added to the mixture and the new mixture deriving is discharged to a peletiser where it is shaped in granules and stored.

X5r8m » * 3 Three hundred (300) grams of encapsulating material is introduced to a pilot unit (composition: stearine 75%, linear paraffin 20%, special colophon 5%) and is heated up to 130 degrees Celsius so that it is fully molten. Seven hundred (700) grams of ground aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is added to and the deriving is discharged to a pelletizer where it is shaped in small spheres and packaged.