Development and Properties of Transport -- a New Inert Granular Carrier

A new inert granular carrier has been developed by Cargill, Inc. for use in the formulation of granular insecticide/herbicide/fungicide/fertilizer products. The carrier is made by agglomerating finely divided organic material using a suitable binder, followed by drying and screening to the desired final moisture content and particle size. Physical property measurements show a bulk density in the range of 0.48-0.56 g/cc, water absorption of 29.9-47.5% and resistance to attrition of greater than 95%. Moisture content and particle size distribution can be varied by adjustments to the process. Comments from potential users indicate that this new carrier maintains its integrity during formulation, yet our results show that it disintegrates readily when placed in water. As a result, products formulated with this carrier have the potential for reduced avian toxicity by disintegrating when wetted, thereby preventing birds from ingesting intact granules.