The Key Application of Diatomite Fillers in the Pesticide and Fertilizer Industry

Overview of Diatomite Fillers

Diatomite fillers, as a natural porous mineral material, play an irreplaceable role in the pesticide and fertilizer industries. This special filler, formed by the deposition of ancient diatom remains, has unique physical and chemical properties, including high porosity, large specific surface area, chemical inertness, and excellent adsorption performance. The main component of diatomite fillers is amorphous silica, and its microscopic structure presents regularly arranged nanoscale pores, which makes it an ideal carrier and functional additive in pesticide and fertilizer formulations.

In the production process of pesticides and fertilizers, the application of diatomite fillers can significantly improve product performance, enhance efficiency, and reduce environmental pollution. Compared with traditional fillers, diatomite fillers not only have high cost-effectiveness but are also more environmentally friendly and sustainable. With the acceleration of agricultural modernization and the increase in environmental protection requirements, the application prospects of diatomite fillers in this field are increasingly broad. The application of diatomite fillers in pesticide formulations

In the field of pesticide formulations, diatomite fillers are mainly used as carriers and diluents. The active ingredients of pesticides are usually at high concentrations, and direct use not only costs a lot but also easily causes phytotoxicity. By mixing pesticide raw materials with diatomite fillers, the active ingredients can be uniformly dispersed and released stably.

The porous structure of diatomite fillers can adsorb liquid pesticide raw materials, converting them into powders or wettable powders that are easy to use. For example, when preparing insecticide powders, diatomite fillers can adsorb organophosphorus or pyrethroid pesticides, forming a fluid and non-agglomerating finished product. This adsorption effect not only improves the physical stability of the formulation but also extends the shelf life of the pesticide.

In addition, diatomite fillers perform well in pesticide slow-release systems. Their nanoscale pores can control the release rate of pesticide active ingredients, prolonging the duration of the drug effect and reducing the frequency of application. Studies have shown that slow-release pesticides using diatomite fillers as carriers can reduce the dosage by 30-50% compared to conventional formulations while maintaining the same control effect.

In terms of environmental protection, the application of diatomite fillers reduces pesticide loss and drift. The porous structure of the fillers can adsorb pesticide molecules, reducing the loss rate of pesticides under rainwater erosion and increasing the adhesion of the pesticide solution on the leaf surface, thereby improving pesticide utilization. This characteristic is of great significance for reducing agricultural non-point source pollution.

The Function of Diatomite Fillers in Fertilizer Production

Diatomite fillers also play an important role in the fertilizer industry. As fertilizer additives, diatomite fillers can improve the physical properties of fertilizers, regulate the release rate of nutrients, and enhance soil water and nutrient retention capacity. In the production of high-end fertilizers such as compound fertilizers and controlled-release fertilizers, the application of diatomite fillers has become one of the key technologies for increasing product value.

In the granulation process of compound fertilizers, diatomite fillers act as binders and adjusters, improving the granulation performance of materials, increasing particle strength, and reducing dust generation. Compared with traditional clay-based fillers, diatomite fillers do not introduce excessive impurity elements and have a smaller impact on fertilizer chemical properties. Experimental data show that adding 5-8% diatomite fillers can increase the particle strength of compound fertilizers by more than 20%, significantly reducing the breakage rate during transportation and storage. 

The application of diatomite filler in controlled-release fertilizers is particularly prominent. Its porous structure can adsorb fertilizer nutrients (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc.) and form a physical barrier, slowing down the release rate of nutrients. This controlled-release mechanism is different from polymer coating technology, with lower cost and easier degradation. Field trials have shown that controlled-release urea containing diatomite filler can reduce nitrogen loss by 15-25% compared to ordinary urea, and increase nitrogen fertilizer utilization by more than 10 percentage points.

In addition, diatomite filler itself contains various trace elements (such as silicon, calcium, magnesium, etc.), which have a promoting effect on crop growth. Especially silicon, can enhance crop resilience and improve resistance to diseases and pests. Therefore, fertilizers containing diatomite filler often have the dual functions of "fertilizer + soil conditioner".

Analysis of the technical advantages of diatomite filler

Compared with traditional fillers, diatomite filler shows multiple technical advantages in the application of pesticides and fertilizers. From the perspective of physical properties, the porosity of diatomite filler usually reaches 80-90%, and the specific surface area can reach 20-60 m²/g, which provides excellent adsorption and carrying capacity. Under the observation of an electron microscope, diatomite filler presents a regular micrometer and nanometer dual pore structure, and this unique "pore within pores" feature is the material basis for its functionality.

From the chemical properties analysis, the main component of diatomite filler is amorphous SiO₂, with a content usually above 85%, and also contains a small amount of Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, etc. Its surface is rich in silicon hydroxyl (Si-OH), and these active sites can combine with pesticide and fertilizer molecules through hydrogen bonds or electrostatic interactions, but will not undergo strong chemical bonding, ensuring the releaseability of active components.

In terms of environmental compatibility, diatomite filler has significant advantages. As a natural mineral material, diatomite filler is non-toxic and harmless, can be naturally degraded in the environment, and will not cause secondary pollution. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies show that the environmental footprint of pesticides and fertilizers using diatomite filler throughout their life cycle is 30-40% lower than that of synthetic filler products.

From the economic perspective, diatomite filler is rich in resources, has a relatively simple processing technology, and costs less than many functional synthetic materials. Although adding diatomite filler to pesticides and fertilizers may slightly increase raw material costs, by improving product performance, extending validity period, and reducing application dosage, it can overall reduce the overall usage cost for users.

Application cases and effect evaluation

In actual agricultural production, controlled-release pesticides and fertilizers containing diatomite filler have shown significant application effects. Taking a certain brand of controlled-release insecticide containing diatomite filler as an example, in the rice brown planthopper control experiment, conventional pesticides required three applications to achieve the desired control effect, while the controlled-release formulation containing diatomite filler only required two applications, with a 12% increase in control effect and a 40% reduction in pesticide residue.

In the fertilizer field, a certain enterprise developed a diatomite filler modified compound fertilizer that performed outstandingly in wheat planting experiments. Compared with ordinary nutrient compound fertilizers, the wheat yield in the treatment area of diatomite filler compound fertilizer increased by 8.5%, the nitrogen fertilizer productivity increased by 22%, and the residual nitrate nitrogen in the soil decreased by 35%. This fertilizer is particularly suitable for sandy soils with poor water and fertilizer retention capacity.

Another successful case is the combined application of diatomite filler and biological pesticides. Researchers loaded Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) onto modified diatomite filler to prepare a stable and long-lasting biological pesticide. Diatomite filler not only protects microbial activity but also improves field persistence through slow release. This formulation has achieved good results in vegetable pest control and fully complies with organic agriculture standards.

It is worth noting that the optimal addition ratio of diatomite filler in different types of pesticides and fertilizers needs to be determined through strict experiments. Excessive addition may lead to deterioration of product physical properties or increase in costs, while insufficient addition will fail to achieve the expected function. Generally speaking, the addition amount of diatomaceous earth filler in pesticide formulations is 10-30%, while in fertilizers it is 5-15%. The specific proportion needs to be optimized based on the properties of active ingredients and product design requirements.

Future Trends and Prospects

With the popularization of green agricultural development and precision agriculture concepts, the application of diatomaceous earth fillers in the pesticide and fertilizer industries will present new trends. On one hand, the refinement modification and functional development of diatomaceous earth fillers will become a research hotspot. Through surface modification, pore structure regulation and other technologies, the adaptability of diatomaceous earth fillers to specific pesticide and fertilizer components can be further improved, and more targeted dedicated fillers can be developed.

On the other hand, the composite application of diatomaceous earth fillers with other functional materials will expand its application boundaries. For example, by combining diatomaceous earth fillers with biochar, nanomaterials, etc., a pesticide and fertilizer carrier system with multiple functions can be created. This composite filler can not only leverage the advantages of each component but also produce a synergistic effect, meeting the demands of modern agriculture for "efficient, intelligent, and environmentally friendly" agricultural chemical products.

From an industrial perspective, the production process of diatomaceous earth fillers will develop towards greater standardization and refinement. Different pesticide and fertilizer applications have specific requirements for parameters such as particle size distribution, pore structure, and surface properties. In the future, filler manufacturers will need to provide more customized product solutions. At the same time, it is also necessary to establish a quality evaluation standard system for the application of diatomaceous earth fillers in pesticides and fertilizers.

Overall, diatomaceous earth fillers, with their unique structure and properties, have established an important position in the pesticide and fertilizer industries. With technological progress and the accumulation of application experience, diatomaceous earth fillers will help pesticide and fertilizer products achieve more efficient and environmentally friendly performance, making greater contributions to agricultural sustainable development. Industry forecasts show that the global market size of diatomaceous earth fillers for pesticides and fertilizers will grow at an annual rate of 6-8% in the next five years, with a very broad application prospect.