Insoluble Humic Acid Powder
The Leonardite Base Material Behind Soil Conditioners and Granulated Organics
80–100 mesh black powder · 60% humic acid · 75% organic matter · pH 5.0–7.0 · water insoluble by design
Product Overview
Insoluble Humic Acid Powder is milled and classified leonardite — the naturally oxidised, humified layer of lignite that sits above the coal seam. Nothing is extracted, nothing is chemically solubilised. The material is dried, ground to 80–100 mesh and bagged, which is why the humic fraction stays in its native, water-insoluble form.
That insolubility is the point, not a defect. Soluble products (potassium humate, potassium fulvate) are made by reacting leonardite with KOH — that reaction costs money, and you pay for it per tonne. When the humic material is going into soil, into a granulation line, or into a composting or blending process, you do not need solubility. You need humic acid content, organic matter, and a price that lets you use it at hundreds of kilos per hectare.
Insoluble Humic Acid Powder is our standard grade for that job. It is the feedstock most of our granulation customers start from, and the base most soil-conditioner blenders build on.
Available in 40%, 50%, 60% and 70% humic acid — same seam, same mill, different cut. Standard stock grade is 60%.
Key Benefits
Humic acid without the solubility premium
Solubilising leonardite with KOH raises the price per tonne substantially. If your product goes into soil rather than into a tank, you are paying for a property you will never use. This powder gives you the humic acid at raw-material pricing.
80–100 mesh grinds clean and blends evenly
The particle size is chosen to disperse through a dry blend without balling or streaking. It also wets out properly in a disc or drum granulator, which is where most of this grade ends up.
Four humic-acid grades from one seam
40%, 50%, 60% and 70% — you can hold one supplier and one specification sheet while covering an entry-level soil conditioner and a premium registered organic product.
Genuine long-term soil behaviour
Because the humic fraction is not solubilised, it does not flush through the profile with the first irrigation. It stays where you put it and works across seasons — which is exactly what a soil-conditioning programme needs.
Raises organic matter, not just the label
At 75% minimum organic matter (60% grade), this is a real contributor to soil organic carbon, not a trace additive. Useful where your market measures organic matter content directly.
Heavy metals below detection, every batch
Pb, As, Hg, Cd and Cr are tested against GB 18877 and reported as not detected. Every shipment travels with its own COA — no pooled or generic certificates.
Technical Specification
| Parameter | Specification | Test standard |
|---|---|---|
| Humic acid (dry basis) | 60.0% min | GB/T 11957-2001 |
| Free humic acid (dry basis) | 60.0% min | GB/T 11957-2001 |
| Organic matter (dry basis) | 75.0% min | NY 525-2012 |
| Moisture | 25.0% max | GB/T 11957-2001 |
| pH (1:100) | 5.0 – 7.0 | GB/T 33804-2017 |
| Fineness | 80 – 100 mesh | Sieve method |
| Water solubility | Nil (insoluble by design) | — |
| Appearance | Black powder | Visual |
| Product code | JFHA-HA-P | — |
Specification values are guaranteed minimums on a dry basis, taken from the batch Certificate of Analysis and tested against the stated Chinese industry standards. Every shipment travels with its own COA stating the tested values.
Need the full Certificate of Analysis, MSDS, or TDS for your formulation or tender file?
Request COA / MSDS / TDSForm & Solubility
Form: dry black powder, 80–100 mesh, slightly damp to the touch because it carries natural moisture (up to 25%). Flow is free but not fluid — it will not run like a fertiliser salt.
In water: it does not dissolve, and it is not meant to. Stir a spoonful into a glass and you get a brown-black suspension that settles within minutes. Do not put this product into a fertigation system, a drip line, or a liquid fertiliser tank — it will block emitters and filters. If you need a liquid, ask for potassium humate or potassium fulvate instead.
In the granulator: this is where it performs. The 80–100 mesh grind accepts a binder, wets evenly under spray, and builds round granules in a disc or drum without generating excessive fines.
In a dry blend: it disperses well but it is fine and dark — expect dust control measures on the line, and expect the blend to darken.
Which insoluble grade fits your process?
| Grade | Form | Humic acid | Organic matter | Size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humic Acid Powder (this product) | 80–100 mesh powder | 40–70% | 70–82% | 80–100 mesh | Granulation feed, soil conditioner base, blending |
| Humic Acid Crystal | 2–4 mm crystal | 60% min | — | 2–4 / 1–6 mm | Direct soil application, premium organic blends |
| Humic Acid Granule | 2–4 mm round granule | 40% min | 60% min | 2–4 mm | Bulk blending, broadcasting, organic fertilizer |
| Humic Acid Prills | 2–4 mm high-hardness | 40% min | 60% min | 2–4 mm | Urea/blending, mechanical spreading, export |
| Microbial Humic Granule | 2–4 mm inoculated | 40% min | 60% min | 2–4 mm | Bio-organic fertilizer, root-zone inoculation |
All five grades come from the same leonardite seam and carry the same heavy-metal declaration (Pb, As, Hg, Cd, Cr all below detection, GB 18877). They differ in particle form and where they fit in your process — not in origin.
Applications & Dosage
This is a soil and process material, not a tank material. Every use below is dry application or further processing:
| Application | How to use | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Soil conditioner base | Blend with bentonite, lime, gypsum or composted manure to build a bagged soil conditioner. The powder supplies the humic fraction and the dark colour. | 20–40% of formulation |
| Granulation feedstock | Feed directly into a disc or drum granulator with binder to produce humic granules, or co-granulate with NPK and organic materials. | 10–50% of formulation |
| Compound organic fertilizer | Add to an organic or organic-mineral fertilizer line to lift organic matter and humic acid to registered levels. | 10–30% of formulation |
| Broadcast soil application | Spread and incorporate before planting on depleted, sandy or compacted ground. Incorporation matters — the material has to reach the root zone. | 300–750 kg/ha |
| Saline–sodic and reclamation ground | Apply ahead of leaching on Problem soils. The humic fraction improves structure so salts can actually move through the profile. | 750–1500 kg/ha |
| Composting and manure treatment | Add to the windrow to reduce nitrogen volatilisation and bind ammonia during composting. | 2–5% by weight |
Packaging & Storage
| Pack size | Description |
|---|---|
| 20 kg / 25 kg | Woven PP bag with inner PE liner — standard export packing |
| 50 kg | Woven PP bag with inner liner — for high-volume programmes |
| 1000–1100 kg | Jumbo bag with discharge spout, 4 lifting loops |
| Custom | Private-label printed bag, OEM specification, retail sizes on request |
Storage: Store under cover in a dry, ventilated place. The powder carries up to 25% moisture and will absorb more if it sits on a damp floor — keep it on pallets, not directly on concrete. Bags are lined, but lined is not waterproof. Under those conditions the material is stable for years; it does not degrade, oxidise further, or lose humic acid content. It may compact slightly in the bag over time, which breaks up easily. Shelf life: 24 months in original, unopened packaging.
Custom packaging, private-label printing and OEM specifications are available on request. Packaging photos are available in the product gallery.
Successful Cases
Organic fertilizer plant, Shandong
Runs 60% powder through a disc granulator at 35% of formulation to produce a registered organic-mineral fertilizer. Chose the powder over a soluble potassium humate purely on cost per unit of humic acid — at 35% inclusion the KOH route was roughly three times the raw-material cost with no measurable difference in the registered analysis.
Explore humic acid applications → Agriculture · Soil ConditioningSoil conditioner blender, India
Blends 70% powder with bentonite and gypsum for a retail soil conditioner sold into the vegetable belt. Buys the 70% grade because the label claim is regulated on humic acid content, and the extra points let them hit the claim at a lower inclusion rate.
Explore humic acid applications →Full case studies with crop data are published in our application sectors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ‘insoluble’ a lower-quality product?
No — it is a different one, aimed at a different job. Soluble humates are made by reacting leonardite with potassium hydroxide, which adds real cost. That cost only pays off if the material has to dissolve — liquid fertilizers, fertigation, foliar. If the material is going into soil or into a granulator, solubility is an expensive property you never use. Buying insoluble for a soil programme is the correct economic choice, not a compromise.
Can I use this through drip irrigation or in a liquid fertilizer?
No, and this is the most common costly mistake with the product. It will not dissolve; the solids will settle and block emitters and filters. For anything that has to pass through a line, use potassium fulvate or potassium humate instead. We would rather tell you now than ship you the wrong material.
Which grade — 40, 50, 60 or 70% — should I buy?
Buy the lowest grade that still hits the number you are held to. If you sell on organic matter with no humic acid claim, 40% is the cheapest route to it. If your label or registration states a humic acid percentage, work backwards from that claim and the inclusion rate you can afford — often 60% at a higher inclusion beats 70% at a low one on cost per label point. Send us your target analysis and we will run both.
How is this different from potassium humate?
Same raw material, different chemistry. Potassium humate is leonardite reacted with KOH, giving a water-soluble potassium salt at roughly 60% humic acid and 10% K₂O — for tanks, drip and foliar. This powder is milled leonardite with no reaction step: insoluble, higher organic matter per tonne, considerably cheaper, and intended for soil and granulation. Neither is better; they serve different processes.
What is the difference between total and free humic acid?
Total humic acid is the whole humic fraction extracted under the standard method. Free humic acid is the portion not bound up with calcium, magnesium or iron in the matrix — in practice the part most readily available. On our 60% grade both are guaranteed at 60% minimum, meaning essentially the entire humic fraction is in free form. Cheaper materials often show a large gap between the two numbers.
Need a quotation or a sample?
Tell us your application, target market and packaging — we will come back with specification, price and lead time.
Request a Quote
8618920222224