For efficient production of humic fertilizers from peat, leonardite, and vermicompost, I recommend alkaline extraction (KOH/NaOH) with process intensification using the GlobeCore AVS vortex layer device. AVS significantly increases extraction yield by activating particles in an electromagnetic vortex layer and accelerating mass transfer. A typical line is: mixing tank with alkali ? AVS (inline or recirculation) ? solid separation ? filtration ? concentration for liquid fertilizer or drying/granulation for dry product. AVS-100 or AVS-150 can be selected depending on capacity.

One more important aspect to consider is that the efficiency of humic fertilizer production depends not only on the chemical extraction stage, but also on how effectively the raw material structure is broken down beforehand. Materials such as peat and leonardite contain humic substances locked inside lignin–cellulose matrices, and if this structure is not properly disintegrated, even strong alkaline extraction will result in relatively low yields.
For this reason, modern technologies increasingly combine extraction with mechanical or mechanochemical activation. For example, intensive dispersion (such as vortex layer processing) significantly increases the contact surface between the raw material and the extracting agent, improves mass transfer, and allows a higher percentage of humic and fulvic acids to be released into solution. In practice, this can also reduce processing time and, in some cases, even minimize the need for aggressive chemical reagents.
Another practical advantage is process flexibility: depending on the setup, the same production line can be adapted for different feedstocks (peat, leonardite, biohumus) and for producing either liquid concentrates or solid products by adding downstream steps such as concentration, drying, or granulation.
If you’d like to see how this approach is implemented in real process flowcharts and what kind of results can be achieved with vortex layer technology, I recommend taking a look at this article: https://globecore.com/milling/humic-fertilizers-production-from-peat/.

You’re absolutely right: breaking the lignin–cellulose matrix ahead of chemical extraction is critical for good humic and fulvic acid yields. That’s exactly where mechanochemical activation and intensive dispersion add value — by increasing specific surface area, opening cell walls, and improving mass transfer so alkaline extraction (KOH/NaOH) is far more effective. A vortex‑layer device (AVS family) performs that activation in‑line or in a recirculation loop, delivering the kind of high shear/energetic particle activation that reduces extraction time and often lowers the need for aggressive reagent doses while keeping the line flexible for peat, leonardite or biohumus feedstocks.

Practically, build the line around robust pre‑size reduction (shredders/hammer or disc mills to a fine, uniform particle size and good wetting/hydration), followed by a mixing/homogenizing tank for controlled alkali addition, then the AVS (AVS‑100/AVS‑150 or AVSp‑100 variant) for mechanochemical/intensified extraction, and standard downstream steps — solid separation, fine filtration and either evaporation/concentration for liquid concentrates or drying/granulation for dry products. Control energy input per volume, residence time and number of recirculation passes, and manage heat with jacketed tanks and heat exchangers to maximize yield and stability. This configuration gives high extraction efficiency, lower reagent consumption, and the process flexibility to switch between liquid fertilizers and solid humates as your product strategy requires.