AN AGROCHEMICAL SUSPENSION CONCENTRATE COMPRISING AN ALKOXYLATED ALCOHOL DISSOLVED IN THE AQUEOUS PHASE

Abstract

The present invention relates to an agrochemical aqueous suspension concentrate comprising a pesticide in the form of pesticide particles and at least 5 wt % of an adjuvant dissolved in the aqueous phase, wherein the adjuvant is of the formula (I) as defined herein. The invention also relates to the adjuvant as defined in formula (I). Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of the suspension concentrate by contacting water, the pesticide, and the adjuvant. The present invention further relates to a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired plant growth and/or undesired insect or mite attack and/or for regulating the growth of plants.

Claims

1. An agrochemical aqueous suspension concentrate comprising a pesticide in the form of pesticide particles and at least 5 wt % of an adjuvant dissolved in the aqueous phase, wherein the adjuvant is of the formula (I)
R.sup.1—O-EO.sub.m—PO.sub.n-EO.sub.o—H   (I) wherein R.sup.1 is a C.sub.12-20 alkyl; EO is ethyleneoxy; PO is propyleneoxy; m has a value from 1 to 20; n has a value from 1 to 30; and o has a value from 1 to 10.

2. The suspension concentrate according to claim 1, comprising 50 to 400 g/l of the pesticide.

3. The suspension concentrate according to claim 1 comprising less than 3 wt % of an organic solvent.

4. The suspension concentrate according to claim 1, wherein the adjuvant has a solubility in distilled water at 23° C. of at least 5 g/l.

5. The suspension concentrate according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.1 is a C.sub.16-18 alkyl.

6. The suspension concentrate according to claim 1, wherein the alkyl of R.sup.1 is at least one of (a) a linear and saturated and (b) a linear and unsaturated alkyl.

7. The suspension concentrate according to claim 1, wherein m has a value from 3 to 15.

8. The suspension concentrate according to claim 1, wherein n has a value from 8 to 25.

9. The suspension concentrate according to claim 1, wherein o has a value from 3 to 10.

10. The suspension concentrate according to claim 1, wherein o has a value from 3.5 to 5.5.

11. The suspension concentrate according to claim 1 comprising a second adjuvant, wherein the second adjuvant is of the formula (II)
R.sup.2—O-EO.sub.x—PO.sub.y-EO.sub.z—H   (II) wherein R.sup.2 is a C.sub.6-11 alkyl; EO is ethyleneoxy; PO is propyleneoxy; x has a value from 1 to 20; y has a value from 1 to 30; and z has a value from 0 to 10.

12. The suspension concentrate according to claim 11, wherein x has a value from 3 to 15; y has a value from 2 to 10; and z has a value from 1.5 to 8.

13. An adjuvant of the formula (I)
R.sup.1—O-EO.sub.m—PO.sub.n-EO.sub.o—H   (I) wherein R.sup.1 is a C.sub.12-20 alkyl; EO is ethyleneoxy; PO is propyleneoxy; m has a value from 1 to 20; n has a value from 1 to 30; and o has a value from 1 to 10.

14. A method of preparing the suspension concentrate according to claim 1, the method comprising contacting water, the pesticide, and the adjuvant.

15. A method of at least one of (a) controlling at least one of phytopathogenic fungi, undesired plant growth, and undesired insect or mite attack, andief (b) regulating the growth of plants, the method comprising allowing the suspension concentrate of claim 1 to act on at least one of a respective fungi, plant growth, insect, mite, plant, and an environment thereof.

16. A seed comprising the suspension concentrate as defined in claim 1.

Description

EXAMPLES

[0120] Adjuvant A: Adjuvant of the formula (I), where R.sup.1 is a linear C.sub.16-18 alkyl, m is 3.9, n is 14 and o is 4. [0121] Adjuvant B: Adjuvant of the formula (II), where R.sup.2 is 2-propyl-heptyl, x is 5.7, y is 4.7 and z is 2.3 [0122] Adjuvant C: Adjuvant of the formula (II), where R.sup.2 is C.sub.9-11, x is 6, y is 6 and z is 0. [0123] Antifoamer: Silicon defoamer. [0124] Auxiliary A: Triblock copolymer based on poly(propylene oxide) core flanked by poly(ethylene oxide) groups, M.sub.w approximately 6500, cloud point in water greater 100° C. [0125] Auxiliary B: Liquid polyether-modified trisiloxane, surface tension 22 mN/m, density 1.02 g/ml. [0126] Wetting Agent: Polymer of hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid, formaldehyde, phenol and urea. [0127] Thickener: Granules of magnesium aluminium silicate. [0128] Ionic Surfactant A: Phenol sulfonic acid condensation product. [0129] Ionic Surfactant B: Alkylaryl sufonate. [0130] Bactericide: Aqueous mix of 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 1,2-benzisothiazolin -3-one. [0131] Stabilizer A: C.sub.12-15 fatty alcohol ethoxylate, with an HLB index of 15.5. [0132] Stabilizer B: Methyl methacrylate graft co-polymer with polypropylene glycol side chains, HLB index of 11-12.

EXAMPLE 1

Solubility and Comparative Adjuvants

[0133] 10 g of Adjuvant A was filled up to 100 ml with distilled water at 23° C. and stirred. A clear solution was formed.

[0134] For comparison, Adjuvant Comp1 was prepared, which was identical to Adjuvant A except that index o was zero. 10 g of Adjuvant Comp1 was filled up to 100 ml with distilled water at 23° C. and stirred. Adjuvant Comp1 was not dissolved.

EXAMPLE-2

Preparation of Atrazine and Topramezone Suspension Concentrates B-D

[0135] The Atrazine and Topramezone SC's B-D were prepared by mixing water, the pesticides, Adjuvant A, Adjuvant B, Auxiliary A, Sodium Hydroxide, the Wetting Agent and the Antifoamer. This mixture was wet-milled using a bead mill to a particle size around 2 μm. Propylene glycol, Bactericide, Xanthan Gum and Thickener were added and mixed resulting in a uniform suspension of pH 7.5 to 8.5. The final concentration of the components is given in Table 2. Adjuvant A was dissolved in the aqueous phase.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 2 Component B (g/l) C (g/l) D (g/l) Atrazine 300 300 300 Topramezone 10 10 10 Adjuvant A 125 100 75 Adjuvant B 125 100 75 1,2-Propylene Glycol 50 50 50 Bactericide 2.0 2.0 2.0 Auxiliary A 30 30 30 Xanthan Gum 1.0 1.0 1.0 Sodium Hydroxide 1.1 1.1 1.1 Thickener 2.0 2.0 2.0 Antifoamer 5.0 5.0 5.0 Wetting Agent 20 20 20 Water To 1 liter To 1 liter To 1 liter

EXAMPLE-5

Preparation of Atrazine and Topramezone Suspension Concentrates E-J

[0136] The Atrazine and Topramezone SC's E-J were prepared by mixing water, the pesticides, Adjuvant A, Adjuvant B, Adjuvant C, the Ionic Surfactant A, Auxiliary A, Auxiliary B and the Antifoamer. This mixture was wet-milled using a bead mill to a particle size around 2 μm. Propylene glycol, Bactericide and Xanthan Gum were added and mixed resulting in a uniform suspension. The final concentration of the components is given in Table 3. Adjuvant A was dissolved in the aqueous phase.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 3 Component E (g/l) F (g/l) G (g/l) H (g/l) I (g/l) J (g/l) Atrazine 375 300 250 250 250 250 Topramezone 15 12 10 10 10 10 Adjuvant A 250 250 250 125 125 125 Adjuvant B — — — — 125 — Adjuvant C — — — 125 — — Ionic Surfactant A 40 20 40 40 40 40 Ionic Surfactant B 50 50 0 0 0 0 1,2-Propylene 50 50 80 80 80 80 Glycol Bactericide 2 2 2 2 2 2 Auxiliary A 30 30 30 30 30 30 Auxiliary B — — — — — 125 Xanthan Gum 3 — — — — — Antifoamer 5 5 5 5 5 5 Water To 1 To 1 To 1 To 1 To 1 To 1 liter liter liter liter liter liter

EXAMPLE-6

Stability of the Particle Size of SC B-J

[0137] The increase of the particle size upon storage of SC B-J was tested with a sample at 54° C. for two weeks, with another sample in a daily cycling temperature from −10° C. to +10° C. for two weeks, and with another sample at −10° C. for two weeks, respectively.

[0138] The particle size of the pesticide particles was determined before and after storage by Malvern Mastersizer 2000. No increase in particle size was found at all storage temperatures.

EXAMPLE-7

Storage Stability of SC B-J

[0139] For evaluation of the storage stability of SC B-J, samples were prepared as described in Example-6.

[0140] The SC-stability was determined by visual observation of the samples. No noticeable phase separation occurred in all samples.

EXAMPLE-8

Preparation of Imazamox and Quinmerac SC's

[0141] The Imazamox and Quinmerac SC's K-M were prepared by mixing water, the pesticides, Adjuvant A, Adjuvant B, Stabilizer A, Stabilizer B and the Antifoamer. This mixture was wet-milled using a bead mill to a particle size around 2 μm.

[0142] Propylene glycol, Biocide and Xanthan Gum were added and mixed resulting in a uniform suspension of pH 3-4. The final concentration of the components is given in Table 4. Adjuvant A was dissolved in the aqueous phase.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 4 Component K (g/l) L (g/l) M (g/l) Imazamox 17.5 35.0 23.33 Quinmerac 125 250 166.67 Adjuvant A 125 125 125 Adjuvant B 125 125 125 1,2-Propylen glycol 80 80 80 Bactericide 2 2 2 Stabilizer A 20 20 20 Stabilizer B 40 40 40 Xanthan Gum 2 2 2 Antifoamer 5 5 5 Water To 1 liter To 1 liter To 1 liter

EXAMPLE-9

Stability of the Particle Size of SC K-M

[0143] The increase of the particle size upon storage of SC K-M was tested with a sample at 54° C. for two weeks, with another sample in a daily cycling temperature from −10° C. to +10° C. for two weeks, and with another sample at −10° C. for two weeks, respectively.

[0144] The particle size of the pesticide particles was determined before and after storage by Malvern Mastersizer 2000. No increase in particle size was found at all storage temperatures.

Example-10

Storage Stability of SC K-M

[0145] For evaluation of the storage stability of SC K-M, samples were prepared as described in Example-9.

[0146] The SC-stability was determined by visual observation of the samples. No noticeable phase separation occurred in all samples.

EXAMPLE-11

Biological Efficacy Enhancement

[0147] The adjuvant effect was tested in greenhouse trials on (a) Echinochloa crus-galli, (b) Digitaria sanguinalis, (c) Astragalus vogelii, (d) Setaria faberi and (e) Alopecurus mysuroides. The plants were sprayed with SC-N and SC-O according to Table 5, comprising topramezone (3.8 g/ha), atrazine (93.7 g/ha) and either Adjuvant B alone or in mixture with Adjuvant A. For comparison, a diluted suspension concentrate SC-P was sprayed with the same application rates of the topramezone and the atrazine, but without the Adjuvant A and without Adjuvant B.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 5 Component N (g/l) O (g/l) Atrazine 300 300 Topramezone 12 12 Adjuvant A 125 — Adjuvant B 125 250 Ionic Surfactant A 20 20 Ionic Surfactant B 50 50 Bactericide 2 2 Auxiliary A 30 30 Xanthan Gum 3 3 Antifoamer 5 5 Water To 1 liter To 1 liter

[0148] The herbicidal activity was evaluated 20 days after treatment by awarding scores to the treated plants (three replicates each) in comparison to the untreated control plants (Table 6). The evaluation scale ranges from 0% go 100% activity. 100% activity means the complete death of at least those parts of the plant that are above ground. Conversely, 0% activity means that there were no differences between treated and untreated plants. The effective concentration of the sum of the active ingredients was 97.5 g/ha, wherein effective concentration means the total mass of active ingredients per treated area. The results are displayed in Table 6.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 6 Herbicidal activity [%] on various plant species (a)-(e) (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) N 95 90 95 98 90 O 80 80 80 90 85 P 45 40 40 75 60

EXAMPLE-12

Biological Efficacy at Varying Pesticide Concentrations

[0149] In another experiment, the adjuvant effect was tested in greenhouse trials on Sorghum halepense with varying effective concentrations of the pesticides. The plants were sprayed with SC—N and SC—O according to Table 5 and Example-11, wherein the active amount of pesticides amounted to 195 g/ha or 97.5 g/ha, respectively. The herbicidal effect was evaluated as described in Example-11 and scaled from 0% go 100% activity. The results are displayed in Table 7.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 7 Herbicidal activity [%] on Sorghum halepense depending on the effective amount of pesticides. 195 g/ha 95.5 g/ha N 98 60 O 75 20 P 75 0