USE OF A BLEND, ADJUVANT COMPOSITION FOR DRIFT REDUCTION, USE THEREOF, AGROCHEMICAL FORMULATION AND SPRAY MIX

Abstract

This invention describes an adjuvant composition comprising a blend containing fatty acid esters with an alkoxylated polyol for drift reduction during the application of agrochemical product. This invention further describes the incorporation of this adjuvant composition in agrochemical formulations or the addition thereof in a step prior to its application, directly in the spray mix. The adjuvant composition described in this invention is compatible with a great variety of pesticides and inert components used in agrochemical compositions and proved to be able of reducing the formation of fine droplets, responsible for the formation of drift in more than one type of nozzle, without increasing the relative amplitude of the droplet spectrum, thus avoiding compromising the effectiveness of the active ingredient.

Claims

1. A method of using an alkoxylated polyol blend for the preparation of an adjuvant composition for drift reduction in an agrochemical formulation, wherein the polyol blend comprises 0.05 to 40% by weight of two or more di-, tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexaesters of an alkoxylated polyol having more than 120 moles of alkoxide per mole of polyol, and wherein tetra- and penta-esters contain at least 30% by weight of the total esters, comprising the step of adding the polyol blend to an agrochemical formulation, wherein the polyol blend improves the drift reduction properties in the agrochemical formulation.

2. An adjuvant composition for drift reduction, comprising 0.1 to 30% by weight of a blend of two or more esters of an alkoxylated polyol having more than 120 moles of alkoxide per mole of polyol, wherein the blend contains tetra and penta esters that comprise at least 30% by weight of the total esters, 2 to 12% by weight of polyethylene glycol esters, 30 to 60% by weight of ethoxylated sorbitan esters, and 10 to 30% by weight of glycols.

3. The adjuvant composition according to claim 2, further comprising water and, optionally, an antifoamer.

4. An agrochemical formulation, comprising 0.05 to 10% by weight of the adjuvant composition of claim 2.

5. An agrochemical formulation, comprising 1 to 5% by weight of the adjuvant composition of claim 2.

6. A spray mix, comprising 0.05 to 5% by weight of the adjuvant composition of claim 2.

7. A spray mix, comprising 0.1 to 1% by weight of the adjuvant composition of claim 2.

8. The agrochemical formulation of claim 4, further comprising one or more components selected from the group consisting of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, acaricides, 2/2 foliar fertilizers, other adjuvants with antifoaming properties, humectant, spreader, adhesive, compatibilizing agents, penetrating agents, acidifying agents, neutralizing agents, buffering agents, water conditioning agents, and combinations thereof.

9. The agrochemical formulation of claim 5, further comprising one or more components selected from the group consisting of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, acaricides, 2/2 foliar fertilizers, other adjuvants with antifoaming properties, humectant, spreader, adhesive, compatibilizing agents, penetrating agents, acidifying agents, neutralizing agents, buffering agents, water conditioning agents, and combinations thereof.

10. The agrochemical formulation of claim 8, wherein the adjuvant composition improves the drift reduction properties of the agrochemical formulation.

11. The agrochemical formulation of claim 9, wherein the adjuvant composition improves the drift reduction properties of the agrochemical formulation.

12. The spray mix of claim 6, wherein the adjuvant composition improves the drift reduction properties of the agrochemical formulation.

13. The spray mix of claim 7, wherein the adjuvant composition improves the drift reduction properties of the agrochemical formulation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The adjuvant composition of this invention comprises a blend comprising fatty acid esters with an esterified alkoxylated polyol for drift reduction in the application of agrochemicals such as pesticides, foliar fertilizers, stimulants, etc. by spray or aerosol methods.

[0021] In particular, the adjuvant composition of this invention comprises 0.1 to 30% by weight of a blend of two or more esters selected from di-, tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexaesters of an alkoxylated polyol having more than 120 moles of the alkoxide per mole of polyol, and whose minimum content of tetra- and penta-esters corresponds to about 30% by weight of the total esters, 2 to 12% of polyethylene glycol esters, 30 to 60% by weight of ethoxylated sorbitan esters, and 10 to 30% by weight of glycols. Such a composition is solid at room temperature and can be formulated for ease of handling and incorporation into agrochemical formulations. Moreover, the adjuvant composition may further comprise one or more solvents, surfactants, compatibilizers, water and, optionally, defoamers.

[0022] Advantageously, it was observed that in higher concentration of the blend that comprises two or more of the aforementioned akoxylated polyol esters such as, for instance, 35 to 60%, the composition acts as an adjuvant in agrochemical formulations, causing a reduction of the drift effect. Due to the chemical nature of the esterified alkoxylated polyols used herein, the drift reduction adjuvant composition described in this invention is compatible and can be incorporated directly into concentrated agrochemical formulations in its manufacturing process, such as, for example, concentrated suspensions (CS), emulsifiable concentrates, among other types of formulation, or even added in a step prior to the application of the agrochemical formulation in the mix.

[0023] In the example shown in Table 1, the esterified alkoxylated polyol (sorbitol) was mixed with surfactants and solvents to obtain a product in the liquid state, making easier the incorporation if the product has no structure making component melting possible.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Example of the use of the adjuvant composition for drift reduction in the liquid form to be directly incorporate into agrochemical formulations during their manufacture (ADJ - FORMULATION): Components Percentage by weight, % w Mixture of ethoxylated sorbitol esters 40 Polyethylene glycol esters 30 Ethoxylated sorbitan esters 2 Propylene glycol 2 Water (optional) 26

[0024] In another preferable embodiment of this invention, the adjuvant composition can also be added by the farmer only in the final step, in the spray mix, as evidenced in Table 2 below. In this case, the suitable formulation with solvents and surfactants accelerate the homogenization of the adjuvant in the mix.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Example of adjuvant composition for drift reduction in the liquid form to be added to the spray mix (ADJ - MIX): Components Percentage by weight, % w Mixture of ethoxylated sorbitol esters 8 Polyethylene glycol esters 6 Ethoxylated sorbitan esters 40 Propylene glycol 20 Silicone defoamer 0.1 Water 25.9

[0025] Another possible use implies the addition of esterified alkoxylated polyol formulated in an oil adjuvant formulation (Tables 3 and 4).

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Example of adjuvant composition for drift reduction incorporated into an oily adjuvant of a mix to be added to the spray mix (ADJ - OIL 80): Components Percentage by weight, % w Soy Methyl Ester 80 Linear Calcium Salt 5 Ethoxylated Lauryl Alcohol 4 Ethoxylated Castor Oil 6 2-ethyl-hexanol 2 Adjuvant composition of table 1 1 Water 2

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Example of adjuvant composition for drift reduction in oily adjuvant of the mix to be added to the spray mix: (ADJ - OIL 60): Components Percentage by weight, % w Soy Methyl Ester 60 Linear Calcium Salt 10 Ethoxylated Lauryl Alcohol 8 Ethoxylated Castor Oil 12 2-ethyl-hexanol 4 Adjuvant composition of table 1 1 Water 5

[0026] In general, the amount of adjuvant composition used for drift reduction, as propounded in this invention, corresponds to about 0.05 and 10 by weight of the adjuvant composition, when used to prepare the agrochemical formulation and, preferably, this amount varies from 1 to 5%. In the spray mix, the adjuvant composition is added in an amount varying from 0.05 and 5%, preferably between 0.1 and 1% by weight. Moreover, one or more herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, acaricides, foliar fertilizers or other adjuvants with antifoaming, humectant, spreading, adhesive, compatibilizing, penetrating, acidifying, neutralizing, buffering features or water-conditioning agents can be also present. However, the exact amount of the adjuvant composition to be incorporated in each formulation or in the spray mix depends on its type, its components, process for preparing and reducing fine droplets to be achieved.

[0027] In these agrochemical products, it was found that the adjuvant composition of this invention causes the decrease of fine droplets, responsible for the formation of drift during spraying of agrochemical products. The composition prepared according to this invention has also other important characteristics such as not increasing the relative amplitude of the sprayed droplets and allowing the use of traditional flat jet or extended-range flat jet nozzles, in addition to air induction nozzles, maintaining the effect of fine droplet reduction.

[0028] It is worth stressing that, in the formulations and concentration ranges described in this invention, the adjuvant composition confers no thickening of the agrochemical product and maintains characteristics of Newtonian fluid in the mix dilution conditions. This fact confers an advantage to this adjuvant composition over the polymers used for drift control, which have pseudoplastic behavior even at low concentrations of the mix.

[0029] The following examples show several aspects of this Invention without, however, limiting it. The results described in the tables of each example prove the effect of the adjuvant composition in the reduction of fine droplets and, thus, of the drift.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

Formulation of the 2.4 D Salt Containing the Adjuvant Composition for Drift Reduction of Table 1 (ADJ-FORMULATION)

[0030] 2% by weight of the adjuvant composition of Table 1 was mixed with a formulation of the soluble concentrate type of 806g g/L of 2.4D, of dimethylamine salt. Two spray mixes containing the same content of 2.4D salt (1.84% p/v), one by adding 2% of the adjuvant composition and the other one with only 2.4D salt and water, were prepared. The mixes were applied using two types of nozzles: one of the extended-range flat jet type OCR 8002) and the other of the air induction type (AIXR11002) and pressure of 40 psi. The Volumetric Median Diameter (VMD), the % reduction of droplets smaller than 105 μm and the relative droplet size amplitude were analyzed. Droplet spectrum analyzes were performed by the VisiSizer Portable image analysis equipment manufactured by Oxford Lasers in a windless spray chamber.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Droplet Spectrum Analysis of Example 1 Nozzles XR8002 AIXR11002 % of % of Droplet Droplet Reduc- Reduc- DMV tion <105 Relative DMV tion <105 Relative (μm) μm amplitude (μm) μm amplitude 2.4D 131 * 1.38 260 * 1.60 DMA Salt 2.4D 139 17 1.36 309 50 1.41 DMA salt formulated with 2% w of the adjuvant for drift reduction

Example 2

Spray Mix with 2.4 D DMA+DEA Salt and Mix Adjuvant for Drift Reduction of Table 2 (ADJ-MIX)

[0031] 1% v/v of the herbicidal composition of 625 g/L of the 2.4 D (dimethylamine and diethanolamine salt) salts blend were mixed in the spray mix, using the commercial product Amicide 625 of the manufactures Nufarm and 0.25% v/v of the adjuvant composition shown in Table 2. The mixes were applied using two types of nozzles: one of the extended flat jet type (XR 8002) and the other of the air induction type (AIXR11002) and pressure of 40 psi. The Volumetric Median Diameter (VMD), the % reduction of droplets smaller than 105 μm and the relative droplet size amplitude were analyzed. Droplet spectrum analyses were performed by the laser diffraction analysis equipment Sympatec HELOS manufactured by Sympatec GmbH in wind tunnel with wind speed of 8 m/s.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Droplet Spectrum Analysis of Example 2 Nozzles XR8002 AIXR11002 Droplet Droplet Reduction Relative Reduction Relative DMV % <105 ampli- DMV % <105 ampli- (μm) μm tudee (μm) μm tude 2.4 D 233 * 1.12 426 * 1.03 DMA + DEA 2.4 D 235 14 1.12 416 11 1.06 DMA + DEA + 0.25% ADJ-MIX

Example 3

Spray Mix with Potassium Glyphosate Salt and Mix Adjuvant for Drift Reduction of Table 2 (ADJ-MIX)

[0032] In the spray mix, 2.5% v/v of the herbicidal composition of 540 g/L of potassium glyphosate salt were mixed with the 0.25% v/v of the adjuvant composition shown in Table 2, using the commercial product RoundUp Powermax manufactured by Monsanto. The mixes were applied using three types of nozzles: one of the flat jet type (8002), another of the extended-range flat jet type (XR 8002) and the other of the air induction type (AIXR11002) and pressure of 40 psi. The Volumetric Median Diameter (VMD), the % reduction of droplets smaller than 105 μm and the relative droplet size amplitude were analyzed. Droplet spectrum analyses were performed by the laser diffraction analysis equipment Sympatec HELOS manufactured by Sympatec GmbH in wind tunnel with wind speed of 8 m/s.

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Droplet Spectrum Analysis of Example 3 Nozzles 8002 XR8002 AIXR11002 Droplet Droplet Droplet DM V Reduction Relative DM V Reduction Relative DM V Reduction Relative (μm) % <105 μm amplitude (μm) % <105 μm amplitude (μm) % <105 μm amplitude K 214 * 1.32 176 * 1.45 377 * 1.26 glyphosate K 235 45 1.08 221 62 1.09 377 35 1.17 glyphosate + 0.25% ADJ-MIX

Example 4

Spray Mix with Glyphosate Salt and Oil-Based Mix Adjuvant Containing the Adjuvant Composition for Drift Reduction in this Invention. According to tables 3 and 4 (ADJ-OIL 80 and OIL 60)

[0033] In the spray mix, 2.5% v/v of the herbicidal composition of 540 g/L of potassium glyphosate salt and 0.25% v/v of the adjuvant compositions shown in Table 3 were mixed, using the commercial product RoundUp Powermax manufactured by Monsanto. The mixes were applied using two types of nozzles: one of the extended-range flat jet type (XR 8002) and the other of the air induction type (AIXR11002) and pressure of 40 psi. The Volumetric Median Diameter (VMD), the % reduction of droplets smaller than 105 μm and the relative droplet size amplitude were analyzed. Droplet spectrum analyses were performed by the laser diffraction analysis equipment Sympatec HELOS manufactured by Sympatec GmbH in wind tunnel with wind speed of 8 m/s.

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Droplet Spectrum Analysis of Example 4 Nozzles XR8002 AIXR11002 % of % of Droplet Droplet Reduc- Reduc- DMV tion <105 Relative DMV tion <105 Relative (μm) μm amplitude (μm) μm amplitude Glypho- 176 * 1.45 377 * 1.26 sate K K 212 60 1.12 374 56 1.07 Glypho- sate + 0.25% ADJ- OIL 80 K 206 35 1.26 392 42 1.07 Glypho- sate + 0.25% ADJ- OIL 60

Example 5

Spray Mix with DGA Dicamba Salt and Mix Adjuvant for Drift Reduction of Table 2 (ADJ-MIX)

[0034] In the spray mix, 2.5% v/v of the herbicidal composition of 480 g/L of Dicamba, Diglycolamine salt (DGA) and 0.25% v/v of the adjuvant compositions shown in Table 2 were mixed, using the commercial product Clarity manufactured by BASF. The mixes were applied using two types of nozzles: one of the extended-range flat jet type (XR 8002) and the other of the air induction type (AIXR11002) and pressure of 40 psi. The Volumetric Median Diameter (VMD), the % reduction of droplets smaller than 105 μm and the relative droplet size amplitude were analyzed. Droplet spectrum analyses were performed by the laser diffraction analysis equipment Sympatec HELOS manufactured by Sympatec GmbH in wind tunnel with wind speed of 8 m/s.

TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 8 Droplet Spectrum Analysis of Example 5 Nozzles XR8002 AIXR11002 % of % of Droplet Droplet Reduc- Reduction DMV tion <105 Relative DMV % <105 Relative (μm) μm amplitude (μm) μm amplitude Dicamba 225 * 1.16 412 * 1.00 DGA Dicamba 246 42 1.10 421 20 1.05 DGA 0.25%. ADJMIX

[0035] Based on the data of the tables above it can be verified that the adjuvant composition of this invention causes the decrease of fine droplets, responsible for the formation of drift during spraying of agrochemical products.

[0036] Countless variations affecting the scope of protection of this application are allowed. Therefore, it is to be emphasized that this invention is not limited to the specific concentrations described above.