Manufacture and use of agricultural spray adjuvants for hard water conditions

Abstract

The invention pertains to a method for manufacture and use of pesticides or agricultural spray adjuvants that counteracts the effects of hard water cat ions on anionic pesticides when applied in water spray solutions. The disclosed agricultural spray adjuvants include glyphosate compositions comprising a strong mineral acid, such as sulfuric acid, and a polyamine surfactant, such as tallow amine or coco amine.

Claims

1. A method for improving glyphosate efficacy comprising: a. providing a concentrated solution comprising sulfuric acid and tallow amine ethoxylate; b. diluting the concentrated solution from ¼ to 2 percent v/v with water comprising cations to form a diluted solution; and c. adding glyphosate to the diluted solution of step b.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the diluted solution results from combination of 1 quart to 2 gallons of the concentrated solution to 100 gallons of the water comprising cations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the diluted solution results from combination of 1 quart to 1 gallon of the concentrated solution to 100 gallons of the water comprising cations.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the diluted solution results from combination of 1 quart to 2 quarts of the concentrated solution to 100 gallons of the water comprising cations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the diluted solution has a pH above the PKa.sub.2 of glyphosate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the diluted solution does not contain ammonium sulfate (AMS).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein better glyphosate efficacy is provided in comparison to 5-20 pounds AMS per 100 gallons of water.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the improvement in glyphosate efficacy is measureable in percent control of annual bluegrass.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the water comprising cations of step b comprises more than 100 ppm to 150 ppm of cations.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the water comprising cations of step b comprises between 150 ppm to 250 ppm of cations.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1. Formula 21-1 as compared to AMS for the reduction of hard water tie up of glyphosate salt. As measured by percent control of annual bluegrass. Zinc acetate added as the complexing Anion. V/v=volume to volume.

(2) FIG. 2. The effect of Formula 21-1 on restoring the activity of glyphosate as demonstrated by percent control of annual bluegrass as compared to ammonium sulfate (AMS). Magnesium Sulfant (MgSu) was added to the mixture to simulate hard water cations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(3) Strong mineral acids were added to polymers in an attempt to deliver a controlled amount of acid into a spray solution. The acid would act as a “hard water cation scavenger”. The mixture would be an agronomic spray “hard water scavenger system”. In the preferred example sulfuric acid was added to tallow amine. Heat was given off indicating some reaction. However, pH measurements of spray mixtures taken before and after the addition of the “hard water scavenger system” shows that free acid still existed.

(4) Knowing that any potential spray solution which could be contemplated would have to stay above a pH of which is higher than the pKa of most anionic pesticides. Differing mixtures of several examples where made up. Table 1, Table 2, Table 3. It was thought that this would be a more efficient method to condition the spray waters than current practice of using Ammonium Sulfate (AMS). However, the mixture would have to remain stable, not drop the pH below the pKa of anionic pesticides and work as well as or better than AMS. The efficiency would be gained by replacing large bags of dry AMS (17.5 lbs/100 gallons spray solution) or large volumes (5 gallon/100 gallons spray solution) of liquid AMS with 1 quart to 1 gallon per 100 gallons of spray solution with this kind of product. Also this liquid product would go into solution much faster than the current AMS goes into solution adding even more efficiency.

(5) It was discovered that cationic macro molecules would make a stable mix with sulfuric acid. Also, cationic surfactant would act as a system that would deliver enough free acid to tie up hard water cations. While at the same time maintain the pH of the spray water above the pKa of the active ingredient being sprayed thus increasing the efficacy of the pesticide.

(6) It was surprising to discover that these mixtures increased or maintained the efficacy of anionic pesticides under hard water conditions much better than the current practice of adding Ammonium Sulfate (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2).

(7) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Example 1 Formula 21-1 Water 65.9%/wt Tallow Am 3780 30.0  SAG 10 0.1 93% Sulfuric 4.0

(8) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Example 2 Formula 21-2 Water 45.9%/wt Tallow Am 3780 50.0  SAG10 0.1 93% Sulfuric 4.0

(9) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Example 3 INGREDIENT %/WT Diethylene Glycol 17.80 NP-10 50.00 AU391 30.00 93% Sulfuric Acid 2.00 SAG 10 [ 0.20