FORMULATION

Abstract

This invention relates to an emulsion comprising (i) an aqueous phase comprising an agrochemical A; and (ii) an oil phase comprising an agrochemical B; where either phase (i) is dispersed in phase (ii); or phase (ii) is dispersed in phase (i); agrochemical A is selected from salts of mepiquat and salts of chlormequat and mixtures of such salts; agrochemical B is trinexapac-ethyl; provided that the emulsion is not a microemulsion. It also relates to such an emulsion which is a ready mix emulsion; to use of such an emulsion for regulating plant growth; and to use of such an emulsion for preventing and/or reducing lodging of crop plants.

Claims

1. An emulsion comprising (i) an aqueous phase comprising an agrochemical A; and (ii) an oil phase comprising an agrochemical B; where either phase (i) is dispersed in phase (ii); or phase (ii) is dispersed in phase (i); agrochemical A is selected from salts of mepiquat and salts of chlormequat and mixtures of such salts; agrochemical B is trinexapac-ethyl; provided that the emulsion is not a microemulsion.

2. An emulsion as claimed in claim 1 where phase (ii) is dispersed in phase (i).

3. An emulsion as claimed in claim 1 where agrochemical A is mepiquat chloride or chlormequat chloride.

4. A composition as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an emulsifier.

5. A composition as claimed in claim 1 further comprising solid particles at the interface between phase (i) and phase (ii).

6. A composition as claimed in claim 1 where concentration of agrochemical A is from 200 g/l to 600 g/l.

7. A composition as claimed in claim 1 where concentration of agrochemical B is from 25 g/l to 150 g/l.

Description

EXAMPLE 1

[0044] This example provides emulsions, according to the present invention, comprising trinexapac-ethyl (at a concentration of 100 g/l) and chlormequat chloride (at a concentration of 450 g/l)).

[0045] Emulsion A: A 100 ml vessel was charged with chlormequat chloride (36.7 g) and water (27.4 g). The mixture was stirred with a paddle stirrer until the chlormequat chloride had completely dissolved. Imerys® RLO 7645 clay (8.0 g) was added and mixed in by stirring with a paddle stirrer. A 50% w/w solution of trinexapac-ethyl in Solvesso® 200ND (16.0 g) was mixed in with a Silverson® high-shear mixer (5000 rpm), while maintaining the temperature below 25° C. Within 10 minutes, a homogeneous emulsion had formed.

[0046] Emulsion B: A 100 ml vessel was charged with chlormequat chloride (36.7 g) and water (27.4 g). The mixture was stirred with a paddle stirrer until the chlormequat chloride had completely dissolved. A 20% w/w solution of Mowiol® 4-88 in water (8.1 g) was added. The mixture was homogenised by stirring with a paddle stirrer. A 50% w/w solution of trinexapac-ethyl in Solvesso® 200ND (16.0 g) was mixed in with a Silverson® high-shear mixer (5000 rpm), while maintaining the temperature below 25° C. Within 10 minutes, a homogeneous emulsion had formed.

EXAMPLE 2

[0047] This example provides emulsions, according to the present invention, comprising trinexapac-ethyl (at a concentration of 100 g/l) and mepiquat chloride (at a concentration of 450 g/l)).

[0048] Emulsion C: A 380 ml vessel was charged with mepiquat chloride (114.2 g) and water (60.8 g). The mixture was stirred with a paddle stirrer until the mepiquat chloride had completely dissolved. Imerys® RLO 7645 clay (25.4 g) was mixed in using a paddle stirrer. The clay was dispersed for 5 minutes using a Silverson® high-shear mixer (5000 rpm), while maintaining the temperature below 25° C. A 50% w/w solution of trinexapac-ethyl in Solvesso®200ND (49.9 g) was added while continuing high-shear mixing (5000 rpm). After 5 minutes a homogeneous emulsion had formed. The concentration was adjusted by adding water (15.8 g). The formulation was homogenised by stirring with a paddle stirrer for 2 hours.

[0049] Emulsion D: A 250 ml vessel was charged with mepiquat chloride (68.9 g) and water (46.0 g). The mixture was stirred with a paddle stirrer until the mepiquat chloride had completely dissolved. A 20% w/w solution of Mowiol® 4-88 in water (15.1 g) was added and the mixture was stirred with a paddle stirrer for 10 minutes. A 50% w/w solution of trinexapac-ethyl in Solvesso® 200ND (30.1 g) was mixed in with a Silverson® high-shear mixer (5000 rpm), while maintaining the temperature below 25° C. After 10 minutes a homogeneous emulsion had formed.

EXAMPLE 3

[0050] This is a Comparative Example.

[0051] Microemulsion E: A microemulsion comprising trinexapac-ethyl (at a concentration of 2.14% w/w) and chlormequat chloride (at a concentration of 25% w/w) was prepared in accordance with WO2015/075646A1, page 18, Table 1.

[0052] Solution F: Trinexapac-ethyl was molten at 50° C. before use. A 150 ml glass bottle was charged with mepiquat chloride (28.7 g), water (6.9 g), ethanol (69.1 g), and trinexapacethyl (6.6 g). The bottle was left on a roller for 16hours. In this time a homogeneous clear solution formed.

[0053] Solution G: Trinexapac-ethyl was molten at 50° C. before use. A 150 ml glass bottle was charged with mepiquat chloride (28.7 g), water (6.4 g), 1,2-propylene glycol (91.0 g), and trinexapac-ethyl (6.6 g). The bottle was left on a roller for 16hours. In this time a homogeneous clear solution formed.

EXAMPLE 4

[0054] This example illustrates the stability of trinexapac-ethyl in the presence of chlormequat chloride.

[0055] Emulsions and a comparative microemulsion according to the above Examples were subjected to accelerated storage testing (2 weeks at 54° C.) whereby the chemical stability of trinexapac-ethyl was measured using standard analytical techniques; the concentration of trinexapac-ethyl remaining when compared to a reference sample stored at −18° C. is given, as a percentage, in Table 1 below, where the g/l concentrations of trinexapac-ethyl [TXP] plus chlormequat chloride [CCC] are given:

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Formu- Mixing TXP::CCC Formulation TXP after lation Partner (g/l) Type 2 weeks at 54° C. E Chlormequat  20::235 Microemulsion 75% chloride A Chlormequat 100::450 Pickering 99% chloride Emulsion B Chlormequat 100::450 Emulsion 99% chloride

[0056] Trinexapac-ethyl was significantly more chemically stable within emulsion formulations according to the present invention than within a microemulsion.

EXAMPLE 5

[0057] This example illustrates the stability of trinexapac-ethyl in the presence of mepiquat chloride.

[0058] Emulsions and comparative solutions according to the above Examples were subjected to accelerated storage testing (2 weeks at 54° C.) whereby the chemical stability of trinexapac-ethyl was measured using standard analytical techniques; the concentration of trinexapac-ethyl remaining when compared to a reference sample stored at −18° C. is given, as a percentage, in Table 2 below, where the g/l concentrations of trinexapac-ethyl [TXP] plus mepiquat chloride [MPQ] are given:

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Formu- Mixing TXP::MPQ Formulation TXP after lation Partner (g/l) Type 2 weeks at 54° C. F Mepiquat  50::225 Solution 74% chloride G Mepiquat  50::225 Solution 77% chloride C Mepiquat 100::450 Pickering 99% chloride Emulsion D Mepiquat 100::450 Emulsion 98% chloride

[0059] Trinexapac-ethyl was significantly more chemically stable within emulsion formulations according to the present invention than within solutions.