Aqueous electrolyte-containing adjuvant compositions, active ingredient-containing compositions and the use thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to adjuvant compositions which contain a) one or more polyalkylene glycol sulfate salts or polyalkylene glycol sulfonate salts, b) water, and c) one or more electrolytes dissociated into ions. Said adjuvant compositions can be preferably used combined with pharmaceutical active ingredients, agrochemical active ingredients, biocides or repellents which have a high electrolyte content.

Claims

1. A spray liquor produced by diluting a concentrate formulation with water, the concentrate formulation comprising: a) at least one sulfated polyalkylene glycol having the structural formula:
(HO—(CH.sub.2—CH.sub.2—O—).sub.n(CH.sub.2—CH(CH.sub.3)—O).sub.m—CH.sub.2—CH.sub.2—O—SO.sub.2—O.sup.−).sub.qM.sup.q+, in which n and m are independently in the range of 2 to 40, q is 1 or 2, and M is mono- or divalent cation, wherein the at least one component a) is present in an amount from 2% to 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the concentrate formulation; b) water; and c) at least one electrolyte dissociated into ions selected from the group consisting of water-soluble salts of glyphosate and water-soluble salts of glufosinate, wherein the spray liquor contains at least 0.25 g/L of the at least one sulfated polyalkylene glycol.

2. The spray liquor of claim 1, further comprising at least one water-insoluble active ingredient d).

3. The spray liquor of claim 1, further comprising at least one of components e) to g): e) at least one alkylglucamide of the formula (I) ##STR00003## in which R1 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms, R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, f) propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, mixtures of propylene glycol and dipropylene glycol, each optionally in a mixture with polypropylene glycol and/or polyethylene glycol, each having up to ten repeat units, g) at least one cosolvent, and/or h) at least one auxiliary.

4. The spray liquor of claim 2, wherein the at least one water-insoluble active ingredient d) is at least one water-insoluble pesticide.

5. The spray liquor of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrolyte c) is selected from water-soluble salts of glufosinate.

6. The spray liquor of claim 2, further comprising at least one customary formulation auxiliaries h) that are selected from the group consisting of nonpolar solvents, inert materials, stickers, wetters, dispersants, emulsifiers, penetrants, preservatives, fillers, carriers, dyes, agents that affect the pH or the viscosity, functional polymers, further adjuvants, and defoamers.

7. The spray liquor of claim 2, wherein the water-insoluble active ingredient d) is selected from the group consisting of active pharmaceutical ingredients, active agrochemical ingredients, biocides and repellents.

8. The spray liquor of claim 2, further comprising at least one of the following additional components e) to g): e) at least one alkylglucamide of the formula (I) ##STR00004## in which R1 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms, R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, f) propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, mixtures of propylene glycol and dipropylene glycol, each optionally in a mixture with polypropylene glycol and/or polyethylene glycol, each having up to ten repeat units, g) at least one cosolvent, and/or h) at least one auxiliary.

9. The spray liquor of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrolyte c) is selected from water-soluble salts of glyphosate.

10. The spray liquor of claim 1, wherein the degree of polymerization of the at least one sulfated polyalkylene glycol is in the range of 5-60 repeat units per molecule.

11. The spray liquor of claim 1, wherein the degree of polymerization of the at least one sulfated polyalkylene glycol is in the range of 10-80 repeat units per molecule.

12. The spray liquor of claim 1, wherein the at least one sulfated polyalkylene glycol is provided as a mixture of oligomers or polymers having different degrees of polymerizations and/or different molecular weights.

13. The spray liquor of claim 1, wherein the proportion of the at least one sulfated polyalkylene glycol a) in the concentrate is 5% to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the concentrate; the proportion of water b) in the concentrate is 20% to 70% by weight, based on the total weight of the concentrate; the proportion of the at least one electrolyte c) in the concentrate is 10% to 70% by weight, based on the total weight of the concentrate.

14. The spray liquor of claim 1, wherein the spray liquor comprises 0.001% to 10% by weight of the at least one electrolyte c).

15. The spray liquor of claim 1, wherein the spray liquor comprises 0.02% to 3% by weight of the at least one electrolyte c).

16. A method for improving plant wettability by a reduction in dynamic surface tension, comprising applying the spray liquor of claim 1 to a plant.

17. A method for control and/or abatement of unwanted plant growth, comprising contacting the unwanted plant, or habitat thereof with the spray liquor of claim 1.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the spray liquor further comprises at least one water-insoluble active ingredient d).

Description

WORKING EXAMPLES

Comparative Examples C1-C3 and Examples 1-3

(1) The efficacy of glufosinate-ammonium herbicide was examined, applied in an active ingredient concentration of 400 g in the spray liquid to counter Rumex sp. weeds. Emulsogen PF20S was added to the tank. The numerical values reported in table 1 below are the arithmetic mean from three trials in each case.

(2) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Test product Weed control in concentration % after time in spray liquor [400 g/ha ai] Example Formulation Test product [g/l] 2 days 8 days 15 days Control 0.00 0.00 0.00 C1 Market standard — 10.00 80.00 70.00 glufosinate- ammonium SL 200 (2 L/ha) C2 Market standard — 10.00 83.33 71.67 glufosinate- ammonium SL 280 (1.43 L/ha) C3 Glufosinate- Genapol 3.2 5.00 83.33 75.00 ammonium SL LRO 280 (1.43 L/ha) 1 Glufosinate- Emulsogen 0.64 16.67 85.00 85.00 ammonium SL PF20S 280 (1.43 L/ha) 2 Glufosinate- Emulsogen 1.6 16.67 85.00 86.67 ammonium SL PF20S 280 (1.43 L/ha) 3 Glufosinate- Emulsogen 3.2 13.33 80.00 80.00 ammonium SL PF20S 280 (1.43 L/ha)

(3) Table 1 shows a higher efficacy of glufosinate-ammonium in the presence of Emulsogen PF20S. The compositions of the invention were quicker and showed the highest and longest weed control. These compositions were better than all market standard products.

(4) The field results listed in table 1 show that polyalkylene glycol ether sulfate salts can be used advantageously in aqueous systems with a high electrolyte content. This also applies to other aqueous preparations comprising polyalkylene glycol ether sulfate salts, such as Emulsogen PF20S, and water-soluble salts or acids of herbicides, such as auxins, glufosinate, glyphosate or mesotrione and combinations thereof. These may be ready-to-use dilutions or concentrates or preliminary solutions thereof. What should be emphasized is the combination of high cloud point (>100° C.), low dynamic surface tension, good plant compatibility and favorable toxicological classification, which promote sustainable use of agrochemicals.

(5) This applies in use as a tankmix adjuvant, but also when Emulsogen PF20 S is incorporated into the formulation. Emulsogen PF20 S forms stable formulations with glyphosate salts and with different further surfactants in various concentrations, and it is possible to work with high electrolyte concentrations. What should be emphasized are the high cloud point (>100° C.) and the low dynamic surface tension of Emulsogen PF20 S. The latter in aqueous solution at a concentration of 0.5 g/L after 200 msec is less than 55 mN/m.

Examples 4-8

(6) Further formulations of glufosinate-ammonium were produced. The individual constituents and the amounts thereof in the individual formulations are listed in table 2 below.

(7) The formulations of examples 4 to 8 are glufosinate SL200 formulations with 5% active substance content of polyalkylene glycol ether sulfate ammonium (=Emulsogen PF20S) and Synergen GA or the alkyl polyglucoside Agnique PG8105. All formulations were stably monophasic and transparent (without cloudiness) in the temperature range between −10° C. (8 weeks), room temperature (8 weeks) and 54° C. (2 weeks). The pH was 6 and was variable within the range of pH 4.5-8.5. Further properties of these formulations are listed in table 2 below.

(8) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Example No. 4 5 6 7 8 Glufosinate-ammonium 35.00 35.00 35.00 35.00 35.00 (50%) Emulsogen PF20S 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 (50%) Propylene glycol 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 DM water 36.98 33.98 33.98 31.50 29.00 Diammonium hydrogen 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 citrate Synergen GA 8.00 10.00 C810 alkyl polyglucoside 10.00 12.50 15.00 (Agnique PG8105, BASF) Momentive SAG 1572 0.02 0.02 0.02 defoamer 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 pH (1% formulation, 6 6 6 6 6 DM water) Stability (8 weeks) liquid liquid liquid liquid liquid −10° C. Stability (8 weeks) RT ok ok ok ok ok (25° C.) Stability (2 weeks) ok ok ok ok ok 54° C.

Example 9

(9) The formulation in this example was a glyphosate-K formulation with an active substance content of polyalkylene glycol ether sulfate-ammonium (=Emulsogen PF20S) and Synergen GL8 (=C810, alkyldimethyl(hydroxyethyl)ammonium chloride). The simple, inexpensive and stable formulation of an SL540 formulation of glyphosate potassium contained 84.5% glyphosate K (58%), 6% Synergen GL8, 3% Emulsogen PF20S (polyalkylene glycol ether sulfate ammonium), and water to 100%.

(10) It was optionally possible to add defoamer.

(11) The formulation was stably monophasic and transparent (without cloudiness) in the temperature range between −10° C. (8 weeks), room temperature (8 weeks) and 40° C. (8 weeks).

(12) The unadjusted pH was 4.3 and was variable within the range of pH 4.0-8.5.

Example 10

(13) The formulation in this example was a glyphosate-K formulation with an active substance content of polyalkylene glycol ether sulfate-potassium (=Tivogen PFK) and Synergen GL8 (=C810, alkyldimethyl(hydroxyethyl)ammonium chloride).

(14) The simple, inexpensive and stable formulation of an SL540 formulation of glyphosate potassium contained 84.5% glyphosate K (58%), 6% Synergen GL8, 3% Tivogen PFK (polyalkylene glycol ether sulfate potassium), and water to 100%.

(15) It was optionally possible to add defoamer.

(16) The formulation was stably monophasic and transparent (without cloudiness) in the temperature range between −10° C. (8 weeks), room temperature (8 weeks) and 40° C. (8 weeks). The unadjusted pH was 4.3 and was variable within the range of pH 4.0-8.5.

(17) All formulations of examples 4 to 10 were stable between −10 and +40° C. and, where determined, up to +54° C., and, after dilution with water at active ingredient-typical active herbicidal ingredient concentrations of 1.5-10 g/L glufosinate (acid equivalent) or 5-50 g/L glyphosate (acid equivalent), gave aqueous solutions having dynamic surface tensions below 50 mN/m and hence have excellent wetting properties for monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds and all crop plants.