Nonaqueous pesticide suspension comprising a water soluble solvent, an inorganic thickener, and an alkoxylate

Abstract

A liquid nonaqueous composition is disclosed. The composition includes: a pesticide in form of suspended particles, a water soluble solvent, an inorganic thickener, and an alkoxylate. A method for the preparation of the composition is also disclosed. The method includes contacting the pesticide with the water soluble solvent, the inorganic thickener, and the alkoxylate. The method may further include contact with a block polymer surfactant and/or a nonionic cosurfactant. A method for controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired plant growth and/or undesired attack by insects or mites and/or for regulating the growth of plants, wherein the composition is allowed to act on a particular pest, their habitat or plants to be protected from the particular pest, on soil and/or on undesired plants and/or useful plants and/or their habitat.

Claims

1. A liquid nonaqueous composition comprising: a pesticide in form of suspended particles, at least 10 wt % of a water soluble solvent, up to 10% of a water-insoluble organic solvent, an inorganic thickener, and an alkoxylate, wherein the composition comprises less than 5 wt. % water and further wherein a sum of the amounts of the water soluble solvent and the alkoxylate is at least 40 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the water soluble solvent comprises one or more of the following: propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, glycerin, propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, and dimethyl sulfoxide.

3. The composition according to claim 1 comprising at least 10 wt % of the alkoxylate based on the total weight of the composition.

4. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the alkoxylate is an alkoxylated alkanol.

5. The composition according to claim 1, comprising from 0.01 to 5.0 wt % of the inorganic thickener based on the total weight of the composition.

6. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic thickener comprises silica particles.

7. The composition according to claim 1, further comprising a block polymer surfactant.

8. The composition according to claim 7, comprising at least 5 wt % of the block polymer surfactant.

9. The composition according to claim 7, where the block polymer surfactant is an alkoxylate block polymer of an A-B-A type comprising blocks of polyethylene oxide (block A) and polypropylene oxide (block B), and wherein the alkoxylate block polymer is terminated on both ends by hydroxyl groups.

10. The composition according to claim 7, wherein the sum of the amounts of the water soluble solvent, the alkoxylate, and the block polymer surfactant is at least 50 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.

11. The composition according to claim 1, further comprising a nonionic cosurfactant selected from phenol alkoxylates.

12. The composition according claim 11, comprising 5 to 25 wt % of the nonionic cosurfactant.

13. The composition according to claim 1, comprising less than 1 wt % of water.

14. A method for the preparation of the composition as defined in claim 1, the method comprising contacting the pesticide with the water soluble solvent, up to 10% of the water-insoluble organic solvent, the inorganic thickener, and the alkoxylate.

15. A method for controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired plant growth and/or undesired attack by insects or mites and/or for regulating the growth of plants, wherein the composition as defined in claim 1 is allowed to act on a pest, their habitat or plants to be protected from the pest, on soil and/or on undesired plants and/or useful plants and/or their habitat.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising contacting a block polymer surfactant with the pesticide, the water soluble solvent, the inorganic thickener, and the alkoxylate.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising contacting a nonionic cosurfactant with the pesticide, the water soluble solvent, the inorganic thickener, and the alkoxylate.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising contacting a block polymer surfactant and a nonionic cosurfactant with the pesticide, the water soluble solvent, the inorganic thickener, and the alkoxylate.

19. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition is essentially free of water-insoluble organic solvent.

Description

EXAMPLES

(1) Chemical stabilizer: liquid alkaline organic amine compound. Sulfonate A: Sodium alkylnaphthalenesulfonate formaldehyde polycondensate, water soluble powder. Thickener: White powder, hydrophilic, untreated, fumed silica, specific surface area (BET) about 200 m.sup.2/g; average primary particle diameter 12 nm, tapped density about 0.05 kg/m.sup.3, pH in water (4 wt %) about 3.8 to 4.6; ignition loss (1000 C.) up to 1.0 wt %; loss on drying up to 1.5 wt %; SiO.sub.2 content at least 99.8 wt %. Alkoxylate A: Short chain alkoxylated alkanol, nonionic ethoxylated and propoxylated (diblock sequence) butanol with HLB of 17, cloude point about 75 C., melting point about 30 to 35 C. Alkoxylate B: liquid nonionic ethoxylated and propoxylated (diblock sequence) C12-18 aliphatic alcohol, water-insoluble, soluble in alcohols, solidification temperature about 5 to 8 C. Cosurfactant A: nonionic ethoxylated tristyrylphenol surfactant, HLB 10-11. Block Polymer A: nonionic EO-PO-EO Triblockcopolymer, average molecular weight about 6000 Da, ethylene oxide (EO) content about 40 wt %, melting point about 30-33 C., HLB 12-18, solubility in water at least 10 wt % at 25 C. Insecticide A: 1-(1,2-dimethylpropyl)-N-ethyl-5-methyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide Insecticide B: 1-[1-(1-cyanocyclopropyl)ethyl]-N-ethyl-5-methyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide Insecticide C: N-ethyl-1-[(1S,2S)-2-fluoro-1-methyl-propyl]-5-methyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide

Example 1: Metaflumizone Suspension in Polyethylene Glycol Continuous Phase

(2) A liquid metaflumizone suspension having the following composition was prepared:

(3) TABLE-US-00001 Component Amount (wt/wt %) Metaflumizone 15 Sulfonate A 4 Alkoxylate A 2 Thickener 1.0 Polyethylene Glycol 78

(4) The pesticidal suspension was prepared by following procedure: 1. Add metaflumizone, Sulfonate A, into Polyethylene Glycol (average molecular weight of 400) while agitating. Continue agitation until homogenous. 2. The above mixture was then wet milled using a bead mill to particle size around 2 m. 3. Add Thickener to the above mixture, mixed until uniform.

(5) Three prepared samples were stored under the following conditions: (a) one sample was stored at 10 C., (b) another sample was stored at F/T (daily cycling temperature from 10 C. to 30 C.) and (c) a third sample was stored at 54 C. for two weeks. The particle size was measured before/after storage by Malvern Mastersizer 2000.

(6) The suspension stability was determined by visual observation of sample phase separation after storage as well as particle size increase before/after storage at different storage temperatures. It was found there is no increase in particle size at all above storage temperatures and no phase separation occurred, therefore, the suspension of metaflumizone was physically stable.

Example 2: Abamectin Suspension in Propylene Glycol Continuous Phase

(7) An abamectin suspension having the following composition was prepared:

(8) TABLE-US-00002 Component Amount (wt/wt %) Abamectin 20 Cosurfactant A 14 Block Polymer A 20 Alkoxylate B 10 Thickener 1.0 1,2-propylene glycol 35

(9) The pesticidal suspension was prepared by following procedure: 1. Add abamectin, Cosurfactant A, Block Polymer A, Alkoxylate B into the propylene glycol while agitating. Continue agitation until homogenous. 2. The above mixture was then wet milled using a bead mill to particle size around 2 m. 3. Add Thickener to the above mixture, mix until uniform.

(10) Three samples were stored and analyzed as described in Example 1. It was found there is no increase in particle size at all above storage temperatures and no significant phase separation occurred, therefore, the abamectin suspension was physically stable.

Example 3: Glyphosate Acid Suspension

(11) A mixture of Dicamba Na salt and Glyphosate acid having the following composition was prepared:

(12) TABLE-US-00003 Component Amount (wt/wt %) Dicamba Na 10 Glyphosate acid 20 Sulfonate A 4 Alkoxylate A 2 Thickener 1.0 1,2-propylene glycol 63

(13) The pesticidal suspension was prepared by following procedure: 1. Add Dicamba Na, Sulfonate A, Stabilizer into 1,2-propylene glycol while agitating. Continue agitation until Dicamba Na completely dissolved. 2. Add Glyphosate acid into above mixture while agitating. Continue agitation until homogenous. 3. The above mixture was then wet milled using a bead mill to particle size around 2 m. 4. Add Thickener to the above mixture, mix until uniform.

(14) Three samples were stored and analyzed as described in Example 1. It was found there is no increase in particle size at all above storage temperatures and no phase separation occurred, therefore, the suspension was physically stable.

Example 4: Metaflumizone Suspension in Propylene Glycol

(15) Afidopyropen and formulation additives (except Thickener) were added into 1,2-propylene glycol while agitating. The agitation was continued until afidopyropen was completely dissolved. Then metaflumizone and Thickener was added into the mixture while agitating. The agitation was continued until homogenous. The mixture was then wet milled using a bead mill to particle size around 2 m.

(16) TABLE-US-00004 Amount (wt/wt %) Afidopyropen 1.5 Metaflumizone 15 Cosurfactant A 14 Block Polymer A 16.3 Alkoxylate B 30 Chemical stabilizer 0.2 Thickener 1.0 1,2-propylene glycol 22

(17) Samples were stored and analyzed as in Example 1. It was found there was no increase in particle size at all storage temperatures and no phase separation occurred, therefore, the suspension was physically stable.

Example 5: Dinotefuran Suspension in Propylene Glycol

(18) Afidopyropen and formulation additives (except Thickener) were added into 1,2-propylene glycol while agitating. The agitation was continued until afidopyropen was completely dissolved. Then dinotefuran and Thickener was added into the mixture while agitating. The agitation was continued until homogenous. The mixture was then wet milled using a bead mill to particle size around 2 m.

(19) TABLE-US-00005 Amount (wt/wt %) Afidopyropen 1.4 Dinotefuran 13.6 Cosurfactant A 14 Block Polymer A 22.3 Alkoxylate B 29 Chemical stabilizer 0.2 Thickener 1.5 1,2-propylene glycol 18

(20) Samples were stored and analyzed as in Example 1. It was found there was no increase in particle size at all storage temperatures and no phase separation occurred, therefore, the suspension was physically stable.

Example 6: Dinotefuran Suspension in Propylene Glycol

(21) Afidopyropen and formulation additives (except Thickener) were added into 1,2-propylene glycol while agitating. The agitation was continued until afidopyropen was completely dissolved. Then dinotefuran and Thickener was added into the mixture while agitating. The agitation was continued until homogenous. The mixture was then wet milled using a bead mill to particle size around 2 m.

(22) TABLE-US-00006 Amount (wt/wt %) Afidopyropen 1.5 Dinotefuran 15 Cosurfactant A 15 Block Polymer A 14.6 Alkoxylate B 32 Chemical stabilizer 0.2 Thickener 1.7 1,2-propylene glycol 20

(23) Samples were stored and analyzed as in Example 1. It was found there was no increase in particle size at all storage temperatures and no phase separation occurred, therefore, the suspension was physically stable.

Example 6: Broflanilide Suspension in Propylene Glycol

(24) Afidopyropen and formulation additives (except Thickener) were added winto 1,2-propylene glycol while agitating. The agitation was continued until afidopyropen was completely dissolved. Then broflanilide and Thickener was added into the mixture while agitating. The agitation was continued until homogenous. The mixture was then wet milled using a bead mill to particle size around 2 m.

(25) TABLE-US-00007 Amount (wt/wt %) Afidopyropen 1.5 Broflanilide 15 Cosurfactant A 14 Block Polymer A 16.3 Alkoxylate B 30 Chemical stabilizer 0.2 Silica Thickener 1 1,2-propylene glycol 22

(26) Samples were stored and analyzed as in Example 1. It was found there was no increase in particle size at all storage temperatures and no phase separation occurred, therefore, the suspension pension was physically stable.

Example 7: Broflanilide and Insecticide A Suspension in Propylene Glycol

(27) Broflanilide, Insecticide A, and all formulation additives were added into 1,2-propylene glycol while agitating. The agitation was continued until homogenous. The mixture was then wet milled using a bead mill to particle size around 2 m.

(28) TABLE-US-00008 Amount (wt/wt %) Broflanilide 10 Insecticide A 10 Cosurfactant A 14 Block Polymer A 12 Alkoxylate B 20 Thickener 1 1,2-propylene glycol 33

(29) Samples were stored and analyzed as in Example 1. It was found there was no increase in particle size at all storage temperatures and no phase separation occurred, therefore, the suspension was physically stable.

Example 8: Broflanilide and Insecticide B Suspension in Propylene Glycol

(30) The Example 7 was repeated with Insecticide B instead of Insecticide A. Again, it was found there was no increase in particle size at all storage temperatures and no phase separation occurred, therefore, the suspension was physically stable.

Example 9: Broflanilide and Insecticide C Suspension in Propylene Glycol

(31) The Example 7 was repeated with Insecticide C instead of Insecticide A. Again, it was found there was no increase in particle size at all storage temperatures and no phase separation occurred, therefore, the suspension was physically stable.