SOIL WETTER COMPOSITION

Abstract

A soil treatment formulation having an ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty acid mono-esters of sorbitan, ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymer, and compatibilising surfactant selected from an alkoxylated fatty alcohol, alkoxylated fatty alcohol phosphate ester, and/or alkoxylated glycerides. The formulation optionally comprises an agrochemical active and/or nutrient. The soil treatment composition is suitable for use in improving the water retention and/or conditioning of soil. There is also provided a method of making the formulation, and for treating soil with the formulations.

Claims

1. A soil treatment formulation comprising: (i) ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty acid mono-esters of sorbitan wherein the carbon chain length of the fatty acid is from 8 to 16, and the overall degree of ethoxylation is on average from 5 to 25; (ii) ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymer, and (iii) compatibilising surfactant selected from an alkoxylated fatty alcohol, alkoxylated fatty alcohol phosphate ester, and/or alkoxylated glycerides.

2. The formulation according to claim 1, wherein the ethoxylated fatty acid mono-esters of sorbitan are compounds of formula (I):
Sorb-(AO.sub.n1R.sup.1)(AO.sub.n2R.sup.2)(AO.sub.n3R.sup.3)(AO.sub.n4R.sup.4)   (I) wherein: i) Sorb represents a residue obtained by removing four hydroxyl H atoms from sorbitan; ii) EO represents an ethyleneoxy or propyleneoxy residue; iii) n1, n2, n3, and n4 each independently represents an average value from 0 to 10; (iv) the total n1+n2+n3+n4 has an average value from 5 to 25; and (vi) R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 each independently represents H or an acyl group —C(O)—R.sup.5, where R.sup.5 is a C.sub.7 to C.sub.13 hydrocarbyl.

3. The formulation according to claim 1, wherein the ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymer has an average molecular weight in the range from 1,500 to 15,000.

4. The formulation according to claim 1, wherein the compatibilising surfactant is selected from alkoxylated fatty alcohol or alkoxylated fatty alcohol phosphate ester, and/or alkoxylated glycerides.

5. The formulation according to claim 1, wherein the compatibilising surfactant is alkoxylated fatty alcohol having a C.sub.4 to C.sub.30 fatty chain and comprising from 1 to 30 oxyalkylene groups.

6. The formulation according to claim 1, wherein the compatibilising surfactant is alkoxylated alcohol of the general formula:
R.sup.6—O-(AO).sub.x—H   (II) wherein: R.sup.6 is a straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group having from 4 to 30 carbon atoms; AO is an oxyalkylene group; and x represents an integer in the range from 1 to 30.

7. A method of making a soil treatment formulation of claim 1, the method comprising mixing (i) ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty acid mono-esters of sorbitan wherein the carbon chain length of the fatty acid is from 8 to 16, and the overall degree of ethoxylation is on average from 5 to 25; (ii) ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymer, and (iii) compatibilising surfactant selected from an alkoxylated fatty alcohol, alkoxylated fatty alcohol phosphate ester, and/or alkoxylated glycerides.

8. An agrochemical formulation suitable for application to vegetation and/or soil, the formulation comprising a diluted soil treatment formulation of claim 1, and optionally at least one agrochemical active and/or nutrient.

9. A method of wetting and/or conditioning soil comprising applying a soil treatment formulation of claim 1.

10. Use of a soil treatment formulation comprising: (i) ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty acid mono-esters of sorbitan wherein the carbon chain length of the fatty acid is from 8 to 16, and the overall degree of ethoxylation is on average from 5 to 25; (ii) ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymer, and (iii) compatibilising surfactant selected from an alkoxylated fatty alcohol, alkoxylated fatty alcohol phosphate ester, and/or alkoxylated glycerides; for improving the water retention and/or conditioning of soil.

11. A method of treating soil to wet and/or conditioning the soil, the method comprising applying a diluted formulation of claim 1, to the soil.

12. A soil treatment formulation comprising ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty acid mono-esters of sorbitan wherein the carbon chain length of the fatty acid is from 8 to 16 and the overall degree of ethoxylation is on average from 5 to 25, and ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymer.

Description

EXAMPLES

[0170] In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the following description.

[0171] It will be understood that all tests and physical properties listed have been determined at atmospheric pressure and room temperature (i.e. 25° C.), unless otherwise stated herein, or unless otherwise stated in the referenced test methods and procedures.

[0172] The following test methods were used to determine performance of the adjuvant compositions.

[0173] Canvas Disc Test (CDT)

[0174] Specified canvas discs (Cotton swatches ISO 8022) were dropped from a set distance (from the top surface area of the beaker, ˜5 cm) to hit the surface of a 400 mL surfactant solution (different surfactant solutions were used 0.2, 0.4 and 0.5% w/v) in a 600 mL glass beaker.

[0175] Then, the time taken for the disc to sink into the solution was recorded as the wetting time (in sec or mins). This method is validated against the capillary rise test.

[0176] Rewetting

[0177] The re-wettability performance (or the residual activity) of the blends was tested using a series of capillary rise experiments. A soil plug (pre-dried at 50° C.) was placed in a 0.2% w/v aqueous solution of surfactant blend (40 mL) and the time taken for the solution to be absorbed into the soil plug recorded. The soil plugs, after the end of the experiment, were placed overnight in the oven (54° C.) to dry out.

[0178] After drying, the capillary rise test was repeated under the same conditions as described above, for a total of up to ten times (herein called re-wetting 1, re-wetting 2, etc.).

[0179] After the last re-wetting time, soil plugs were washed by slowly pouring 400 ml of deionised water on the top of the soil plugs (turf side up). Soil plugs were left to dry in the oven and next day the capillary rise experiment was re-assessed as in previous wetting experiments.

[0180] The following compounds were used in the tests:

[0181] P1-polyoxyethylene (12) sorbitan monolaurate

[0182] P2-polyoxyethylene (8) sorbitan monolaurate

[0183] P3-polyoxyethylene (16) sorbitan monolaurate

[0184] P4-polyoxyethylene (5) polyoxypropylene (15) sorbitan monolaurate

[0185] P5-polyoxyethylene (10) polyoxypropylene (10) sorbitan monolaurate

[0186] P6-polyoxyethylene (15) polyoxypropylene (5) sorbitan monolaurate

[0187] P7-polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate

[0188] P8-polyoxyethylene (4) sorbitan monolaurate

[0189] P9-Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate

[0190] P10-polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan trioleate

[0191] C1 -polyoxyethylene (5) C9-C11 alcohol

[0192] C2-polyoxyethylene (60) almond oil

[0193] C3-polyoxyethylene (6) tridecyl alcohol

[0194] C4-polyoxyethylene (5) alkyl ether phosphate

[0195] C5-polyoxyethylene branched tridecyl phosphate

[0196] C6-polyoxyethylene (4) lauryl ether

[0197] C7-polyoxyethylene (7) C12-C15 alcohol

[0198] C8-polyoxyethylene (2.5) C9-C11 alcohol

[0199] C9-polyoxyethylene (10) C9-C11 alcohol

[0200] A1-PEG-PPG-PEG polymer, 10% EO PPG size 6

[0201] A2-PEG-PPG-PEG polymer, 20% EO PPG size 6

[0202] Canvas Disc Test Results

[0203] A number of formulations were made and then subjected to the canvas disc test. Results are shown below in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Canvas disc results Composition Wetting Components ratio Conc. time Formulation A B C (wt.) (A:B:C) w/w % (secs) T3 P1 C1 A1 40:10:50 0.4 19.7 T4 P4 C1 A1 40:10:50 0.4 18.2 T5 P2 C2 A1 40:10:50 0.4 35.9 T6 P1 C3 A1 47:2.9:50.1 0.4 57.33 T9 P1 C2 A1 40:10:50 0.4 37.1 T10 P1 C4 A1 49:0.9:50.1 0.4 82 T11 P4 C1 A1 30:2.9:50.1 0.4 45 T12 P1 C1 A2 40:10:50 0.4 31.6 T13 P1 C1 A2 50:10:40 0.4 88.3 T14 P3 C1 A2 40:10:50 0.4 21.6 T15 P3 C1 A2 50:40:10 0.4 48.3 T16 P2 C1 A2 35:5:60 0.4 29.3 T17 P5 C1 A2 25:70:5 0.4 44.0 T18 P6 C1 A2 30:10:60 0.4 20.0 T19 P10 C1 A1 40:10:50 0.4 44.8 T20 P8 C1 A1 40:10:50 0.4 34.7 T21 P8 C5 A1 40:10:50 0.4 30.5 T22 P2 C5 A1 40:10:50 0.4 28.1 T23 P1 C5 A1 40:10:50 0.4 24.8 T24 P3 C5 A1 40:10:50 0.4 29.4 T25 P7 C6 A1 40:10:50 0.4 20.8 T26 P1 C6 A1 40:10:50 0.4 22.4 T27 P1 C7 A1 40:10:50 0.4 34.3 T28 P3 C7 A1 40:10:50 0.4 29.6 T29 P9 C7 A1 40:10:50 0.4 39.4 T30 P1 C8 A1 40:10:50 0.4 16.9 T31 P1 C9 A1 40:10:50 0.4 29.2 T32 P1 C1 A1 40:05:55 0.4 25.6 T33 P1 C1 A1 25:05:70 0.4 23.4 T34 P1 C1 A1 65:15:20 0.4 20 T35 P7 C1 A1 40:10:50 0.4 23.5 T36 P2 C1 A1 40:10:50 0.4 22 T37 P1 C2 A1 25.5:24:5:50 0.4 46 T38 P4 C2 A1 25.5:24:5:50 0.4 70.5

[0204] The formulations tested all provide good wetting times.

[0205] Two Component Stability Results

[0206] A number of formulations comprising two components was also made to check for stability. Results are shown below in Table 2.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Stability results Component Component Composition ratio Formulation 1 2 (wt.) (A:C) Stability T50 P7 A1 50:50 Stable T51 P8 A1 50:50 Stable T52 P2 A1 50:50 Stable T53 P1 A1 50:50 Stable T54 P3 A1 50:50 Stable T55 P9 A1 50:50 Stable T56 P4 A1 50:50 Stable T57 P5 A1 50:50 Stable T58 P6 A1 50:50 Stable

[0207] All formulations tested showed good stability.

[0208] Rewetting Test Results

[0209] A number of formulations were made and then subjected to the rewetting test. The results are shown below in Table 3.

[0210] The following formulations were used for the rewetting tests:

[0211] T19-P1 (40 wt. %)+C1 (10 wt. %)+A1 (50 wt. %)

[0212] T20-P4 (40 wt. %)+C1 (10 wt. %)+A1 (50 wt. %)

[0213] T21-P1 (25.5 wt. %)+C2 (24.5 wt. %)+A1 (50 wt. %)

[0214] T22-P4 (25.5 wt. %)+C2 (24.5 wt. %)+A1 (50 wt. %)

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Rewetting results Blend T19 T20 T21 T22 1st wetting 72.5 78.5 87.5 84 2nd wetting 41 39 41.5 52.5 3rd wetting 44 39 39 50 4th wetting 42 41 44.5 57.5 5th wetting 47.5 40 39 60 6th wetting 52.5 55 46.5 46.5 7th wetting 49 51 56 62 8th wetting 48.5 58.5 54 69 9th wetting 49 47 59 63.5 10th wetting 142.5 180 110 127.5

[0215] The formulations tested all provide good rewetting times (shown in seconds).

[0216] Tank Mix Compatibility

[0217] The tank mix compatibility was evaluated using the official ASTM E1518 method. This method assesses the physical compatibility of pesticides in aqueous tank mixtures by a dynamic shaker method. For the tank mix compatibility formulation T3 as shown in Table 1 was used. Results of the compatibility test are shown in Table 4 below.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Compatibility results Formulation of 1% in water with 0.1% of T3 Visual result (30 min) Ammonium polyphosphate 10-34-0 No separation, no clumping Calcium nitrate 90 SL No separation, no clumping Diflufenican 500 SC No separation, no clumping Metribuzin 75 WDG No separation, no clumping

[0218] The formulation showed good compatibility as a tank mix with various actives.

[0219] A number of other formulations from Table 1 were also tested for tank mix compatibility.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Compatibility results Formulation of 1% in Visual result (30 min) water with 0.1% of T3 T3/T19 T4/T20 T21 T22 Ammonium polyphosphate 10-34-0 NS, NC NS, NC NS, NC NS, NC Calcium nitrate 90 SL NS, NC NS, NC NS, NC NS, NC Diflufenican 500 SC NS, NC NS, NC NS, NC NS, NC Metribuzin 75 WDG NS, NC NS, NC NS, NC NS, NC NS, NC = no separation, no clumping

[0220] Good compatibility was observed for the formulations as seen in Tables 4 and 5 since separation and clumping were not observed.

[0221] It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details of the above embodiments, which are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible.