Organic emulsion for daylight filtration applications

Abstract

The present invention relates to organic based emulsions for solar filtration applications. The present invention relates to an agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection to plants and parts thereof, said composition comprising at least one wax, at least one lignin, at least one emulsifier, water, optionally calcium carbonate and optionally a solvent wherein the ratio of wax: lignin in the composition is from 100: 1 to 100: 200, based on the dry weight of wax and lignin. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of such an agricultural composition for UV-A and / or UV-B protection of plants and parts thereof, and to the use of a combination of at least one wax and at least one lignin as a UV-A and / or UV-B protection agent wherein the ratio of wax: lignin is from 100: 1 to 100: 200, based on the dry weight of wax and lignin.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of a Chinese patent application filed on December 7, 2020, with application number "202080083222.8", and invention name "Organic emulsions for sunlight filtering applications". Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to an agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection for plants and parts thereof, the composition comprising at least one wax, at least one lignin, at least one emulsifier, water, optionally calcium carbonate and optionally a solvent, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200, based on the dry weight of wax and lignin. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of such an agricultural composition for UV-A and / or UV-B protection of plants and parts thereof, and the use of a combination of at least one wax and at least one lignin as a UV-A and / or UV-B protective agent, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin is from 100:1 to 100:200, based on the dry weight of wax and lignin. Background Art

[0003] It is well known that sunlight energy and mainly the ultraviolet part of the solar spectrum has damaging effects on plants and parts thereof. In particular, both ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation from 280 nm to 320 nm and ultraviolet A (UV-A) radiation from greater than 320 nm to 400 nm cause sunburn to plants and parts thereof. In particular, when the air temperature in the shade is above a temperature of about 30° C., plants and parts thereof, especially fruits, may be damaged by sunburn. The consequence of such "fruit sunburn" is damaged fruits and a decrease in the overall yield, resulting in economic impacts, mainly in hot summer months.

[0004] Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to protect at least parts of plants and parts thereof, especially fruits exposed to sunlight, from UV-B and UV-A radiation. In the art, several attempts have been made to provide such UV protection.

[0005] For example, CN 203 538 002 relates to a pomegranate cultivation bag that can prevent sunburn, wherein one side of the pomegranate cultivation bag is reflective and the other side is transparent. During the hot season, the pomegranate cultivation bag is put on the pomegranate, wherein the reflective surface faces the sun to reflect most of the sunlight at noon to prevent the pomegranate from sunburn, and the partial sunlight reflected by the reflective plastic film is irradiated on the leaves of the shady side of the fruit tree, thereby improving the photosynthesis of the whole orchard. However, such a process is complicated, time-consuming and labor-intensive, because each plant or fruit must be handled manually separately.

[0006] Another option to reduce the possibility of sunburn is to use mineral particles, usually clay or calcium carbonate, which form a film on plants and their parts that reflects / blocks harmful UV radiation. Such sunscreen compositions applied to plants are known, for example, from US2012 / 0052187 A1, which relates to a sunscreen composition comprising titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), silicon dioxide (SiO2), a surfactant, a wetting agent, a dispersant (SWD) and water. The composition forms a suspension concentrate when combined, which when diluted in water provides a solution that provides uniform coverage using conventional spraying equipment.

[0007] WO 2010 / 008476 A1 relates to a method for increasing crop yields, the method comprising controlling plant tissue stress by at least partially coating the plant tissue with a composition comprising an agricultural sunscreen formulation and a second agricultural chemical. The agricultural sunscreen formulation may comprise 40% to 80% by weight of calcium carbonate, 1% to 5% by weight of bicarbonate and 15% to 59% by weight of water.

[0008] However, the main disadvantage of such granular films is the "whitened" appearance of the treated plants and fruits. Such white to light grey films on plants and fruits look unappetizing and are rejected by consumers.

[0009] Potential alternatives to such "whitened" films are wax-based products that appear substantially transparent after application, such as carnauba wax. Such wax-based sunscreens are known, for example, from US 7,222,455 B2, which relates to methods and compositions for inhibiting cracking, stem browning, and water loss in fruits or vegetables such as cherries. The method comprises applying to the fruit or vegetable an amount of a wax emulsion comprising about 0.125% to about 25% (w / w) carnauba wax, about 0.1% to about 16% (w / w) oleic acid, and about 0.03% to about 6% (w / w) morpholine, and about 53% to about 99.7% (w / w) water.

[0010] US 4,946,694 B2 relates to a system for coating sticky fruit, the system comprising a first composition comprising a vegetable wax, a vegetable oil and a wetting agent and a second composition comprising a protein, the first composition being applied to the fruit before the second composition, the first and second compositions being applied in amounts sufficient to provide a fruit that is no longer sticky. The vegetable wax may be, for example, carnauba wax.

[0011] In such compositions, vegetable waxes such as carnauba wax are usually the main active ingredient against sunburn. However, some waxes filter out a large portion of UV-B but are less efficient against UV-A radiation.

[0012] Therefore, there is a continuing need in the art for suitable formulations or compositions that provide adequate or improved UV-B and / or UV-A protection for plants and parts thereof. Summary of the invention

[0013] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an agricultural composition that provides sufficient or improved UV-B and / or UV-A protection for plants and parts thereof, especially for fruits. In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide such an agricultural composition: it is translucent or at least only provides a light-colored film or flash on plants and parts thereof treated with such a composition. Another object of the present invention is that the compounds used in these agricultural compositions are non-toxic to humans, do not provide harmful effects to the environment, and are preferably approved by food law for use on plants and parts thereof, especially for fruits. Another object of the present invention is that the composition should be easy and quickly produced, cheap and particularly easy to handle. It is particularly preferred that the composition is sprayable and they adhere to plants and parts thereof and are not easily washed away by rain.

[0014] These and other objects of the present invention are solved by an agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection to plants and parts thereof as described herein and defined in the claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the corresponding dependent claims.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection to plants and parts thereof, the composition comprising at least one wax, at least one lignin, at least one emulsifier, water, optionally calcium carbonate and optionally a solvent; wherein the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of the wax and lignin.

[0016] The inventors have unexpectedly found that the aforementioned agricultural compositions are plants and parts thereof, especially provide sufficient or improved UV-B and / or UV-A protection for fruits. In particular, the inventors have unexpectedly found that when at least one wax is used in combination with at least one lignin, wherein based on the dry weight of wax and lignin, the ratio of wax in the composition: lignin is 100:1 to 100:200, the agricultural compositions provide improved UV-B and / or UV-A protection for plants and parts thereof. In addition, the agricultural compositions of the present invention are translucent or at least only provide light-colored films or flashes on plants and parts thereof processed through such compositions. The compounds used in these agricultural compositions are nontoxic to humans, generally speaking, no harmful effects are provided to the environment, and preferably approved by the Food Law for use in plants and parts thereof, especially for fruits. In addition, the inventors have unexpectedly found that the compositions of the present invention can be easily and quickly produced, and are cheap and particularly easy to handle. Due to the consistency of the agricultural compositions of the present invention, the compositions are sprayable and they adhere to plants and parts thereof and are not easily washed away by rainwater.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, the agricultural composition according to the invention is used for UV-A and / or UV-B protection of plants and their parts.

[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, a combination of at least one wax and at least one lignin is used as UV-A and / or UV-B protective agent, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of wax and lignin.

[0019] Advantageous embodiments of the above aspects are defined in the respective dependent claims.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the composition consists of: at least one wax; at least one lignin; at least one emulsifier; water; optionally calcium carbonate; and optionally a solvent.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:5 to 100:180, preferably from 100:10 to 100:150, and most preferably from 100:30 to 100:100, based on the dry weight of wax and lignin.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the present invention, at least one wax is selected from carnauba wax, beeswax, paraffin, shellac wax, candelilla wax, ouricury wax, sugarcane wax, soybean wax, bayberry wax, petroleum wax, laurel wax, rice bran wax and mixtures thereof, and is preferably carnauba wax.

[0023] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one lignin is selected from natural lignin, klason lignin, hydrolyzed lignin, groundwood lignin, soda lignin, organosolv lignin, kraft lignin, alkali lignin, sulfonated lignin and mixtures thereof, and is preferably sulfonated lignin.

[0024] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one emulsifier is selected from the group comprising PEG compounds, PEG-free emulsifiers, silicone-based emulsifiers, silicones, fatty acids and mixtures thereof.

[0025] According to another embodiment of the present invention, at least one wax and at least one lignin are each present in the agricultural composition in an amount of 0.1 wt.-% to 45 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, preferably in an amount of 0.5 wt.-% to 40 wt.-%, even more preferably in an amount of 0.8 wt.-% to 30 wt.-%, and most preferably in an amount of 1 wt.-% to 20 wt.-%.

[0026] According to another embodiment of the present invention, at least one emulsifier is present in the agricultural composition in an amount of 0.1 wt.-% to 30 wt.-% based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, preferably in an amount of 1 wt.-% to 15 wt.-% based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, and most preferably in an amount of 2 wt.-% to 10 wt.-%.

[0027] According to another embodiment of the present invention, calcium carbonate is preferably present in the agricultural composition in an amount of 0.1 wt.-10 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, more preferably in an amount of 0.3 wt.-3 wt.-%, even more preferably in an amount of 0.5 wt.-2 wt.-%, and most preferably in an amount of 0.8 wt.-1.5 wt.-%.

[0028] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the calcium carbonate is selected from ground calcium carbonate (GCC), preferably marble, limestone, chalk and / or nano-GCC; precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), preferably vaterite, calcite and / or aragonite; and mixtures thereof, and most preferably the calcium carbonate is ground calcium carbonate.

[0029] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the solvent is present in the agricultural composition, and preferably, the ratio of solvent:lignin in the composition is 5:1 to 100:1, preferably 10:1 to 20:1, and most preferably 12:1 to 16:1, based on the dry weight of solvent and lignin.

[0030] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one lignin is a water-soluble lignin, preferably a sulfonated lignin, and no solvent is present in the agricultural composition.

[0031] According to another embodiment of the invention, the composition is in liquid form.

[0032] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the plants and parts thereof are fruits, vegetables, trees, seeds, leaves, wood, nuts, crops, crop plants and flowers.

[0033] It should be understood that for the purposes of the present invention, the following terms have the following meanings:

[0034] "Agricultural compositions" within the meaning of the present invention are aqueous compositions for use in agriculture, especially for use on plants and parts thereof.

[0035] In the meaning of the present invention, "UV-A protection" and "UV-B protection" refer to protection against ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation from 280 nm to 320 nm and ultraviolet A (UV-A) radiation from greater than 320 nm to 400 nm, both of which cause sunburn to plants and their parts.

[0036] In the meaning of the present invention, the "melting point" of a substance is the temperature at which the substance changes from a solid state to a liquid state. At the melting point, the solid and liquid phases exist in equilibrium. The melting point of a substance depends on the pressure and is specified at a standard pressure of 1 atmosphere or 100 kPa.

[0037] In the meaning of the present invention, the "density" or more precisely the "bulk mass density" of a substance is its mass per unit volume and is specified at a standard pressure of 1 atmosphere or 100 kPa and a temperature of 25°C.

[0038] A "water-insoluble" material is defined as a material that, when 100 g of said material is mixed with 100 g of deionized water and filtered at atmospheric pressure at 20°C on a filter having a pore size of 0.2 μm to recover a liquid filtrate, provides less than or equal to 0.1 g of recovered solid material after evaporation of 100 g of said liquid filtrate at 95°C to 100°C at ambient pressure. Thus a "water-soluble" material is defined as a material that, when 100 g of said material is mixed with 100 g of deionized water and filtered at atmospheric pressure at 20°C on a filter having a pore size of 0.2 μm to recover a liquid filtrate, provides more than 0.1 g of recovered solid material after evaporation of 100 g of said liquid filtrate at 95°C to 100°C at ambient pressure.

[0039] The "particle size" of a particulate material (such as calcium carbonate herein) is determined by its particle size d x The distribution of d is described. x In terms of diameter, x weight % of the particles have a diameter smaller than d x This means, for example, that d 20The value is the particle size below which 20% by weight of all particles are smaller than this particle size. 50 The value is the weight median particle size, i.e., 50% by weight of all the particulates are larger than this particle size and the remaining 50% by weight are smaller than this particle size. For the purposes of the present invention, unless otherwise indicated, particle sizes are designated as weight median particle sizes d 50 .d 98 The value is the particle size below which 98% by weight of all particles are smaller than. 98 Values ​​are also designated as "top cut". Particle size was determined using a SedigraphTM 5100 instrument from Micromeritics Instrument Corporation. The method and the instrument are known to the skilled person and are commonly used to determine the particle size of fillers and pigments. The measurements were made in a 0.1 wt% Na4P2O7 solution in water. The sample was dispersed and sonicated using a high speed stirrer.

[0040] In the meaning of the present invention, the "specific surface area (SSA)" of a filler material containing calcium carbonate is defined as the surface area of ​​the filler material containing calcium carbonate divided by its mass. As used herein, the specific surface area is measured by nitrogen adsorption using the BET isotherm (ISO 9277:2010) and is expressed in m 2 / g indicates.

[0041] The term "dry" material is understood to mean a material having less than 1.0% by weight of water relative to the weight of the material. The percentage of water (equal to the residual total moisture content) is determined according to a Coulometric Karl Fischer measurement, in which the material is heated to 220° C. and the water content released as vapor and separated using a nitrogen flow (at 100 ml / min) is determined in a Coulometric Karl Fischer cell.

[0042] When the term "comprising" or "including" is used in the present description and claims, it does not exclude other elements. For the purpose of the present invention, the term "consisting of" is considered to be a preferred embodiment of the term "comprising". If hereinafter a group is defined as comprising at least a certain number of embodiments, this should also be understood to disclose a group that preferably consists of only these embodiments.

[0043] When referring to a singular noun using an unmodified quantifier such as "a", "an" or "the", this includes a plural of that noun unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0044] Terms such as "obtainable" or "definable" and "obtained" or "definable" are used interchangeably. For example, this means that unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term "obtained" is not meant to indicate that, for example, an embodiment must be obtained by, for example, following the sequence of steps of the term "obtained", although such a restrictive understanding is always included as a preferred embodiment by the term "obtained" or "definable".

[0045] In the following, details and preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail.Embodiments relating to agricultural compositions will also relate to the use of agricultural compositions and the use of a combination of at least one wax and at least one lignin, and vice versa.

[0046] According to the present invention, there is provided an agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection to plants and parts thereof, the composition comprising at least one wax, at least one lignin, at least one emulsifier, water, optionally calcium carbonate and optionally a solvent; wherein the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of wax and lignin.

[0047] At least one wax

[0048] According to the invention, at least one wax is present in the agricultural composition.

[0049] In the meaning of the invention, the term "at least one" wax means that the wax comprises, preferably consists of, one or more waxes.

[0050] In one embodiment of the invention, at least one wax in the agricultural composition comprises a wax, preferably consisting of a wax. Alternatively, at least one wax comprises two or more waxes, preferably consisting of two or more waxes. For example, at least one wax comprises two or three waxes, preferably consisting of two or three waxes.

[0051] Preferably, the at least one wax in the agricultural composition comprises, more preferably consists of, one wax.

[0052] In the meaning of the present invention, "wax" is defined as an organic compound that is a lipophilic, ductile solid at room temperature, for example at 25° C. Waxes melt at temperatures above 25° C. to give low-viscosity liquids. The waxes according to the invention are insoluble in water but soluble in organic nonpolar solvents.

[0053] The wax may be a natural wax, a synthetic wax, a microcrystalline wax, a silicone wax, and a combination thereof. It may be selected from waxes commonly used in the field of sunscreen and agricultural compositions, and is well known to those skilled in the art.

[0054] The one or more waxes may be chosen from carnauba wax, candelilla wax and alfa wax, montan wax, polyethylene wax, paraffin wax, oxidized paraffin wax, ozokerite wax, shellac wax, carnauba wax, vegetable waxes such as olive wax, rice wax, sugar cane wax, rice bran wax, laurel wax, soy wax, bayberry wax, petroleum wax, hydrogenated jojoba wax or pure flower waxes such as the essential oil wax of cassis flower sold by Bertin (France); animal waxes such as beeswax or modified beeswax (cerabellina); additional waxes or primary wax materials: marine wax, for example sold by Sophim under the name "M82 TM " Marine wax sold by Dow Corning, natural or synthetic ceramide wax or polyethylene wax. Other synthetic waxes include silicone waxes, including but not limited to "SilkyWax 10 TM Synthetic waxes may include clear synthetic waxes, including but not limited to "Uniclear 80 TM ” and “Uniclear 80V TM Carnauba wax (an extract of Copemrica Cerifera), candelilla wax (an extract of Euphobies Cerifera and Pedilantus pavonis), and alpha wax (an extract of Stipa tenacissim) are commercial products.

[0055] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wax is a natural wax selected from carnauba wax, beeswax, paraffin, shellac wax, candelilla wax, carnauba wax, sugarcane wax, soybean wax, bayberry wax, petroleum wax, laurel wax, rice bran wax and mixtures thereof.

[0056] Carnauba wax (also known as carnauba wax or palm wax) is the wax of the leaves of the palm carnauba, a plant native to and only growing naturally in the northeastern region of Brazil. In its pure state, carnauba wax usually appears in the form of hard yellow-brown flakes. Carnauba wax is obtained from carnauba leaves by collecting and drying the leaves, beating them to loosen the wax, and then refining and bleaching the wax. As a food additive, its E number in the European Union is E903. Carnauba wax is mainly composed of aliphatic esters and diesters of 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, ω-hydroxycarboxylic acid and fatty alcohols. It usually has a density of about 0.98 kg / l and a melting point of 80°C to 90°C.

[0057] Beeswax (white beeswax) is a natural wax produced by bees. The wax is formed as a scale by eight wax-producing glands in the abdominal segments of worker bees, which are excreted in or at the hive. Chemically, beeswax is mainly composed of esters of fatty acids and various long-chain alcohols. Its main components are palmitate, palmitoleate and oleate esters of long-chain (30 to 32 carbon) aliphatic alcohols. Beeswax is edible, has negligible toxicity similar to vegetable waxes, and is approved for food use in most countries and in the European Union with E number E901. Beeswax has a melting point range of 60°C to 70°C, and a density of about 0.95 kg / l at 15°C.

[0058] Petroleum waxes are obtained from petroleum, including paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax and petroleum jelly. Paraffin wax is a soft, colorless solid derived from petroleum, coal or shale oil, and is mainly a by-product from lubricating oil refining. It consists of a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules containing 20 to 40 carbon atoms. It is different from kerosene and other petroleum products that are sometimes called paraffin. It has a melting point of about 40°C to 70°C, and a density of about 0.900 kg / l.

[0059] Shellac wax is a resin secreted by female lac insects on trees in the forests of India and Thailand. Shellac has many warm colors, from very light gold ("white gold") to very dark brown ("deep red"), with many varieties of brown, yellow, orange and red in between. The color is affected by the sap of the trees on which the lac insects live and the time of harvest. The main component of shellac wax is a hydroxycarboxylic acid, such as elaeistolic acid or lac acid, which is an unsaturated acid containing an aldehyde group or existing in an esterified form. Shellac wax has a melting point of about 65°C to 85°C, and a density of about 0.950 kg / l.

[0060] Candelilla wax is a wax obtained from the leaves of Euphorbia cerifera and Euphorbia antisyphilitica, small candelilla shrubs originating in northern Mexico and southwestern United States. Candelilla wax is yellow-brown, hard, brittle, aromatic and opaque to translucent. Candelilla wax is mainly composed of hydrocarbons (chains with 29 to 33 carbons), esters of larger molecular weight, free acids and resins (mainly triterpenoid esters). The high hydrocarbon content distinguishes this wax from carnauba wax. As a food additive, candelilla wax has E number E 902 and is used as a polishing agent. It has a melting point of 68°C to 73°C and a density of about 0.988 kg / l.

[0061] Small crown carnauba wax is a brown wax obtained by scraping the leaves of the Brazilian feather palm Syagrus coronata. It has a brownish green color that is difficult to bleach. Small crown carnauba wax contains about 6% triterpenes. It has a melting point of 75°C to 85°C and a density of about 0.970 kg / l.

[0062] Sugarcane wax is a wax extracted from sugar cane. During the production of sugar, a residue remains, the so-called bagasse. Sugarcane wax is obtained from this residue. In the process, plant residues and chlorophyll are separated from the sugar cane. Sugarcane wax consists of about 70% alcohols of long-chain hydrocarbons with a chain length of C18 to C32, cerotic acids with a chain length of C18 to C32, ω-hydroxycarboxylic acids and aromatic carboxylic acids, and fatty alcohols (wax alcohols) and diols are also alcohol components. Sugarcane wax can be used in the food industry, for example in chewing gum. It has a melting point of 65° C. to 85° C. and a density of about 0.850 kg / l.

[0063] Soy wax is a vegetable wax made from soybean oil. After harvesting, the beans are cleaned, cracked, shelled and ground into flakes. The oil is then extracted from the flakes and hydrogenated. Soy wax has a melting point of 40°C to 85°C and a density of about 0.850kg / l to 0.950kg / l.

[0064] Bayberry wax is a fragrant green plant wax. It is extracted from the surface of the fruit of a bayberry (wax-myrtle) shrub (e.g., Myrica cerifera) by boiling it in water and skimming the wax from the water surface. It consists primarily of esters of lauric, myristic, and palmitic acids. It has a melting point of 35° C. to 55° C., and a density of about 0.977 kg / l to 0.995 kg / l.

[0065] Laurel wax is a plant wax obtained from the fruit of Myrica Pubescens, and is commonly referred to as laurel wax. The wax is usually water-extracted and is bluish-white in color. Laurel wax is a hard wax with a low melting point range having a high saponification value, and has a melting point of 35°C to 45°C, and a density of about 0.8kg / l to 0.9kg / l.

[0066] Rice bran wax is a vegetable wax extracted from the bran oil of rice (Oryza sativa). The main components of rice bran wax are esters of aliphatic acids (cerotic acids) and higher alcohols. Rice bran wax also contains ingredients such as free fatty acids (palmitic acid), squalene and phospholipids. It has a melting point of 75°C to 90°C and a density of about 0.970 kg / l.

[0067] According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one wax is a mixture of two or more waxes, and preferably a mixture of two waxes, such as a mixture of carnauba wax and another wax, such as soy wax or paraffin wax.

[0068] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one wax consists of only one wax, preferably selected from carnauba wax, beeswax, paraffin wax, shellac wax, candelilla wax, carnauba wax, sugar cane wax, soy wax, bayberry wax, petroleum wax, laurel wax or rice bran wax, and most preferably consists of only carnauba wax.

[0069] According to another embodiment of the invention, the melting point of the at least one wax is above 25°C, preferably above 30°C and below 120°C, even more preferably from 35 to 100°C and most preferably from 40 to 90°C.

[0070] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the density of the at least one wax is about 0.700 kg / l to 1.100 kg / l, preferably about 0.750 kg / l to 1.050 kg / l, and most preferably about 0.800 kg / l to 1.000 kg / l.

[0071] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one wax is present in the agricultural composition in an amount of 0.1% to 45% by weight, based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, preferably in an amount of 0.5% to 40% by weight, based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, even more preferably in an amount of 0.8% to 30% by weight, and most preferably in an amount of 1% to 20% by weight.

[0072] At least one lignin

[0073] According to the invention, at least one lignin is present in the agricultural composition.

[0074] In the meaning of the present invention, the term "at least one" lignin means that the lignin comprises, preferably consists of, one or more lignins.

[0075] In one embodiment of the invention, at least one lignin in the agricultural composition comprises one lignin, preferably consists of one lignin. Alternatively, at least one lignin comprises two or more lignins, preferably consists of two or more lignins. For example, at least one lignin comprises two or three lignins, preferably consists of two or three lignins.

[0076] Preferably, the at least one lignin in the agricultural composition comprises, more preferably consists of, one lignin.

[0077] In the meaning of the present invention, "lignin" is defined as an organic biopolymer obtained from wood and plants. It is a cross-linked polymer with a molecular weight exceeding 10000u. Lignin is hydrophobic and rich in aromatic subunits, and mainly comprises a cross-linked network of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylpropane, 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenylpropane and 4-hydroxyphenylpropane.

[0078] Lignin is known to the skilled worker and is commercially available, for example under the trade name Lignin DS10 is commercially available from

[0079] Plant lignin can be roughly divided into three categories: softwood (gymnosperms), hardwood (angiosperms) and grass or annual plants (Gramineae) lignin. Three different phenylpropane units or lignin monomers (monolignol) produce lignin biosynthesis. Guaiacyl lignin is mainly composed of coniferyl alcohol units, while guaiacyl-syringyl lignin contains monomer units from coniferyl alcohol and sinapyl alcohol. Generally, guaiacyl lignin is present in softwood, while guaiacyl-syringyl lignin is present in hardwood. Gramineae lignin is mainly composed of p-coumarol units. Lignin polymerization is initiated by oxidation of phenylpropane phenol hydroxyl groups. The stabilization of free radicals occurs by coupling with another free radical in any position of unpaired electrons.

[0080] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one lignin is selected from natural lignin, clason lignin, hydrolyzed lignin, groundwood lignin, soda lignin, organosolv lignin, kraft lignin, alkali lignin, sulfonated lignin and mixtures thereof.

[0081] Native lignin is lignin present in plant tissues and is also called native lignin.

[0082] Klason lignin is the acid-insoluble lignin content in natural lignin. It is obtained by pre-hydrolyzing natural lignin in H2SO4, hydrolyzing the mixture at high temperature, and filtering. The retentate contains Klason lignin. The Klason process is known to the skilled person.

[0083] Hydrolysis of lignin is carried out in Obtained by refluxing lignin or lignocellulose with HCl in an alkane / water composition. This treatment leads to the degradation of lignin and the formation of a large amount of arylpropanes, and most of the acid-decomposed monomers are derived from arylglycerol β-aryl ether structures.

[0084] Milled wood lignin (MWL) is also known as Lignin is obtained by grinding wood powder in a ball mill dry or in the presence of a non-swelling solvent (e.g. toluene), wherein the cell structure of the wood is destroyed. A portion of the lignin can be obtained by using di The suspension was extracted with an alkane-water mixture. Methods are known to the skilled person.

[0085] Kraft lignin is lignin obtained by the Kraft process, also known as kraft pulping or the kraft process. This process is used to convert wood into wood pulp consisting of almost pure cellulose fibers, the main component of paper, and is known to the skilled person. The Kraft process requires treating wood chips with a hot mixture of water, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium sulfide (Na2S), known as white liquor, which destroys the bonds connecting lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose. The technology requires several steps, including both mechanical and chemical steps.

[0086] Lignin sulfonates, also known as sulfonated lignin, are water-soluble anionic polyelectrolyte polymers. They are obtained from wood by treating the wood with a solution comprising sulfur dioxide and / or bisulfite ions at elevated temperature. This process is also known to the skilled person.

[0087] Alkali lignin is obtained by treating wood with an alkaline substance such as NaOH or a mixture of NaOH and Na2SO4.

[0088] Soda lignin is obtained by the soda process, which involves heating a fibrous wood material to 140°C to 170°C in a pressurized reactor in the presence of 13% to 16% sodium hydroxide (i.e., soda), also known as cooking liquor. In this process, lignin is separated from cellulose and suspended in a liquid phase (called black liquor). Therefore, black liquor contains lignin and sodium hydroxide (soda) and is called soda lignin.

[0089] Organosolv lignin is obtained by an organosolv process. The organosolv process involves extracting lignin from lignocellulosic biomass using an organic solvent, usually with an acidic catalyst. Organosolv lignin does not contain sulfur or sulfonate groups and has a molecular weight of about 1000 to 2000 g / mole.

[0090] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one lignin is a mixture of two or more lignins, for example a mixture of two lignins, such as sulfonated lignin and another lignin, such as kraft lignin or natural lignin.

[0091] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one lignin consists of only one type of lignin, preferably selected from natural lignin, clason lignin, hydrolyzed lignin, groundwood lignin, soda lignin, organosolv lignin, kraft lignin, alkali lignin or sulfonated lignin, and most preferably consists of only sulfonated lignin.

[0092] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one lignin is water soluble. According to another embodiment of the invention, at least one lignin is water insoluble. Preferably, at least one lignin is water soluble, and most preferably, at least one lignin is a water soluble sulfonated lignin.

[0093] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the molecular weight of the at least one lignin is higher than 10000u, preferably from 15000u to 1000000u, even more preferably from 50000u to 800000u, and most preferably from 100000u to 500000u.

[0094] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one lignin is present in the composition in an amount of 0.1 wt.-% to 45 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, preferably in an amount of 0.5 wt.-% to 40 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, even more preferably in an amount of 0.8 wt.-% to 30 wt.-%, and most preferably in an amount of 1 wt.-% to 20 wt.-%.

[0095] According to one embodiment of the present invention, at least one wax and at least one lignin are each present in the agricultural composition in an amount of 0.1% to 45% by weight, based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, preferably in an amount of 0.5% to 40% by weight, even more preferably in an amount of 0.8% to 30% by weight, and most preferably in an amount of 1% to 20% by weight.

[0096] Based on the dry weight of wax and lignin, the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200. Preferably, based on the dry weight of wax and lignin, the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:5 to 100:180, more preferably from 100:10 to 100:150, and most preferably from 100:30 to 100:100. The inventors unexpectedly found that the combination of at least one wax and at least one lignin in the agricultural composition of the present invention provides sufficient or improved UV-B and / or UV-A protection for plants and parts thereof.

[0097] At least one emulsifier

[0098] According to the invention, at least one emulsifier is present in the agricultural composition.

[0099] In the meaning of the present invention, the term "at least one" emulsifier means that the emulsifier comprises, preferably consists of, one or more emulsifiers.

[0100] In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one emulsifier in the agricultural composition comprises one emulsifier, preferably consists of one emulsifier. Alternatively, the at least one emulsifier comprises two or more emulsifiers, preferably consists of two or more emulsifiers. For example, the at least one emulsifier comprises two or three emulsifiers, preferably consists of two or three emulsifiers.

[0101] In the meaning of the present invention, an "emulsifier" is a chemical agent comprising a hydrophilic part and a hydrophobic part. Preferably, the emulsifier comprises a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail. The emulsifier is used to prepare a stable emulsion or dispersion of a hydrophilic liquid and a hydrophobic liquid, preferably a stable emulsion or dispersion of water and at least one wax.

[0102] The at least one emulsifier of the present invention may be any useful emulsifier capable of providing a stable agricultural composition according to the present invention. In the meaning of the present invention, a "stable" agricultural composition is a dispersion or emulsion that resists changes in its structural properties for at least 5 minutes, preferably at least 30 minutes, more preferably at least 1 hour, even more preferably at least 10 hours, and most preferably at least 1 day.

[0103] The skilled person knows how to select a suitable emulsifier based on the wax and lignin used and optionally calcium carbonate and optionally solvent.

[0104] At least one emulsifier may be an ionic emulsifier or a nonionic emulsifier or an amphoteric emulsifier. In the case where at least one emulsifier is ionic, it may be cationic or anionic. According to a preferred embodiment, at least one emulsifier is nonionic.

[0105] The at least one emulsifier may be of natural plant origin, for example fatty acids such as polyglycerol esters, or may be synthetic.

[0106] According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one emulsifier is selected from the group comprising PEG compounds, PEG-free emulsifiers, silicone-based emulsifiers, silicones, fatty acids and mixtures thereof.

[0107] For example, the emulsifier can be selected from the group including: PEG compounds, such as PEG-8 myristate, PEG-30 cocoglyceryl, PEG-80 cocoglyceryl, PEG-15 soyamide / IPDI copolymer, PEG-40 sorbitan full oleate, PEG-150 stearate, and mixtures thereof; PEG-free emulsifiers, such as carbomer, carboxymethylcellulose, ozokerite (also known as mineral wax), diethanolamine (DEA), isopropyl stearate, isopropyl laurate, isopropyl palmitate, and the like. Esters, isopropyl oleate, polysorbate 20, polysorbate 60, polysorbate 80, propylene glycol, sorbitan stearate, sorbitan laurate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan oleate, steareth-20, triethanolamine (TEA), cetearyl alcohol, cetearyl wheat bran glycosides, cetearyl wheat straw glycosides, decyl glucoside, lecithin, vegetable glycerin, xanthan gum, cocoyl glucoside, cocoyl alcohol, arachidyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, arachidyl glucoside, stearic acid and mixtures thereof.

[0108] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one emulsifier is a PEG-free emulsifier and is preferably selected from triethanolamine (TEA), stearic acid and mixtures thereof.

[0109] In one embodiment of the invention, at least one emulsifier in the agricultural composition comprises one emulsifier, preferably consists of one emulsifier. For example, at least one emulsifier is an emulsifier without PEG, preferably triethanolamine or stearic acid. Alternatively, at least one emulsifier comprises two or more emulsifiers, preferably consists of two or more emulsifiers. For example, at least one emulsifier comprises two emulsifiers, preferably consists of two emulsifiers. According to a preferred embodiment, at least one emulsifier is a mixture of triethanolamine and stearic acid.

[0110] According to one embodiment of the present invention, at least one emulsifier is present in the composition in an amount of 0.1 wt.-% to 30 wt.-% based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, preferably in an amount of 1 wt.-% to 15 wt.-% based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, and most preferably in an amount of 2 wt.-% to 10 wt.-%.

[0111] water

[0112] According to the present invention, water is present in the agricultural composition.

[0113] The water of the present invention can be selected from drinking water, process water, softened water, distilled water, rain water, recycled water, river water and mixtures thereof. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the water present in the agricultural composition is drinking water.

[0114] Drinking water, also known as domestic drinking water, is water that is safe to drink or used for food preparation. Rainwater / river water is obtained from rain / river. Recycled water is water that has been circulated and can be used for agriculture. Process water is water that is considered non-drinkable and is basically used for industrial equipment, industrial processes and production facilities. Softened water is specially purified water from which most or all of its minerals and salt ions (such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride, sulfate, nitrate and bicarbonate) are removed. It is also called deionized water. Distilled water is water that has been boiled into steam and condensed back into liquid in a separate container.

[0115] According to one embodiment of the present invention, water is present in the composition in an amount of 10 to 99.9 wt.-% based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, preferably in an amount of 30 to 95 wt.-% based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, even more preferably in an amount of 40 to 90 wt.-%, and most preferably in an amount of 50 to 85 wt.-%.

[0116] Calcium carbonate

[0117] According to the present invention, calcium carbonate is optionally present in the agricultural composition.

[0118] It is understood that the amount of calcium in the calcium carbonate is at least 50 mol.%, preferably at least 70 mol.%, more preferably at least 90 mol.%, and most preferably at least 99 mol.%, based on the total amount of calcium carbonate. The calcium carbonate may contain additional alkaline earth metal compounds, such as Mg.

[0119] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, calcium carbonate is selected from ground calcium carbonate (GCC), preferably marble, limestone and / or chalk and / or nano-GCC; precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), preferably vaterite, calcite and / or aragonite; and mixtures thereof.

[0120] GCC is understood to be a naturally occurring form of calcium carbonate, mined from sedimentary rocks (e.g. limestone or chalk) or metamorphosed marble rocks, and processed by treatments such as grinding, sieving and / or classifying (e.g. by cyclones or classifiers) in wet and / or dry form. In one embodiment of the present invention, GCC is selected from the group comprising marble, chalk, limestone and / or nano GCC, and mixtures thereof.

[0121] In the meaning of the present invention, "nano ground calcium carbonate" (nano GCC) refers to ground calcium carbonate in the form of particles in the nanometer size range, i.e. in an unbound state or as aggregates or as agglomerates, and wherein for 50% or more of the particles in the number size distribution, one or more external dimensions are in the size range of 50 nm to 950 nm. Preferably, for 60% or more, more preferably 80% or more, and most preferably 99% or more of the particles in the number size distribution, one or more external dimensions are in the size range of 50 nm to 950 nm.

[0122] In contrast, PCC-type calcium carbonate comprises a synthetic calcium carbonate product obtained by carbonating a calcium hydroxide slurry (commonly referred to in the art as lime slurry or lime milk when obtained from finely divided calcium oxide particles in water) or by precipitation from an ionic salt solution. PCC may be rhombohedral and / or scalenohedral and / or aragonitic; preferred synthetic or precipitated calcium carbonates include aragonite, vaterite or calcite mineralogical crystal forms or mixtures thereof.

[0123] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one calcium carbonate is ground calcium carbonate, and preferably marble.

[0124] The optional calcium carbonate is preferably in the form of a particulate material and may have a particle size distribution as is conventionally employed for materials of the type of product to be produced. Generally, preferably, the weight median particle size d of the optional calcium carbonate is 50 The value is in the range of 0.1 μm to 20 μm. For example, the weight median particle size d of at least one calcium carbonate is 50 It is 0.25 μm to 10 μm, and preferably 0.5 μm to 8 μm.

[0125] Additionally or alternatively, the top cut (d 98 )≤100 μm. For example, the top cut (d 98 )≤60μm, preferably ≤40μm, and most preferably ≤20μm.

[0126] Additionally or alternatively, the at least one calcium carbonate has a BET specific surface area as measured by the BET nitrogen method of 0.5 m 2 / g to 100m 2 For example, at least one calcium carbonate has a specific surface area (BET) of 0.5 m 2 / g to 50m 2 / g, more preferably 0.5m 2 / g to 35m 2 / g, and most preferably 0.5m 2 / g to 10m 2 / g.

[0127] According to another embodiment, the at least one calcium carbonate is ground calcium carbonate, and preferably nano-GCC.

[0128] Where the optional calcium carbonate is nano-GCC, it is preferably in the form of a particulate material and may have a particle size distribution as conventionally employed for materials involved in the type of product to be produced. Generally, preferably, the weight median particle size d of the nano-GCC is 50 The value is in the range of 50 nm to 950 nm. For example, the weight median particle size d of nano-GCC is 50 It is 150nm to 800nm, preferably 200nm to 600nm.

[0129] Additionally or alternatively, the top cut (d 98 )≤950nm. For example, the top cut (d 98 )≤800nm, preferably ≤700nm, and most preferably ≤600nm.

[0130] Additionally or alternatively, the BET specific surface area of ​​the nano-GCC as measured by the BET nitrogen method is 0.5 m 2 / g to 100m 2 For example, the specific surface area (BET) of nano-GCC as measured by the BET nitrogen method is 0.5 m 2 / g to 50m 2 / g, more preferably 0.5m 2 / g to 35m 2 / g, and most preferably 0.5m 2 / g to 10m 2 / g.

[0131] The optional GCC can be added as a dry material, or can be added in a wet form. For example, the optional GCC can be added in a wet form, for example, in the form of a slurry. In this case, the amount of water in the agricultural composition must be adjusted based on the solid content of the GCC slurry. Alternatively, the optional GCC can be added as a dry material. Preferably, the optional calcium carbonate is a dry-ground material, a wet-ground and dried material, or a mixture of the aforementioned materials. Typically, the grinding step can be carried out with any conventional grinding device, for example, under conditions such that the refinement is mainly caused by the impact with the second object, i.e., in one or more of the following: a ball mill, a rod mill, a vibrating mill, a roller crusher, a centrifugal impact mill, a vertical bead mill, a grinding machine, a pin mill, a hammer mill, a pulverizer, a pulverizer, a de-clumper, a knife cutter, or other such devices known to the technician.

[0132] In the case where the optional calcium carbonate is wet-ground calcium carbonate, the grinding step can be carried out under conditions such that autogenous grinding occurs and / or by horizontal ball milling and / or other such methods known to the technician. The thus obtained wet-processed ground calcium carbonate can be washed and dehydrated by a known method (e.g., by flocculation, filtration or forced evaporation) before drying. The subsequent drying step can be carried out in a single step (e.g., spray drying) or in at least two steps, such as by applying a first heating step to the calcium carbonate to reduce the relevant moisture content to a level not greater than about 1% by weight based on the total dry weight of calcium carbonate. The residual total moisture content of the filler can be measured as follows: by Karl Fischer coulometric titration, water is desorbed in an oven at 195°C, and dry N2 is continuously passed into a KF coulometer (Mettler Toledo coulometric KF titrator C30, combined with Mettler oven DO 0337) at 100ml / min for 10 minutes. The residual total moisture content can be determined by a calibration curve, and the blank (blind) of 10 minutes of airflow when there is no sample can also be considered. The residual total moisture content can be further reduced by applying a second heating step to the calcium carbonate. In case the drying is carried out by more than one drying step, the first step can be carried out by heating in a hot air stream, while the second drying step and the further drying steps are preferably carried out by indirect heating wherein the atmosphere in the respective container contains a surface treatment agent. It is also common to subject the calcium carbonate to a beneficiation step (e.g. a flotation, bleaching or magnetic separation step) to remove impurities.

[0133] In one embodiment of the present invention, the optional calcium carbonate comprises dry ground calcium carbonate. In another preferred embodiment, the optional calcium carbonate is a material that has been wet ground in a horizontal ball mill and subsequently dried by using a well-known spray drying process.

[0134] The optional calcium carbonate may comprise one or more, such as two or three, calcium carbonates. According to a preferred embodiment, the optional calcium carbonate comprises only one calcium carbonate, preferably ground calcium carbonate, and most preferably marble.

[0135] According to one embodiment of the present invention, calcium carbonate is preferably present in the agricultural composition in an amount of 0.1 wt % to 10 wt %, based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, more preferably in an amount of 0.3 wt % to 3 wt %, even more preferably in an amount of 0.5 wt % to 2 wt %, and most preferably in an amount of 0.8 wt % to 1.5 wt %, based on the total weight of the agricultural composition.

[0136] Solvents

[0137] According to the present invention, a solvent is optionally present in the agricultural composition. Preferably, a solvent is present when a water-insoluble lignin is used.

[0138] In the meaning of the present invention, a solvent is any compound capable of dissolving at least one lignin and preferably a water-insoluble lignin. A solvent is different from water.

[0139] According to a preferred embodiment, the solvent is miscible with water in any ratio, preferably, the ratio of water:solvent is from 100:0.1 to 100:200, preferably from 100:1 to 100:150, more preferably from 100:5 to 100:120, and most preferably from 100:10 to 100:100, based on the weight of water and the dry weight of the solvent.

[0140] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, ethyl acetate, glycerol, γ-valerolactone, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol and mixtures thereof.

[0141] Ethylene glycol, also known as ethane-1,2-diol, is an organic compound with the chemical formula (CH2OH)2. It is an odorless, colorless, sweet, viscous liquid.

[0142] Ethyl acetate is an organic compound with the formula CH3-COO-CH2-CH3. It is a colorless liquid with a characteristic sweet smell. Ethyl acetate is the ester of ethanol and acetic acid.

[0143] Glycerol is also called glycerine or glycerin or propane-1,2,3-triol and is a simple polyol compound. It is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is sweet and non-toxic. It has a chemical formula of CH2OH-CHOH-CH2OH.

[0144] γ-Valerolactone is an organic compound with the formula C5H8O2. This colorless liquid is chiral but is usually used as a racemate. It is easily obtained from cellulosic biomass and is a potential fuel and green solvent.

[0145] Polyethylene glycol is a polyether compound that has many applications from industrial manufacturing to medicine. PEG is also known as polyethylene oxide (PEO) or polyoxyethylene (POE) depending on its molecular weight. The structure of PEG is usually represented as H-(O-CH2-CH2) n -OH.

[0146] Polypropylene glycol or polypropylene oxide is a polymer of propylene glycol. Chemically it is a polyether. The structure of PPG is usually represented as H-(O-CHCH3-CH2) n -OH.

[0147] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the solvent is ethylene glycol.

[0148] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the solvent is preferably present in the agricultural composition in an amount of 0.1 wt % to 40 wt % based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, more preferably in an amount of 1 wt % to 35 wt % based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, even more preferably in an amount of 2 wt % to 30 wt %, and most preferably in an amount of 3 wt % to 25 wt %.

[0149] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the solvent is present in the agricultural composition, and preferably, based on the dry weight of ethylene glycol and lignin, the ratio of solvent:lignin in the composition is 5:1 to 100:1, preferably 10:1 to 20:1, and most preferably 12:1 to 16:1.

[0150] Agricultural compositions

[0151] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection to plants and parts thereof comprises at least one wax, at least one lignin, at least one emulsifier and water, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of wax and lignin.

[0152] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection to plants and parts thereof consists of at least one wax, at least one lignin, at least one emulsifier and water, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of wax and lignin.

[0153] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection to plants and parts thereof comprises at least one wax, at least one lignin, at least one emulsifier, water and calcium carbonate, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of wax and lignin.

[0154] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection to plants and parts thereof consists of at least one wax, at least one lignin, at least one emulsifier, water and calcium carbonate, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of wax and lignin.

[0155] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection to plants and parts thereof comprises at least one wax, at least one lignin, at least one emulsifier, water and a solvent, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of wax and lignin.

[0156] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection to plants and parts thereof consists of at least one wax, at least one lignin, at least one emulsifier, water and a solvent, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of wax and lignin.

[0157] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection to plants and parts thereof comprises at least one wax, at least one lignin, at least one emulsifier, water, calcium carbonate and a solvent, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of wax and lignin.

[0158] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection to plants and parts thereof consists of at least one wax, at least one lignin, at least one emulsifier, water, calcium carbonate and a solvent, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of wax and lignin.

[0159] The inventors have unexpectedly found that the aforementioned agricultural compositions provide sufficient or improved UV-B and / or UV-A protection for plants and parts thereof, especially for fruits. In particular, the inventors have unexpectedly found that when at least one wax is used in combination with at least one lignin, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of wax and lignin, the agricultural compositions provide sufficient or improved UV-B and / or UV-A protection for plants and parts thereof.

[0160] UV-B and / or UV-A protection can be measured by transmittance and absorbance measurement.Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy or ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry and near infrared spectroscopy (UV-Vis or UV / Vis and NIR) refer to absorption spectroscopy, transmission spectroscopy or reflection spectroscopy in ultraviolet-visible and near infrared spectral regions. This means that it utilizes visible light and light in the adjacent range. Absorption, transmission or reflection in this range directly affects the perceived color of the chemical involved. In this region of the electromagnetic spectrum, atoms and molecules undergo electronic transitions. As used herein, transmittance and absorbance are measured by a dual-beam PerkinElmer Lambda950UV / Vis / NIR spectrometer equipped with a 150mm integrating sphere PMT-InGaAs detector.

[0161] According to one embodiment of the invention, the agronomic composition of the invention has improved UV-B and / or UV-A protection for plants and parts thereof, in particular for fruits, compared to the same agricultural composition comprising only at least one wax or at least one lignin.

[0162] In the meaning of the present invention, "same agricultural composition" refers to an agricultural composition consisting of the same ingredients in the same amounts as the agricultural composition of the present invention, except that the composition does not contain a combination of at least one wax and at least one lignin, but only one component. The missing component is replaced by water.

[0163] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the agricultural composition of the present invention has improved transmittance and absorbance in the range of 280nm to 320nm, or in the range of >320nm to 400nm, and most preferably in the range of 280nm to 400nm, compared to the same agricultural composition comprising only at least one wax or at least one lignin.

[0164] The present inventors have unexpectedly found that the agricultural compositions of the present invention are sprayable and that they adhere to plants and parts thereof and are not easily washed away by rain.

[0165] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the agricultural composition of the present invention is in liquid form, preferably in the form of an aqueous dispersion or emulsion. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the agricultural composition of the present invention is in liquid form, preferably in the form of an aqueous suspension or slurry. In the meaning of the present invention, "aqueous" means that the composition comprises water and optionally a solvent as defined above.

[0166] In the meaning of the present invention, "dispersion" refers to a system in which discrete particles of one material are dispersed in a continuous phase of another material. In the meaning of the present invention, "emulsion" refers to a mixture of two or more liquids that are generally immiscible and in which one liquid is dispersed in the other liquid.

[0167] A "suspension" or "slurry" within the meaning of the present invention comprises undissolved solids and water, and optionally further additives, and generally contains a large amount of solids and is therefore more viscous and may have a higher density than the liquid from which it is formed.

[0168] Furthermore, the inventors have surprisingly found that the agricultural compositions of the present invention are translucent or at least provide only a light-colored film or shimmer on plants and parts thereof treated with such compositions.

[0169] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, calcium carbonate is not present in the agricultural composition. In this case, the agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection for plants and parts thereof is composed of at least one wax, at least one lignin, at least one emulsifier, water and optional solvent, wherein based on the dry weight of wax and lignin, the ratio of wax: lignin in the composition is 100:1 to 100:200. In this case, the agricultural composition of the present invention is translucent and has no optical damage to plants and parts thereof. Alternatively, the agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection for plants and parts thereof comprises at least one wax, at least one lignin, at least one emulsifier, water and optional solvent, wherein based on the dry weight of wax and lignin, the ratio of wax: lignin in the composition is 100:1 to 100:200, under the condition that calcium carbonate or other non-solvent particulate materials are not present in the composition.

[0170] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, calcium carbonate is present in the agricultural composition and is preferably heavy calcium carbonate, such as marble or nano GCC. In this case, the agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection for plants and parts thereof comprises at least one wax, at least one lignin, at least one emulsifier, water, calcium carbonate (preferably heavy calcium carbonate, such as marble or nano GCC) and optional solvent, preferably consisting of at least one wax, at least one lignin, at least one emulsifier, water, calcium carbonate (preferably heavy calcium carbonate, such as marble or nano GCC) and optional solvent, wherein the ratio of wax: lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of wax and lignin. Nano GCC is a very fine particulate material that is barely detectable by the human eye, and therefore, the agricultural composition of the present invention is translucent and has reduced optical interference with plants and parts thereof.

[0171] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one lignin is a water-soluble lignin, preferably a sulfonated lignin, and no solvent is present in the agricultural composition.

[0172] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one wax is carnauba wax and / or the at least one lignin is a water-soluble lignin, and preferably a sulfonated lignin.

[0173] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection for plants and parts thereof comprises, preferably consists of, carnauba wax, at least one lignin (preferably sulfonated lignin), at least one emulsifier, water, optionally calcium carbonate and optionally a solvent; wherein the ratio of carnauba wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of carnauba wax and lignin.

[0174] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection for plants and parts thereof comprises, preferably consists of, carnauba wax, sulfonated lignin, at least one emulsifier and water; wherein the ratio of carnauba wax:sulfonated lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of carnauba wax and sulfonated lignin.

[0175] The composition of the present invention can be easily and quickly produced, is cheap and particularly easy to handle. More precisely, the agricultural composition of the present invention can be easily produced by mixing the components of the composition of the present invention successively or simultaneously in any order.

[0176] In one embodiment, mixing is performed at a temperature ranging from 15 to 120° C., more preferably from 20 to 110° C. and most preferably from 30 to 100° C. According to a preferred embodiment, mixing is performed at a temperature above the melting point of the at least one wax.

[0177] Preferably, the mixing is carried out continuously and / or at a temperature above the melting point of the at least one wax. For example, the at least one wax is heated above the melting point and then mixed with the at least one emulsifier. Thereafter, water is added to the mixture under mixing and finally the lignin is added under mixing conditions.

[0178] Where calcium carbonate is present in the agricultural composition, it may be added at any stage in the preparation of the agricultural composition and is preferably added as the last ingredient to the mixture.

[0179] In case a solvent such as ethylene glycol is present in the agricultural composition, the solvent may be added at any stage in the preparation of the agricultural composition and is preferably premixed with the lignin, after which the mixture may be added at any stage in the preparation of the agricultural composition.

[0180] Mixing can be carried out under conventional mixing conditions. The skilled person will adjust these mixing conditions (such as the configuration of the mixing tray and the mixing speed) according to their process equipment. It should be understood that any mixing method suitable for forming an agricultural composition can be used.

[0181] Uses of agricultural compositions

[0182] The agricultural compositions according to the invention are used for UV-A and / or UV-B protection of plants and their parts.

[0183] This can be easily accomplished by applying the agricultural composition of the present invention to plants and parts thereof by any suitable method known to the skilled person, for example by spraying, brushing or dipping. According to a preferred method, the agricultural composition of the present invention is sprayed onto plants and parts thereof. Equipment for spraying the agricultural composition is known to the skilled person and is commercially available.

[0184] According to one embodiment of the invention, the plants and parts thereof are fruits, vegetables, trees, seeds, leaves, wood, nuts, crops, crop plants and flowers, and in particular fruits such as apple, orange, citron, cherry, pear, plum, banana or mango.

[0185] As described above, the inventors have unexpectedly found that the aforementioned agricultural compositions provide sufficient UV-B and / or UV-A protection for plants and parts thereof, especially for fruits. In particular, the inventors have unexpectedly found that when at least one wax is used in combination with at least one lignin, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of the wax and lignin, the agricultural composition provides improved UV-B and / or UV-A protection for plants and parts thereof.

[0186] According to one embodiment of the invention, a combination of at least one wax and at least one lignin is used as UV-A and / or UV-B protective agent, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin is from 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of wax and lignin.

[0187] Preferably, the wax:lignin ratio is from 100:5 to 100:180, more preferably from 100:10 to 100:150, and most preferably from 100:30 to 100:100, based on the dry weight of wax and lignin.

[0188] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one wax is carnauba wax and / or the at least one lignin is a water-soluble lignin and preferably a sulfonated lignin.

[0189] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one wax and at least one lignin are used as UV-A and / or UV-B protective agents, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin is from 100:1 to 100:200, preferably from 100:5 to 100:180, more preferably from 100:10 to 100:150, and most preferably from 100:30 to 100:100, based on the dry weight of wax and lignin, wherein the at least one wax is carnauba wax and the at least one lignin is sulfonated lignin.

[0190] The scope and purpose of the present invention will be better understood based on the following examples, which are intended to illustrate certain embodiments of the invention and are non-limiting. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0191] Figure 1 : Schematic diagram of absorbance measurement with the sample located in an integrating sphere.

[0192] Figure 2 : Schematic diagram of transmittance measurement using an integrating sphere.

[0193] Figure 3 : Absorbance of agricultural compositions with 0 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 1.5 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt% and 5 wt% lignin.

[0194] Figure 4 : Absorbance of agricultural compositions at 300 nm and 360 nm as a function of lignin concentration.

[0195] Figure 5 : The transmittance of agricultural compositions comprising only 5 wt% wax, only 5 wt% lignin, a combination of 5 wt% wax and 5 wt% lignin, and a combination of 5 wt%, 5 wt% lignin and 1.5 wt% calcium carbonate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0196] experiment

[0197] 1. Measurement method

[0198] Hereinafter, the measurement methods performed in the examples are described.

[0199] Transmittance and absorbance measurements

[0200] Transmittance and absorbance measurements were performed using a dual-beam PerkinElmer Lambda 950 UV / Vis / NIR spectrophotometer equipped with a 150 mm integrating sphere PMT-InGaAs detector.

[0201] For absorbance analysis, the tested agricultural composition was diluted with deionized water at a volume ratio of 1:80. The agricultural composition was poured into a quartz cuvette with a path length of 1 cm and Figure 1 The sample is shown placed in an integrating sphere with a center-mount holder. This setup allows both the transmittance (T) and reflectance (R) of the sample to be measured simultaneously in a single measurement, so that the absorbance (A) can be derived as

[0202] A=-log(T+R)

[0203] Deionized water was used as a reference for the measurement. The spectrophotometer was scanned in the range of 280 nm to 400 nm with a step of 2 nm. Two replicate samples were prepared for each diluted agricultural composition and measured, and the average absorption spectrum was calculated.

[0204] For transmittance analysis, samples were prepared by spraying the agricultural composition on quartz plates (50 mm x 50 mm x 3 mm). The coated plates were allowed to dry in the dark for 1 hour. The prepared plates were Figure 2 The quartz plate was placed at the entrance of the integrating sphere as shown. Transmittance measurements were performed in the range of 280 nm to 400 nm with a step of 2 nm. Four repetitions were performed for each sample at different sample positions obtained by rotating the sample 90° around the incident beam axis. The average transmission spectrum of the sample was then calculated. Finally, the average transmission spectrum of the sample was normalized relative to the average transmittance of the bare quartz plate.

[0205] Particle size distribution

[0206] The median particle size d was determined gravimetrically by sedimentation. 50 (weight), sedimentation method is the analysis of sedimentation behavior in a gravitational field. TM The measurement was performed using a 5100. The method and the instrument are known to the skilled person and are commonly used to determine the particle size distribution of fillers and pigments. The measurement was performed in an aqueous solution of 0.1 wt. % Na4P2O7. The sample was dispersed and sonicated using a high-speed stirrer.

[0207] 2. Materials used in the examples

[0208] Wax: Carnauba wax No. 1 yellow (CAS: 8015-86-9), available from Sigma Aldrich as No. 243213-250G

[0209] Lignin: Sulfonated sodium lignin, available under the trade name Lignin DS10 Fabriker obtains

[0210] Emulsifiers: stearic acid (CAS: 57-11-4) in powder form, available from Sigma Aldrich under the number S4751; and triethanolamine (CAS: 102-71-6) in liquid form, available from Sigma Aldrich under the number T58300-25G

[0211] Water: distilled water

[0212] Calcium carbonate: marble-type ground calcium carbonate having a calcium carbonate content greater than 97.5% by weight; the ground calcium carbonate having a particle size of less than 2 μm in an amount of 52% to 62% by weight, and a median particle size d in the range of 1.2 μm to 2.2 μm 50

[0213] 3. Testing

[0214] The following agricultural compositions were prepared:

[0215] In the flask (95 ℃) of bottom heating, 11g carnauba wax is added and slowly mixed to melt the solid. In the latter, 5g stearic acid is added and then kept under mixing to dissolve. Afterwards, 5g triethanolamine is further added to the mixture and kept for 15 minutes. In the mixture, 180g boiling hot water is added and kept for 30 minutes. Finally, different amounts of water-soluble lignin are added to the composition so that the composition comprises 0 weight %, 0.5 weight %, 1.5 weight %, 2 weight %, 3 weight % or 5 weight % lignin based on the gross weight of the agricultural composition. Therefore, the ratio of wax to lignin in these compositions is 100:0, 100:10, 100:30, 100:40, 100:60 and 100:100.

[0216] Optionally, calcium carbonate is added to these compositions in an amount of 1.5% by weight based on the total weight of the agricultural composition under mixing conditions.

[0217] Absorbance test 01

[0218] The absorbance of the agricultural composition prepared above was measured. Figure 3 It can be seen that the combination of at least one wax and at least one lignin within the claimed scope leads to an increase in the absorbance in the UV-A and UV-B range.

[0219] Absorbance test 02

[0220] The absorbance of the agricultural composition prepared at 300 nm in the UV-B range and above 360 ​​nm in the UV-A range is determined by Figure 3 Calculated and displayed as a function of lignin concentration. Figure 4 It can be seen that the absorbance increases linearly with increasing lignin concentration.Thus, the combination of at least one wax and at least one lignin results in an increased absorbance in the UV-A and UV-B range.

[0221] Transmittance test 01

[0222] The transmittance of three agricultural compositions containing only wax (5 wt%), only lignin (5 wt%), or a combination of wax and lignin (5 wt%) were measured. Figure 5 It can be seen that lower UV-A and UV-B transmittances are achieved with the combination of both wax and lignin. Therefore, such an agricultural composition comprising both wax and lignin can be used as a sunscreen formulation with improved performance compared to an agricultural composition comprising only wax or only lignin.

[0223] The transmittance of an agricultural composition prepared above comprising a combination of both 5 wt% wax and 5 wt% lignin and an additional 1.5 wt% CaCO 3 was also measured. When CaCO 3 was included in the agricultural composition, the UV-A and UV-B transmittances were further reduced.

Claims

1. An agricultural composition for providing UV-A and / or UV-B protection to plants and their parts, the composition comprising: at least one wax; at least one lignin; at least one emulsifier; water; optionally calcium carbonate; and optional solvent; Wherein the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is 100:1 to 100:200 based on the dry weight of the wax and the lignin.

2. The agricultural composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition consists of: at least one wax; at least one lignin; at least one emulsifier; water; optionally calcium carbonate; and Optional solvent.

3. An agricultural composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin in the composition is from 100:5 to 100:180, preferably from 100:10 to 100:150, and most preferably from 100:30 to 100:100, based on the dry weight of the wax and the lignin.

4. The agricultural composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one wax is selected from the group consisting of carnauba wax, beeswax, paraffin wax, shellac wax, candelilla wax, carnauba wax, sugarcane wax, soy wax, bayberry wax, petroleum wax, laurel wax, rice bran wax and mixtures thereof, and is preferably carnauba wax; and / or wherein the at least one lignin is selected from the group consisting of natural lignin, clason lignin, hydrolyzed lignin, groundwood lignin, soda lignin, organosolv lignin, kraft lignin, alkali lignin, sulfonated lignin and mixtures thereof, and is preferably sulfonated lignin; and / or wherein the at least one emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of: PEG compounds, PEG-free emulsifiers, silicone-based emulsifiers, silicones, fatty acids, and mixtures thereof; and / or wherein the calcium carbonate is selected from the group consisting of: ground calcium carbonate (GCC), preferably marble, limestone, chalk and / or nano-GCC; precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), preferably vaterite, calcite and / or aragonite; and mixtures thereof, and most preferably the calcium carbonate is ground calcium carbonate; and / or wherein the solvent is present in the agricultural composition and preferably the ratio of solvent:lignin in the composition is from 5:1 to 100:1, preferably from 10:1 to 20:1, and most preferably from 12:1 to 16:1, based on the dry weight of the solvent and the lignin.

5. The agricultural composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one wax and the at least one lignin are each present in the composition in an amount of 0.1% to 45% by weight, based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, preferably in an amount of 0.5% to 40% by weight, even more preferably in an amount of 0.8% to 30% by weight, and most preferably in an amount of 1% to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the agricultural composition; and / or wherein the at least one emulsifier is present in the composition in an amount of 0.1 wt. % to 30 wt. % based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, preferably in an amount of 1 wt. % to 15 wt. % based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, and most preferably in an amount of 2 wt. % to 10 wt. %; and / or Wherein calcium carbonate is preferably present in the agricultural composition in an amount of 0.1 wt % to 10 wt % based on the total weight of the agricultural composition, more preferably in an amount of 0.3 wt % to 3 wt %, even more preferably in an amount of 0.5 wt % to 2 wt %, and most preferably in an amount of 0.8 wt % to 1.5 wt % based on the total weight of the agricultural composition.

6. The agricultural composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one lignin is a water-soluble lignin, preferably a sulfonated lignin, and no solvent is present in the agricultural composition.

7. An agricultural composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the composition is in liquid form.

8. Use of the agricultural composition according to claims 1 to 7 for UV-A and / or UV-B protection of plants and parts thereof.

9. Use according to claim 8, wherein the plants and parts thereof are fruits, vegetables, trees, seeds, leaves, wood, nuts, crops, crop plants and flowers.

10. Use of a combination of at least one wax and at least one lignin as UV-A and / or UV-B protective agent, wherein the ratio of wax:lignin is from 100:1 to 100:200, based on the dry weight of the wax and the lignin.

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