Solvent formulation for agricultural compositions

Abstract

Solvent formulation for agricultural compositions, comprising: - Fatty acid alkyl esters; and - short-chain fatty alcohols; characterized in that the mixing ratio of fatty acid alkyl esters to short-chain fatty alcohols is 90:10 to 0:100.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of chemistry, in particular to solvent formulation for agricultural compositions. State of the art

[0002] Agricultural compounds are substances used in agriculture to increase crop yields or to manage agricultural ecology, including the organisms living in the fields. These compounds include pesticides, fertilizers, lime and acidifying agents, soil improvers, and other substances such as antibiotics, hormones, and additives. The most important agricultural compounds are preservatives and pesticides, especially pesticides.

[0003] Solvent-based formulations such as fungicides and herbicides contain active ingredients (AIs), surfactants, and solvents. The solvent is the main component of the pesticide. The solvent used is generally an organic solvent derived from petroleum, such as naphtha, benzene, xylene, and methanol. Most solvents are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are highly toxic to humans and the environment. Furthermore, they are highly flammable. Due to the disadvantages of petroleum-derived solvents, there is currently research and interest in replacing conventional solvents with non-petroleum-derived solvents.

[0004] One of the interesting non-petroleum-derived solvents is biodiesel (B100), a bio-based solvent produced from vegetable oils and animal fats such as crude palm oil, refined palm oil, and used animal oil. These undergo transesterification with alcohols like methanol or ethanol, using sodium hydroxide as a catalyst under high-temperature conditions. This process converts triglyceride fats into fatty acid alkyl esters, which, depending on the type of alcohol used in the production process, can be fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE). Biodiesel is gaining importance as a replacement for solvents in pesticides because it is biologically produced, environmentally friendly, safe, has a high flash point, and is low-volatility. However, this biological solvent has limitations regarding its solvent properties for various active ingredients.Therefore, several solvent developments have been undertaken to improve solubility, as described in the following prior art.

[0005] Chinese patent publication No. 1965647 A discloses an agricultural composition containing biodiesel as a solvent. This agricultural composition contains active ingredients, solvents, and emulsifiers. The solvent can be biodiesel alone or a mixture of biodiesel and conventional organic solvents to enhance solubility. Conventional organic solvents include dimethylbenzene, methanol, ethanol, naphtha, toluene, dimethylformamide, and dimethyl sulfoxide. This disclosure improves safety when using conventional organic solvents and reduces environmental toxicity.

[0006] Chinese patent publication No. 104823969 A discloses the development of a fatty acid methyl ester solvent for the production of pesticides. The development described in this publication utilizes the fatty acid methyl ester along with other additives containing emulsifiers, stabilizers, and dispersants to improve the stability and solubility of the active ingredients. The fatty acid methyl ester in question can be used with any pesticide, such as biological and synthetic pesticides.

[0007] International patent publication WO 2013 / 054194 A1 discloses the development of a natural oil-based ester for improving the solubility of pesticide active ingredients. The solvent is mixed with the developed surfactant, which contains polyethylene glycol or polyoxyethylene sorbitan ester together with fatty alcohol alkoxylate, methyl ester alkoxylate, or fatty acid alkoxylate.

[0008] All of this indicates that several attempts are underway to develop the solvent, both by mixing it with conventional organic solvents and by adding additives, to increase the effectiveness of biodiesel as a solvent for the active ingredients. However, these developments still rely on conventional organic solvents, which can be harmful to users. Furthermore, making these solvents safe for human health and the environment is complicated and expensive.

[0009] The aim of this invention is to solve this problem by disclosing a solvent formulation comprising fatty acid alkyl esters and fatty alcohols to reduce the complexity of solvent preparation. Furthermore, the resulting solvent is safe for humans and the environment, cost-effective, and offers solubility for many active ingredients. Summary of the invention

[0010] This invention relates to a solvent formulation for agricultural compositions. The solvent formulation comprises fatty acid alkyl esters and short-chain fatty alcohols. The mixing ratio of fatty acid alkyl esters to short-chain fatty alcohols is 90:10 to 0:100.

[0011] This invention aims to provide a solvent formulation for agricultural compositions that is able to dissolve the active ingredient and reduce the complexity of the solvent system. Description of the invention

[0012] The present invention discloses a solvent formulation for agricultural compositions.

[0013] Unless otherwise stated, each aspect presented herein is intended to also encompass the other application of this invention.

[0014] Unless otherwise stated, the technical or scientific terms used here have the definitions applicable to a person skilled in the art.

[0015] In this application, the term "approximately" means that any number appearing or shown herein may vary or differ due to errors in equipment, procedures, or persons using such equipment or procedures.

[0016] The terms "containing," "comprising," "having," and "including" are open terms. For example, any procedure that "contains," "comprising," "has," and "includes" one or more components or steps is not limited to one component or step or multiple components or steps, but also encompasses any other components or steps not mentioned.

[0017] All tools, devices, processes or chemicals mentioned herein refer to tools, devices, processes or chemicals that are commonly used by a person skilled in the art.

[0018] All compositions and / or methods and claims disclosed in this application are intended to cover embodiments of any action, performance, modification, or adaptation without experimentation that do not differ substantially from this invention, and to obtain a meaningful subject matter which, according to a person skilled in the art, yields the same result as the present embodiment, even though this is not expressly stated in the claims. Therefore, interchangeable or similar subject matter of the present embodiment, including any minor modifications or adaptations that are obvious to a person skilled in the art, should be designed to remain within the sense, scope, and concept of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

[0019] The use of singular nouns or pronouns with "comprehensive" in claims or descriptions means "one" and "one or more", "at least" and "one or more than one".

[0020] The term "surfactant" refers to a chemical compound that reduces the surface tension of a liquid. This allows the liquid to spread and wet more easily.

[0021] The following are embodiments of the invention, without any intention of limiting the scope of the invention in any way.

[0022] The present invention relates to a solvent formulation for agricultural compositions, comprising: - Fatty acid alkyl esters; and - short-chain fatty alcohols; characterized by the fact that The mixing ratio of fatty acid alkyl esters to short-chain fatty alcohols is 90:10 to 0:100.

[0023] Preferably, the mixing ratio of fatty acid alkyl esters to short-chain fatty alcohols is 90:10 to 10:90.

[0024] In one aspect of the invention, the fatty acid alkyl ester can be obtained from palm oil, olive oil, coconut oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, and fish oil. In a preferred aspect, the fatty acid alkyl ester is obtained from palm oil.

[0025] In one aspect of the invention, the fatty acid alkyl ester can be fatty acid methyl ester or fatty acid ethyl ester.

[0026] In one aspect of the invention, the short-chain fatty alcohols according to this invention comprise fatty alcohols with 18 carbon atoms or fewer.

[0027] Preferably, the short-chain fatty alcohols have 6 to 12 carbon atoms as their main component.

[0028] Furthermore, the short-chain fatty alcohol components with 6 to 12 carbon atoms preferably make up more than 60 wt% of the total amount of short-chain fatty alcohols.

[0029] In one aspect of the invention, the solvent formulation can be used to dissolve the active ingredient selected from one of the groups of organophosphates, carbamates, organochlorines, pyrethrins and pyrethroids, fipronil, neonicotinoids and avermectins.

[0030] The preferred active ingredient is selected from one of the groups of pyrethrins and pyrethroids and avermectins.

[0031] In one aspect of the invention, the active ingredient of pyrethrins and pyrethroids is selected from cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate, fenpropathrin, flumethrin, fluvalinate and tralomethrin.

[0032] Preferably, the active ingredient of pyrethrins and pyrethroids is cypermethrin.

[0033] In one aspect of the invention, the avermectin active ingredient is selected from abamectin, emamectin benzoate and ivermectin.

[0034] Preferably, the avermectin active ingredient is emamectin benzoate.

[0035] In one aspect of the invention, the solvent formulation with cypermethrin in a concentration of 0.01 to 50 wt% of the formulation can be used for agricultural compositions.

[0036] In one aspect of the invention, the solvent formulation with emamectin benzoate in a concentration of 0.01 to 6 wt.% of the formulation can be used for agricultural compositions.

[0037] In one specific aspect of this invention, the solvent formulation for agricultural compositions comprises: - Fatty acid methyl esters; and - short-chain fatty alcohols with 6 to 12 carbon atoms as their main component, which make up more than 60% by weight of the total amount of short-chain fatty alcohols; characterized in that the mixing ratio of fatty acid methyl esters to short-chain fatty alcohols is 90:10 to 0:100.

[0038] Preferably, the mixing ratio of fatty acid alkyl esters to short-chain fatty alcohols is 90:10 to 10:90.

[0039] In one aspect of the invention, the fatty acid methyl ester can be obtained from palm oil, olive oil, coconut oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, and fish oil. In a preferred aspect, the fatty acid alkyl ester is obtained from palm oil.

[0040] In one aspect of the invention, the solvent formulation can be used to dissolve the active ingredient selected from one of the groups of organophosphates, carbamates, organochlorines, pyrethrins and pyrethroids, fipronil, neonicotinoids and avermectins.

[0041] The preferred active ingredient is selected from one of the groups of pyrethrins and pyrethroids and avermectins.

[0042] In one aspect of the invention, the active ingredient of pyrethrins and pyrethroids is selected from cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate, fenpropathrin, flumethrin, fluvalinate and tralomethrin.

[0043] Preferably, the active ingredient of pyrethrins and pyrethroids is cypermethrin.

[0044] In one aspect of the invention, the avermectin active ingredient is selected from abamectin, emamectin benzoate and ivermectin.

[0045] Preferably, the avermectin active ingredient is emamectin benzoate.

[0046] In one aspect of the invention, the solvent formulation with cypermethrin in a concentration of 0.01 to 50 wt% of the formulation can be used for agricultural compositions.

[0047] In one aspect of the invention, the solvent formulation with emamectin benzoate in a concentration of 0.01 to 6 wt.% of the formulation can be used for agricultural compositions.

[0048] The following are examples of test methods for the solubility of the active ingredients using the solvent formulation according to this invention, which are not intended to limit the scope of this invention in any way.

[0049] The example of a test procedure for the solubility of emamectin benzoate and the stability test of the aforementioned compound is as follows: 1. Providing emamectin benzoate at 1.92 wt.%, 3 wt.%, 5 wt.%, 6 wt.%, 6.5 wt.%, 6.8 wt.% and 7 wt.% of the pesticide formulation; 2. Providing the solvent formulation of fatty acid methyl esters and short-chain fatty alcohols in a mixing ratio of 0:100 to 10:90 in an amount of 95% by weight of the pesticide formulation when mixed with the active substance provided in 1; 3. Mixing the compositions obtained from steps 1 and 2 using a magnetic stirrer and observing the solubility, whereby good solubility results in a clear solution; 4. Add the surfactant in an amount of 5% by weight of the pesticide formulation and stir; 5. Subjecting the sample from 4, which has good solubility, to a stability test in an oven set to 54°C for 15 days, observing the physical properties of the sample after 15 days.

[0050] The example of the test procedure for the solubility of cypermethrin and the stability test of the aforementioned compound is as follows: The test procedure can be carried out similarly to the procedure previously described in the example of the emamectin benzoate solubility test. Cypermethrin was prepared in concentrations of 30 wt%, 35 wt%, 40 wt%, and 50 wt%.

[0051] The results of the solubility test are as follows.

[0052] Table 1 shows the solubility of emamectin benzoate and cypermethrin in the solvent formulation according to this invention. It was found that 1.92 wt% emamectin benzoate was not very soluble and caused turbidity of the solution. The sample without fatty acid alkyl esters and the solvent with a 90:10 fatty acid methyl ester to short-chain fatty alcohol ratio also caused turbidity. A clear solution was obtained with a solvent formulation ratio of 80:20 to 10:90 and with the aforementioned ratio with added surfactant for 12 hours. When the solvent formulation with an 80:20 fatty acid methyl ester to short-chain fatty alcohol ratio was used to dissolve emamectin benzoate at a concentration of 3 to 7 wt%, the solutions were found to be clear. On the other hand, 35 wt%Cypermethrin at a concentration of -% wt. in the solvent formulation containing short-chain fatty alcohol did not yield a clear solution, but a clear solution was obtained when mixed with short-chain fatty alcohol in a ratio of 90:10 to 10:90. The solution remained clear after 12 hours when surfactant was added. The solvent formulation with a mixing ratio of fatty acid methyl ester to short-chain fatty alcohol of 90:10 was able to dissolve cypermethrin at a concentration of 30 to 50 wt.% and yielded a clear solution.

[0053] The results of the stability test are as follows.

[0054] Table 1 shows the stability results of emamectin benzoate and cypermethrin in the solvent formulation according to this invention after addition of surfactant and heating to 54°C for 15 days. It was found that 1.92 wt% emamectin benzoate coagulated in the sample containing only fatty acid methyl esters and in the solvent formulation with a fatty acid methyl ester to short-chain fatty alcohol ratio of 90:10. No coagulation was observed in the solvent formulation with a fatty acid methyl ester to short-chain fatty alcohol ratio of 80:20 to 10:90. However, when the emamectin benzoate concentration was increased to 6 to 7 wt%, coagulation was observed in the solvent formulation with a fatty acid methyl ester to short-chain fatty alcohol ratio of 80:20. In the stability test of 35 wt% cypermethrin, no coagulation was observed in any sample when only fatty alcohol was used.No coagulation was observed when dissolving 30 to 50 wt. % cypermethrin in the solvent formulation with a mixing ratio of fatty acid methyl ester to short-chain fatty alcohol of 90:10. Table 1 Active ingredient Solvent ratio (fatty acid ester: fatty alcohol) Solubility test Stability test 1.92 wt% emamectin benzoate 100:0 murky coagulated 90:10 murky coagulated 80:20 clear noncoagulated 70:30 clear noncoagulated 60:40 clear noncoagulated 50:50 clear noncoagulated 40:60 clear noncoagulated 30:70 clear noncoagulated 20:80 clear noncoagulated 10:90 clear noncoagulated 3% w / w emamectin benzoate 80:20 clear noncoagulated 5% w / w emamectin benzoate 80:20 clear noncoagulated 6% w / w emamectin benzoate 80:20 clear coagulated 6.5 wt% emamectin benzoate 80:20 clear coagulated 6.8 wt% emamectin benzoate 80:20 clear coagulated 7 wt% emamectin benzoate 80:20 clear coagulated 35% w / w Cybermethrin 100:0 murky coagulated 90:10 clear noncoagulated 80:20 clear noncoagulated 70:30 clear noncoagulated 60:40 clear noncoagulated 50:50 clear noncoagulated 40:60 clear noncoagulated 30:70 clear noncoagulated 20:80 clear noncoagulated 10:90 clear noncoagulated 30% w / w Cybermethrin 90:10 clear noncoagulated 40% w / w cybermethrin 90:10 clear noncoagulated 50% w / w Cybermethrin 90:10 clear noncoagulated

[0055] All of this demonstrates that the addition of the fatty alcohol to the fatty acid methyl ester significantly improved solubility and stability. This solved the objective of this invention, which aims to reduce the complexity of the solvent formulation and make it environmentally friendly and safe for the user. Furthermore, the resulting solvent formulation was more cost-effective.

[0056] Although the solvent formulation for pesticides according to this invention is specified as a solvent for pesticides, it can also be used in other industries without restriction, such as a coating, adhesive, sealant, enhancer in agricultural compositions, and industrial cleaning agent. Furthermore, the solvent formulation according to this invention can be modified in its formulation to differ from the one mentioned above but still yield the same results, with such modification being understood to be within the scope and spirit of this invention, particularly as set out in the appended claims. Best embodiment or preferred embodiment of the invention

[0057] The best embodiment or preferred embodiment of the invention is specified in the description of the invention. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] CN 1965647 A

[0005] CN 104823969 A

[0006] WO 2013 / 054194 A1

[0007]

Claims

[1] Solvent formulation for agricultural compositions, comprising: - Fatty acid alkyl esters; and - short-chain fatty alcohols; characterized by , that the mixing ratio of fatty acid alkyl esters to short-chain fatty alcohols is 90:10 to 0:

100. [2] Solvent formulation for agricultural compositions according to claim 1, wherein the preferred mixing ratio of fatty acid alkyl esters to short chain fatty alcohols is 90:10 to 10:

90. [3] Solvent formulation for agricultural compositions according to claim 1, wherein the short-chain fatty alcohols comprise fatty alcohols with 18 carbon atoms or fewer. [4] Solvent formulation for agricultural compositions according to claim 1, wherein the main component thereof is the short-chain fatty alcohols having 6 to 12 carbon atoms. [5] Solvent formulation for agricultural compositions according to claim 4, wherein the short-chain fatty alcohol components having 6 to 12 carbon atoms constitute more than 60 wt.% of the total amount of short-chain fatty alcohols. [6] Solvent formulation for agricultural compositions according to claim 1, wherein the solvent formulation is used with an active ingredient selected from the groups of pyrethroids or avermectins. [7] Solvent formulation for agricultural compositions according to claim 6, wherein the pyrethroid group is selected from cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate, fenpropathrin, flumethrin, fluvalinate and tralomethrin, preferably cypermethrin. [8] Solvent formulation for agricultural compositions according to claim 6, wherein the avermectin group is selected from abamectin, emamectin benzoate and ivermectin, preferably emamectin benzoate. [9] Solvent formulation for agricultural compositions according to claim 7, wherein the solvent formulation can be used with cypermethrin in a concentration of 0.01 to 50 wt% of the formulation for agricultural compositions. [10] Solvent formulation for agricultural compositions according to claim 8, wherein the solvent formulation can be used with emamectin benzoate in a concentration of 0.01 to 6 wt% of the formulation for agricultural compositions.