A liquid composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid composition comprising at least one herbicidally active ingredient, at least one non-ionic surfactant and at least one polyhydric alcohol.

Description

[0001] A LIQUID COMPOSITION

[0002] Field of the invention:

[0003] The present invention relates to a liquid composition comprising a herbicidally active ingredient, a non-ionic surfactant and a polyhydric alcohol.

[0004] Background of the Invention:

[0005] Pesticides such as fungicides, insecticides and herbicides, are auxiliary agents for agriculture in order to protect and to increase the yield of crops. Improved weed or other undesired vegetation control has the potential to greatly improve crop yields. In order to control weed or other undesired vegetation use of herbicides is increasing in worldwide crop production. The herbicides have gained impetus resulting in overall economic growth. There is increasing demand for such herbicidal products that are stable, easy to handle, have lower worker exposure risks, environment friendly and have high levels of activity. Some herbicides, selectively control weeds without injury or damage to desirable crops. Some others, non- selectively control (or complete control) a broad spectrum of different types of plants / weeds. Depending on the specific needs, a number of active ingredients exist, which show very different chemical structures and behaviours.

[0006] It is often a challenge to prepare solutions of these actives exhibiting a satisfactory stability and use profile.

[0007] US5491125 discloses liquid herbicidal formulations of water soluble herbicide glufosinate including various surfactants and solvents. However, certain drawbacks are observed for the formulations provided, for example the stability and solubility of the formulation is dependent on the selection of solvent and the proportion of surfactant / s and the solvent / s used. If the amount of surfactant is too high, the viscosity of composition may become too high for easy application. Another drawback is the compositions may exhibit instability such as phase separation, haziness, or solidification at subzero temperatures. Such instability is undesirable because the concentration of various ingredients in the formulation is no longer uniform.

[0008] Accordingly, there remains a need for a liquid composition having at least one advantage including high storage stability.

[0009] Object of the invention:

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid composition comprising an herbicidally active ingredient, a non-ionic surfactant and a polyhydric alcohol.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a highly stable and effective liquid composition comprising a herbicidally active ingredient.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a stable liquid composition comprising glufosinate, its isomer or salts thereof, a non-ionic surfactant and a polyhydric alcohol.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a process for preparation comprising of an herbicidally active ingredient, a non-ionic surfactant and a polyhydric alcohol.

[0014] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling weeds / undesired vegetation using inventive compositions.

[0015] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be presented in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention, the objects and advantages being realized and attained by means of the methods, processes, and improvements disclosed in the present invention.

[0016] Summary of the invention:

[0017] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) at least one herbicidally active ingredient, b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, and c) at least one polyhydric alcohol. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) Glufosinate, its isomer or salts thereof, b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, and c) at least one polyhydric alcohol; wherein said polyhydric alcohol is diethylene glycol.

[0018] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for preparation of liquid composition comprising a) at least one herbicidally active ingredient, b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, and c) at least one polyhydric alcohol wherein said process comprises mixing said herbicidally active ingredient / s, non- ionic surfactant / s and polyhydric alcohol to obtain liquid composition.

[0019] In an embodiment, the herbicidally active ingredient is water soluble.

[0020] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling weeds / undesired vegetation by applying to the plants or to their locus effective amount of liquid composition comprising a) at least one herbicidally active ingredient, b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, and c) at least one polyhydric alcohol.

[0021] Detailed Description of The Invention

[0022] Those skilled in art will be aware that invention described herein is subject to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the invention described herein includes all such variations and modifications. The invention also includes all such steps, features, compositions and methods referred to or indicated in this specification, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more said steps or features. Definitions:

[0023] For convenience, before further description of the present invention, certain terms employed in the specification, examples are described here. These definitions should be read in light of the remainder of the disclosure and understood as by a person of skill in the art. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. The terms used throughout this specification are defined as follows, unless otherwise limited in specific instances.

[0024] The terms used herein are defined as follows.

[0025] As used in the specification and the claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0026] The term "about" shall be interpreted to mean "approximately" or "reasonably close to" and any statistically insignificant variations therefrom. The term refers to a measurable value such as a parameter, an amount, a temporal duration, and the like and is meant to include variations of + / - 15% or less, specifically variations of + / - 10% or less, more specifically variations of + / -5% or less, even more specifically variations of + / -1% or less, and still more specifically variations of + / -0.1% or less of and from the particularly recited value, in so far as such variations are appropriate to perform in the disclosure described herein.

[0027] As used herein, the terms “comprising” “including,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to.

[0028] The terms “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. In an embodiment, the aspects and embodiments described herein shall also be interpreted to replace the clause “comprising” with either “consisting of’ or with “consisting essentially of’ or with “consisting substantially of’.

[0029] The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”), is intended merely to better illustrate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure as used herein.

[0030] While the disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

[0031] The term “herbicidally active ingredient” includes herbicidally active ingredient, its salt, isomer or derivative thereof.

[0032] The term “glufosinate” refer to an racemic mixture of L-glufosinate and D- glufosinate. The term “glufosinate” shall be interpreted to mean glufosinate or its salts.

[0033] As used herein, the term “L-glufosinate” includes the L-isomer of Glufosinate, a salt or derivatives thereof. The term may also refer to an L-glufosinate wherein the content of L-glufosinate is 51% or greater, preferably 60% or greater and more preferably 80% or greater. Typically, the ratio of L-glufosinate: D-glufosinate can be in the range from about 80:20 to about 99.9:0.1 or 100:0 “L-glufosinate” is also known as L-phosphinothricin or (S)-2-amino-4- (hydroxy(methyl)phosphonoyl)butanoic acid or Glufosinate-P and is used interchangeably throughout the specification. The term can generically refer to any form of L-glufosinate such as solvates, hydrates, anhydrous form, polymorph forms, pseudo polymorph forms, amorphous form or mixture thereof, and derivatives such as esters; and salts. The term “L-glufosinate” shall be interpreted to mean L- glufosinate or its salts. The salts of L-glufosinate such as monosodium salt, disodium salt, monopotassium salt, dipotassium salt, calcium salt, ammonium salt, -NH3(CH3)+salt, -NH2(CH3)2+salt, -NH(CH3)3+salt, -NH(CH3)2(C2H4OH)+salt, and -NH2(CH3)(C2H4OH)+salt are included in the definition. The agronomically acceptable salts include L- glufosinate-ammonium, L-glufosinate-sodium, and L-glufosinate-potassium.

[0034] The term '%enantiomeric excess (%ee)' means the enantiomeric purity of a sample, that is, the percentage of one enantiomer that exceeds the other enantiomer in the sample. For example, the enantiomeric excess of L-glufosinate is the percentage of L-glufosinate that exceeds D-glufosinate in the glufosinate.

[0035] It should be noted that, as used herein, "derivative" or "analogue" of a molecule refers to a portion derived from or a modified version of the molecule.

[0036] The phrase “stable formulation / composition” according to present invention means a formulation / composition in single phase solution that exhibits stability at temperatures of -5°C and 40°C, and can be visually evaluated with no phase separation or any other substantial changes.

[0037] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) at least one herbicidally active ingredient, b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, and c) at least one polyhydric alcohol.

[0038] In an embodiment, the herbicidally active ingredient comprises of its salts, isomers or derivatives thereof.

[0039] In an embodiment, the herbicidally active ingredient used is selected from organophosphorous herbicides; aliphatic acid herbicides; amide herbicides; aromatic acid herbicides; benzofuran herbicides; benzonitrile herbicides; benzophenone herbicides; benzothiadiazinone herbicides; benzyl ether herbicides; botanical herbicides; carbamate herbicides; cyclohexanedione oxime herbicides; dinitroaniline herbicides; dinitrophenol herbicides; diphenyl ether herbicides; diphenyl heterocycle herbicides; dithiocarbamate herbicides; imidazolinone herbicides; inorganic herbicides; isoxazole herbicides; isoxazolidinone herbicides; isoxazoline herbicides; N-phenyl heterocycle herbicides; N-phenylimide herbicides; N-phenyloxadiazolone herbicides; N-phenyltriazolinone herbicides; organochlorine herbicides; oxirane herbicides; oxyacetamide herbicides; phenol herbicides; phenoxy herbicides; phenylcarboxylic acid herbicides; phenyl ether herbicides; phenylthiourea herbicides; pyridazine herbicides; pyridazinone herbicides; pyridine herbicides; pyrimidinediamine herbicides; pyrimidinyloxybenzylamine herbicides; quaternary ammonium herbicides; quinone herbicides; alpha- thioacetamide herbicides; thiocarbamate herbicides; thiocarbonate herbicides; triazine herbicides; triazinone herbicides; triazole herbicides; triazolone herbicides; triazolopyrimidine herbicides; triketone herbicides; uracil herbicides; urea herbicides or any unclassified herbicides or derivatives / salts or combinations thereof

[0040] In an embodiment, the herbicidally active ingredient used is selected from organophosphorous herbicides such as glufosinate, L-glufosinate, glyphosate, fosamine, amiprophos, amiprofos-methyl, bensulide or salts / isomers thereof; aliphatic acid herbicides such as pelargonic acid or salts thereof; amide herbicides such as diphenamid, napropamide, propanil, tetflupyrolimet, benzoylprop, fentrazamide, benzipram, acetochlor, alachlor, propisochlor, metolachlor, S- metolachlor, quinonamid, benzofluor, dimesulfazet, mefluidide or salts thereof; aromatic acid herbicides such as diflufenzopyr, dicamba, bispyribac, pyribenzoxim, aminopyralid, picloram, aminocyclopyrachlor, quinclorac or salts thereof; benzofuran herbicides such as benfuresate, ethofumesate or salts thereof; benzonitrile herbicides such as dichlobenil; bromobonil, chloroxynil; benzophenone herbicides such as methoxyphenone or salts thereof; benzothiadiazinone herbicides such as bentazone; benzyl ether herbicides methiozolin or salts thereof; botanical herbicides such as herbimycin or salts thereof; carbamate herbicides such as asulam, fenasulam, chlorpropham or salts thereof; cyclohexanedione oxime herbicides such as clethodim, cloproxydim or salts thereof; dinitroaniline herbicides such as pendimethalin or salts thereof; dinitrophenol herbicides such as dinofenate, bromofenoxim or salts thereof; diphenyl ether herbicides such as aclonifen, lactofen, fomesafen or salts thereof; diphenyl heterocycle herbicides such as fluridone, flurtamone or salts thereof; dithiocarbamate herbicides such as dazomet, metam or salts thereof; imidazolinone herbicides such as imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazethapyr or salts thereof; inorganic herbicides such as ammonium sulfamate, borax, or salts thereof; isoxazole herbicides such as isoxacarbole, Isoxaflutole or salts thereof; isoxazolidinone herbicides such as clomazone, broclozone or salts thereof, isoxazoline herbicides such as pyroxasulfone, fenoxasulfone or salts thereof; biphenyl heterocycle herbicides such as flurochloridone or salts thereof; N- phenylimide herbicides such as saflufenacil, flufenpyr, flumioxazin or salts thereof; N-phenyloxadiazolone herbicides such as oxadiazon, oxadiargyl or salts thereof; N- phenyltriazolinone herbicides such as sulfentrazone, carfentrazone or salts thereof; organochlorine herbicides such as o -dichlorobenzene or salts thereof; oxirane herbicides such as indanofan or salts thereof; oxyacetamide herbicides such as flufenacet or salts thereof; phenol herbicides such as cresol; phenoxy herbicides such as 2,4-D, 3,4-DA, MCPB, clomeprop, dichlorprop, clodinafop, fenoxaprop, metamifop, quizalofop or salts thereof; phenylcarboxylic acid herbicides such as chlorfenac, or salts thereof; phenyl ether herbicides such as diflufenican or salts thereof; phenylthiourea herbicides such as topramezone, pyraflufen, pinoxaden, pyraclonil or salts thereof; pyridazine herbicides such as cyclopyrimorate, pyridafol; pyridazinone herbicides such as brompyrazon, pyridine herbicides such as dithiopyr, fluroxypyr; pyrimidinediamine herbicides such as iprymidam; pyrimidinyloxybenzylamine herbicides such as pyribambenz-isopropyl; quaternary ammonium herbicides such as diquat; paraquat; quinone herbicides such as quinoclamine, alpha-thioacetamide herbicides such as piperophos; thiocarbamate herbicides such as prosulfocarb, butylate, thiocarbonate herbicides such as dimexano; triazine herbicides such as indaziflam, prometryn, atrazine, prometon; triazinone herbicides such as ametryn, metribuzin, triazole herbicides such as amitrole, flupoxam, triazolone herbicides such as amicarbazone, triazolopyrimidine herbicides such as diclosulam, florasulam, penoxsulam, pyroxsulam; triketone herbicides such as mesotrione, tembotrione; uracil herbicides such as bromacil; urea herbicides such as trimeturon, , amidosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron, flucarbazone, thiencarbazone, iodosulfuron or any unclassified herbicides such as acrolein; or derivatives / salts thereof; or combinations thereof.

[0041] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) at least one water soluble herbicidally active ingredient, b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, and c) at least one polyhydric alcohol.

[0042] In an embodiment, the water soluble herbicidally active ingredient is selected from, but not limited to, glufosinate, L-glufosinate, glyphosate, diphenamid, napropamide, propanil, acetochlor, alachlor, propisochlor, metolachlor, S- metolachlor, quinclorac benfuresate, ethofumesate, dichlobenil; pendimethalin, aclonifen, lactofen, fomesafen, fluridone, flurtamone, Isoxaflutole ,clomazone, flumioxazin, oxadiazon, oxadiargyl sulfentrazone, carfentrazone, indanofan, 2,4-D, MCPB, clomeprop, dichlorprop, fenoxaprop, diflufenican, pyraflufen, fosamine, amiprofos-methyl, benzipram, quinonamid, mefluidide, diflufenzopyr, dicamba, bispyribac, aminopyralid, picloram, aminocyclopyrachlor, chloroxynil, bentazone, asulam, chlorpropham, clethodim, metam, imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazethapyr, ammonium sulfamate, borax, saflufenacil, flufenacet, quizalofop, topramezone, pinoxaden, pyraclonil; or salts thereof.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment, one of the water soluble herbicidally active ingredients used is glufosinate or salts thereof. In another preferred embodiment, one of the water soluble herbicidally active ingredients used is L-glufosinate or salts thereof.

[0044] In an embodiment, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) Glufosinate, its isomer or salts thereof, b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, and c) at least one polyhydric alcohol.

[0045] In an embodiment, the glufosinate is racemic glufosinate or salts thereof; or L- glufosinate or salts thereof.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, the glufosinate is L-glufosinate ammonium.

[0047] In an embodiment, the composition comprises from about 1% w / w to about 90% w / w herbicidally active ingredient / s of the total weight of the liquid composition.

[0048] In an embodiment, the composition comprises at least one non-ionic surfactant selected from group comprising of alkylpolyglucosides / alkyl polyglycosides, alkyl glucamide, alkyl amine oxides having Cs to C20 carbon atoms, alcohol ethoxylate, fatty acid methyl ester, sorbitan ester and ethoxylated sorbitan ester, ethoxylated alkylphenol, ethoxylated tristyrylphenol and alkyl amide, fatty alcohols having 10- 24 carbon atoms with 0-60 EO and / or 0-20 PO and / or 0-15 BO in any order; fatty acid alkoxylates and triglyceride alkoxylates; fatty acid amide alkoxylates; alkylene oxide adducts of alkynediols; sugar derivatives such as amino sugars and amido sugars; polyacrylic and polymethacrylic derivatives; polyamides such as modified gelatins or derivatized polyaspartic acid; surfactant polyvinyl compounds such as modified polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP); polyol-based alkylene oxide adducts; polyglycerides and derivatives, or combinations thereof.

[0049] In an embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.1% w / w to about 60% w / w non-ionic surfactant of the total weight of the liquid composition. In an embodiment, at least one non-ionic surfactant is selected from group comprising of alkylpolyglucosides / alkyl polyglycosides, alkyl glucamide, alkyl amine oxides having Cs to C20 carbon atoms, alcohol ethoxylate or combinations thereof.

[0050] In an embodiment, the non-ionic surfactant is alkylpolyglucoside.

[0051] In an embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.1% w / w to about 30% w / w alkylpolyglucosides of the total weight of the liquid composition.

[0052] In an embodiment, the non-ionic surfactant is alkyl glucamide.

[0053] In an embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.1% w / w to about 30% w / w alkyl glucamide of the total weight of the liquid composition.

[0054] In an embodiment, the non-ionic surfactant is alkyl amine oxides having Cs to C20 carbon atoms.

[0055] In an embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.1% w / w to about 60% w / w alkyl amine oxides of the total weight of the liquid composition.

[0056] In an embodiment, the non-ionic surfactant is alcohol ethoxylate.

[0057] In an embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.1% w / w to about 30% w / w alcohol ethoxylate of the total weight of the liquid composition.

[0058] In an embodiment, the composition comprises at least one polyhydric alcohol selected from glycol or their derivatives. The glycols and their derivatives like propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, monoethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, polyethlene glycol 300, or combinations thereof, can be used.

[0059] In an embodiment, polyhydric alcohol used is combination of propylene glycol and diethylene glycol.

[0060] In an embodiment, the composition may further comprise additional monohydric alcohol such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, l-methoxy-2-propanol, butoxy ethanol, and the like.

[0061] In an embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.1% w / w to about 50% w / w polyhydric alcohol of the total weight of the liquid composition.

[0062] In an embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.1% w / w to about 40% w / w polyhydric alcohol of the total weight of the liquid composition.

[0063] In an embodiment, the composition comprises from about 1% w / w to about 30% w / w polyhydric alcohol of the total weight of the liquid composition.

[0064] In an embodiment, the polyhydric alcohol is selected from group comprising of polyethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, or mixture thereof.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment, at least one polyhydric alcohol is diethylene glycol.

[0066] In an embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.1% w / w to about 30% w / w diethylene glycol of the total weight of the liquid composition.

[0067] In an embodiment, the composition comprises from about 1% w / w to 20% w / w diethylene glycol of the total weight of the liquid composition. In an embodiment, the composition comprises at least two polyhydric alcohols.

[0068] In a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises polyethylene glycol and diethylene glycol.

[0069] It has been observed that glufosinate being a contact herbicide, requires a high amount of surfactants to achieve required bio-efficacy. High content of active ingredient / surfactants in liquid formulations can lead to undesired physical parameters such as layer separation or change in viscosity. Therefore, maintaining a specific ratio between surfactants and solvents is essential for accomplishing stability parameters including viscosity of the formulation.

[0070] The proportion of non-ionic surfactant to solvent, particularly alkylpolyglycoside to diethylene glycol, used is critical for any formulation as if the amount of surfactant is too high, the viscosity of composition may become high and that would impact handling and spraying such formulation; and thereby affect the efficacy of any formulation. Furthermore, the specific combination also provides concentrated liquid composition which are stable over a broad range of temperature.

[0071] According to an embodiment of present invention, the weight ratio of non-ionic surfactant to polyhydric alcohol is in range of about 0.1 to 8 : 1.

[0072] In an embodiment, the composition further comprises water.

[0073] In an embodiment, the composition may further comprise another organic solvent.

[0074] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) at least one organophosphorous herbicide, its isomer or salt thereof b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, and c) at least one polyhydric alcohol. According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an aqueous liquid composition comprising a) at least one organophosphorous herbicides, its isomer or salt thereof b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, and c) at least one polyhydric alcohol; wherein said polyhydric alcohol is diethylene glycol.

[0075] In an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid composition comprising a) from about 1% w / w to about 90% w / w glufosinate, its isomer or salt thereof; b) from about 0.1% w / w to about 60% w / w non-ionic surfactant selected from of alkylpolyglucosides / alkyl polyglycosides, alkyl glucamide, alkyl amine oxides having C8 to C20 carbon atoms, alcohol ethoxylate or combination thereof; and c) from about 0.1% w / w to about 30% w / w diethylene glycol.

[0076] In an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid composition comprising a) from about 1% w / w to about 90% w / w glufosinate, its isomer or salt thereof; b) from about 0.1% w / w to about 30% w / w alkyl polyglucoside; and c) from about 0.1% w / w to about 30% w / w diethylene glycol.

[0077] In an embodiment, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) from about 1% w / w to about 90% w / w glufosinate, its isomer or salt thereof b) from about 0.1% w / w to about 30% w / w alkyl glucamide, and c) from about 0.1% w / w to about 30% w / w diethylene glycol.

[0078] In an embodiment, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) from about 1% w / w to about 90% w / w glufosinate, its isomer or salt thereof b) from about 0.1% w / w to about 60% w / w alkyl amine oxides having C8 to C20 carbon atoms, and c) from about 0.1% w / w to about 30% w / w diethylene glycol. In an embodiment, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) from about 1% w / w to about 90% w / w glufosinate, its isomer or salt thereof b) from about 0.1% w / w to about 30% w / w alcohol ethoxylate, and c) from about 0.1% w / w to about 30% w / w diethylene glycol.

[0079] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) Glufosinate, its isomer or salts thereof b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, c) at least one polyhydric alcohol, and wherein said polyhydric alcohol is diethylene glycol.

[0080] In an embodiment, at least one non-ionic surfactant is selected from group comprising of alkylpolyglucosides / alkyl polyglycosides, alkyl glucamide, alkyl amine oxides having C8 to C20 carbon atoms, alcohol ethoxylate or combinations thereof.

[0081] In an embodiment, the weight ratio of non-ionic surfactant to diethylene glycol is in range of about 0.1 to 8: 1.

[0082] In an embodiment, the weight ratio of non-ionic surfactant to diethylene glycol is in range of about 1 to 8: 1.

[0083] In an embodiment, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) Glufosinate, its isomer or salts thereof, b) alkylpolyglycoside, and c) diethylene glycol, wherein the weight ratio of alkylpolyglycoside to diethylene glycol is in range of about 0.1 to 8: 1. In an embodiment, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) Glufosinate, its isomer or salts thereof b) alkyl glucamide, and c) at least one polyhydric alcohol; wherein the weight ratio of said alkyl glucamide to diethylene glycol is in range of about 0.1 to 8: 1.

[0084] In an embodiment, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) Glufosinate, its isomer or salts thereof, b) alkyl amine oxide / s having C8 to C20 carbon atoms, and c) diethylene glycol; wherein the weight ratio of said alkyl amine oxide / s to diethylene glycol is in range of about 1 to 8:1.

[0085] In an embodiment, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) Glufosinate, its isomer or salts thereof, b) alcohol ethoxylate, and c) diethylene glycol; wherein the weight ratio of said alcohol ethoxylate to diethylene glycol is in range of about 1 to 8:1.

[0086] In an embodiment, the liquid composition comprises racemic glufosinate or salts thereof.

[0087] In another embodiment, the liquid composition comprises L-glufosinate or salts thereof.

[0088] In another embodiment, the liquid composition may further comprise an anionic surfactant.

[0089] The examples of anionic surfactants is selected from group comprising of, but not limited to, olefin sulfonic acid salt, anionic derivatives of fatty alcohols having 10- 24 carbon atoms in the form of ether carboxylates, sulfonates, sulfates, and phosphates, and their inorganic salts (e.g., alkali metal salts and alkaline earth metal salts) and organic salts (e.g., salts based on amine or alkanolamine); anionic derivatives of copolymers consisting of ethylene oxide (EO), propylene oxide (PO) and / or butylene oxide (BO) units, in the form of ether carboxylates, sulfonates, sulfates, and phosphates, and their inorganic salts (e.g., alkali metal salts and alkaline earth metal salts) and organic salts (e.g., salts based on amine or alkanolamine); derivatives of alkylene oxide adducts of alcohols, in the form of ether carboxylates, sulfonates, sulfates and phosphates, and their inorganic salts (e.g., alkali metal salts and alkaline earth metal salts) and organic salts (e.g., salts based on amine or alkanolamine); derivatives of fatty acid alkoxylates, in the form of ether carboxylates, sulfonates, sulfates and phosphates, and their inorganic salts (e.g., alkali metal salts and alkaline earth metal salts) and organic salts (e.g., salts based on amine or alkanolamine); alkyl ether phosphate, alkyl sulfate and its salts, alkyl sulfosuccinate mono ester and diester salts, or combinations thereof.

[0090] Preferably, anionic surfactant is selected from olefin sulfonic acid salt, alkyl ether phosphate, alkyl sulfate and its salts or combinations thereof.

[0091] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) Glufosinate, its isomer or salts thereof b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, c) at least one polyhydric alcohol, and d) at least one anionic surfactant; wherein said polyhydric alcohol is diethylene glycol.

[0092] In an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) Glufosinate, its isomer or salts thereof b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, c) at least one polyhydric alcohol, and d) at least one anionic surfactant selected from olefin sulfonic acid salt, alkyl ether phosphate, alkyl sulfate or its salts, or combinations thereof; wherein said polyhydric alcohol is diethylene glycol. In an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) Glufosinate, its isomer or salts thereof, b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, c) at least one polyhydric alcohol, and d) at least one anionic surfactant; wherein said polyhydric alcohol is diethylene glycol; and the weight ratio of nonionic surfactant to diethylene glycol is in range of about 0.1 to 8 : 1.

[0093] In an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a liquid composition comprising a) Glufosinate, its isomer or salts thereof b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, c) at least one polyhydric alcohol, and d) at least one anionic surfactant is selected from olefin sulfonic acid salt, alkyl ether phosphate, alkyl sulfate or its salts; or combinations thereof; wherein said polyhydric alcohol is diethylene glycol; and the weight ratio of non- ionic surfactant to diethylene glycol is in range of about 0.1 to 8:1.

[0094] In an embodiment, the anionic surfactant is selected from olefin sulfonic acid salt, alkyl ether phosphate, alkyl sulfate or its salts; or combinations thereof.

[0095] In an embodiment, the weight ratio of anionic surfctant to non-ionic surfactant is in the range of 0.01 to 3: 1.

[0096] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid composition may optionally comprise further customary formulating assistants (excipients) such as solvents, inert materials, such as stickers, wetters, binders, stabilizers, dispersants, emulsifiers, penetrants, preservatives, fillers, carriers and colorants, and pH modifiers (buffers, acids and bases) or viscosity modifiers (e.g., thickeners), and optionally also defoamers. In an embodiment, the liquid composition according to present invention may comprise additional herbicidally active ingredient.

[0097] In an embodiment, the additional herbicidally active ingredient used is selected from organophosphorous herbicides; aliphatic acid herbicides; amide herbicides; aromatic acid herbicides; benzofuran herbicides; benzonitrile herbicides; benzophenone herbicides; benzothiadiazinone herbicides; benzyl ether herbicides; botanical herbicides; carbamate herbicides; cyclohexanedione oxime herbicides; dinitroaniline herbicides; dinitrophenol herbicides; diphenyl ether herbicides; diphenyl heterocycle herbicides; dithiocarbamate herbicides; imidazolinone herbicides; inorganic herbicides; isoxazole herbicides; isoxazolidinone herbicides; isoxazoline herbicides; N-phenyl heterocycle herbicides; N-phenylimide herbicides; N-phenyloxadiazolone herbicides; N-phenyltriazolinone herbicides; organochlorine herbicides; oxirane herbicides; oxyacetamide herbicides; phenol herbicides; phenoxy herbicides; phenylcarboxylic acid herbicides; phenyl ether herbicides; phenylthiourea herbicides; pyridazine herbicides; pyridazinone herbicides, pyridine herbicides, pyrimidinediamine herbicides, pyrimidinyloxybenzylamine herbicides, quaternary ammonium herbicides, quinone herbicides, alpha-thioacetamide herbicides, thiocarbamate herbicides, thiocarbonate herbicides, triazine herbicides, triazinone herbicides, triazole herbicides, triazolone herbicides, triazolopyrimidine herbicides, triketone herbicides, uracil herbicides, urea herbicides or any unclassified herbicides or combinations thereof.

[0098] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for preparation of liquid composition comprising a) at least one water soluble herbicidally active ingredient, b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, and c) at least one polyhydric alcohol wherein said process comprises mixing herbicidally active ingredient / s, at least one non-ionic surfactant / s and at least one polyhydric alcohol to obtain liquid composition. In an embodiment, the process is carried out at temperature ranging from 15°C to 60°C.

[0099] In another embodiment, the process is carried out at temperature ranging from 25°C to 50°C.

[0100] In an embodiment, at least one of herbicidally active ingredient / s is glufosinate, its isomer or salt thereof.

[0101] In an embodiment, racemic glufosinate, or salts thereof is used.

[0102] In another embodiment, L-glufosinate, or salts thereof is used.

[0103] In an embodiment, the process further comprises mixing additional non-ionic surfactant / s, anionic surfactant / s or cationic surfactants in the liquid composition.

[0104] In an embodiment, the process further comprises adding additional solvent such as water or organic solvent.

[0105] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling weeds / undesired vegetation by applying to the plants or to their locus effective amount of liquid composition comprising a) at least one water soluble herbicidally active ingredient, b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, and c) at least one polyhydric alcohol.

[0106] In an embodiment, the herbicidally active ingredient is racemic glufosinate, or salts thereof.

[0107] In an embodiment, the herbicidally active ingredient is L-glufosinate, or salts thereof. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling weeds / undesired vegetation by applying to the plants or to their locus, an effective amount of a liquid composition comprising a) glufosinate, its isomers or salts thereof; b) at least one non-ionic surfactant, and c) at least one polyhydric alcohol.

[0108] In a preferred embodiment, the glufosinate is L-glufosinate ammonium.

[0109] In an embodiment, there is provided a method for controlling weeds / undesired vegetation in crop or non-crop plants which consists of tolerant or resistant mutants or transgenic crop or non-crop plants.

[0110] The composition according to present invention suitable for burndown of undesired vegetation in fields of the following crops:

[0111] Grain crops, including e.g. cereals (small grain crops) such as wheat (Triticum aestivum) and wheat like crops such as durum (T. durum), einkorn (T. monococcum), emmer (T. dicoccon) and spelt (T. spelta), rye Secale cereale), triticale (Tritiosecale), barley (Hordeum vul- gare); maize (corn; Zea mays); sorghum (e.g. Sorghum bicolour); rice (Oryza spp. such as Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima); and sugar cane;

[0112] Legumes (Fabaceae), including e.g., soybeans (Glycine max.), peanuts (Arachis hypo- gaea and pulse crops such as peas including Pisum sativum, pigeon pea and cowpea, beans including broad beans (Viciafaba), Vigna spp., and Phaseolus spp. and lentils (lens culinaris var.) brassicaceae, including e.g., canola (Brassica napus), oilseed rape (OSR, Brassica na- pus), cabbage (B. oleracea var.), mustard such as B. juncea, B. campestris, B. narinosa, B. nigra and B. tournefortii; and turnip (Brassica rapa var.); other broadleaf crops including e.g., sunflower, cotton, flax, linseed, sugarbeet, potato and tomato;

[0113] TNV-crops (TNV: trees, nuts and vine) including e.g., grapes, citrus, pomefruit, e.g. apple and pear, coffee, pistachio and oilpalm, stonefruit, e.g. peach, almond, walnut, olive, cherry, plum and apricot; turf, pasture and rangeland; onion and garlic; bulb ornamentals such as tulips and narcissus; conifers and deciduous trees such as pinus, fir, oak, maple, dogwood, hawthome, crabapple, and rhamnus (buckthorn); and garden ornamentals such as roses, petunia, marigold and snapdragon; crop plants: small grain crops such as wheat, barley, rye, triticale and durum, rice, maize (com), sugarcane, sorghum, soybean, pulse crops such as pea, bean and lentils, peanut, sunflower, sugarbeet, potato, cotton, brassica crops, such as oilseed rape, canola, mustard, cabbage and turnip, turf, pasture, rangeland, grapes, pomefruit, such as apple and pear, stonefruit, such as peach, almond, walnut, pecans, olive, cherry, plum and apricot, citrus, coffee, pistachio, garden ornamentals, such as roses, petunia, marigold, snap dragon, bulb ornamentals such as tulips and narcissus, conifers and deciduous trees such as pinus, fir, oak, maple, dogwood, hawthorne, crabapple and rhamnus.

[0114] The method of control of the present invention may be carried out by applying the suggested composition as tank mixes, or the individual components may be formulated as a kit-of- parts containing various components that may be mixed as instructed prior to application.

[0115] In an embodiment, the liquid composition according to present invention can be tank-mixed with other herbicidal composition commercially available in market; or adjuvants such as crop oil concentrates, methylated vegetable oil, high surfactant oil concentrate and the likes; and then applied to the plants or to their locus effective amount.

[0116] The liquid composition according to present invention exhibits high compatibility with other herbicidal products and / or adjuvants such as as crop oil concentrates, methylated vegetable oil, high surfactant oil concentrate and the likes.

[0117] In an embodiment the components of the present invention may be packaged such that at least one water soluble herbicidally active ingredient, at least one non-ionic surfactant and at least one polyhydric alcohol may be packaged separately and then tank mixed before the application.

[0118] In another embodiment the components of the present invention may be packaged such that at least one water soluble herbicidally active ingredient, at least one nonionic surfactant and at least one polyhydric alcohol may be packaged separately, whereas other additives are packaged separately, such that the two maybe tank mixed at the time of application.

[0119] In another embodiment the components of the present invention may be packaged as composition such that at least one water soluble herbicidally active ingredient, at least one non-ionic surfactant and at least one polyhydric alcohol may be formulated into one composition and other additives are packaged separately, such that the two maybe tank mixed at the time of application.

[0120] In view of the above, it will be seen that the several advantages of the disclosure are achieved, and other advantageous results are attained. Although the present disclosure has been disclosed in full, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The embodiments may be combined together for better understanding of the disclosure, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0121] In another embodiment, alternative or multiple embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each embodiment can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other embodiments of the disclosure. One or more embodiments of the disclosure can be combined together to exhibit the teaching of the invention, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0122] EXAMPLES

[0123] The following examples are presented to provide what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of procedures and conceptual aspects of this invention. The examples provided below are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the same to disclosed embodiments. Variations and changes obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope and nature of the invention.

[0124] General process for preparation of a liquid formulation according to the present invention:

[0125] Inventive formulations were prepared, following the process as described below. The resulting formulation details are presented in table 1

[0126] Process:

[0127] To the formulation vessel was added diethylene glycol, alkyl polyglucosides and optionally propylene glycol and other surfactant / s; and the mixture was stirred at temperature from 30 °C to about 45°C to obtain a solution. To this solution was then added L-Glufosinate ammonium or Glufosinate ammonium under agitation, followed by addition of water. The mixture was stirred for another about 300 to 360 minutes at said temperature to get a clear solution. The solution was then filtered to get final product, i.e., liquid formulation according to present invention. The formulation obtained was clear and no phase separation was observed at 25°C for 14 days as per CIPAC guidelines (MT 46.3) indicating composition is stable. Subzero stability test was done by keeping samples at -5°C for 7 days as per CIPAC guidelines (MT 39.3), the formulation obtained was clear and no phase separation was observed.

[0128] Surfactant / s includes one or more of a-olefin sulfonic acid salts, alkyl ether phosphates, lauryl ether sulfate sodium salts, alcohol alkoxylates, alkyl glucamides, alkyl amine oxides, sulfosuccinates.

[0129] Inventors of present invention succeeded in inventing a stable composition by the careful combination of glufosinate, its isomers or salts thereof with surfactant / s and solvent / s. The optimum concentration of adjuvants as well as solvents which led to a stable composition has been arrived at by experiments as exemplified below

[0130] Table 1:

[0131] 10 Table 1 (Continued):

[0132]

[0133] The liquid herbicidal compositions according to the present invention are stable, transparent, visually single-phase solutions when stored at temperatures at -5° C and at 25° C. The stability of the aqueous compositions can easily be evaluated visually with no phase separation or any other substantial change to be observed. Example 16 and 17 are comparative examples wherein the weight ratio of non-ionic surfactant to polyhydric alcohol is beyond the range of present invention, exhibits instability and become hazy.

Claims

1. CLAIMS:

1. A liquid composition comprising: a) Glufosinate, its isomer or salts thereof; b) at least one non-ionic surfactant; c) at least one polyhydric alcohol; and wherein said polyhydric alcohol is diethylene glycol, and the weight ratio of non-ionic surfactant to diethylene glycol is in range of about 0.1 to 8: 1.

2. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glufosinate is racemic glufosinate or salts thereof, or L-glufosinate or salts thereof.

3. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glufosinate is L- glufosinate ammonium.

4. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-ionic surfactant is selected from group comprising of alkylpolyglucosides / alkyl polyglycosides, alkyl glucamide, alkyl amine oxides having Cs to C20 carbon atoms, alcohol ethoxylates or combinations thereof.

5. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composition comprises from about 0.1% w / w to about 60% w / w non-ionic surfactant of the total weight of the liquid composition.

6. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polyhydric alcohol selected from glycol or their derivatives such as propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, monoethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, polyethlene glycol 300, or combinations thereof.

7. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composition comprises from about 0.1% w / w to about 50% w / w polyhydric alcohol of the total weight of the liquid composition.

8. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid composition further comprises an anionic surfactant.

9. The composition as claimed in claim 8, wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from olefin sulfonic acid salt, alkyl ether phosphate, alkyl sulfate and its salts or combinations thereof.

10. A liquid composition comprising: a) from about 1% w / w to about 90% w / w glufosinate, its isomer or salt thereof; b) from about 0.1% w / w to about 60% w / w non-ionic surfactant selected from of alkylpolyglucosides / alkyl polyglycosides, alkyl glucamide, alkyl amine oxides having C8 to C20 carbon atoms, alcohol ethoxylate or combination thereof; and c) from about 0.1% w / w to about 30% w / w diethylene glycol.

11. A process for preparation of liquid composition comprising a) Glufosinate, its isomers or salts thereof; b) at least one non-ionic surfactant; and c) at least one polyhydric alcohol; wherein said process comprises mixing herbicidally active ingredient / s, at least one non-ionic surfactant / s and at least one polyhydric alcohol to obtain liquid composition12. The process as claimed in claim 11, wherein the process is carried out at temperature ranging from 15 °C to 60°C.

13. A method of controlling weeds / undesired vegetation by applying to the plants or to their locus, an effective amount of a liquid composition comprising: a) glufosinate, its isomers or salts thereof; b) at least one non-ionic surfactant; and c) at least one polyhydric alcohol.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the glufosinate is L-glufosinate ammonium.

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