Agrochemical composition with cellulose acetate having a low degree of substitution

Abstract

An agrochemical composition comprises a cellulose acetate having a degree of substitution in the range of 0.3 to 1.5. The cellulose acetate is a useful dispersant exhibiting sufficiently high biodegradability.

Description

[0001] 240515EP01 1

[0002] Agrochemical Composition with Cellulose Acetate Having a Low Degree of Substitution

[0003] The present invention relates to an agrochemical composition comprising a cellulose acetate and the use of a cellulose acetate in an agrochemical composition.

[0004] Agrochemicals (agriculture chemicals) such as pesticides (pesticidal active ingredients) are materials that provide large-scale control of agricultural pests including insects, pathogens, rodents, and weeds to optimize harvest yields. Pesticidal active ingredients are typically applied to a plant by spraying with a liquid composition comprising the active ingredient.

[0005] Pesticides are often solid particles, crystal -like particles or oily liquids, which must be dispersed or emulsified in the liquid composition to allow for homogeneous application. Agrochemical compositions comprising pesticidally active ingredients typically contain polymeric additives which ensure a uniform distribution within the pesticide composition, a homogeneous application in the field and / or reduce spray drift. Examples of conventional additives are in particular dispersants, which stabilize the crystal-like particles of pesticide compounds in the agrochemical formulation and / or in the spray liquor applied in the field. Such dispersants include salts of naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensates, salts of lignosulfonates, salts of maleic anhydride copolymers, salts of condensed phenol sulfonic acid, homo- and copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone and certain ethylene oxide / propylene oxide / ethylene oxide-triblock copolymers.

[0006] Unfortunately, many polymeric additives used in agrochemical compositions do not significantly decompose and remain present on the plant and in the surrounding area, causing an undesired accumulation on the plant, as well as in the soil in which the plant is planted. Such accumulation in the environment may no longer be acceptable in certain countries soon. Therefore, biodegradability is one of the upcoming very important features of such dispersants in agrochemical formulations since the use of a biodegradable dispersant can avoid the issue of such build-up. For agrochemical formulations, especially an excellent soil biodegradation, determined using DIN EN ISO 17556, but also albeit to a smaller extent biodegradation in activated sludge of a wastewater treatment plant, determined using e.g. the OECD 301 F test method, is becoming a requirement. There is thus a need to find soil and activated sludge biodegradable dispersants and emulsifiers or other polymeric additives for agricultural formulations.

[0007] Next to biodegradation, the polymeric additives need to allow for high formulation efficiencies and thus a low use of agricultural chemicals per treatment. This allows for material savings and additionally avoids pollution of the environment.

[0008] Cellulose acetate is an organic ester of cellulose. Hydroxy groups are present at the 2-, 3- and 6-posi tion of glucose moieties comprised in cellulose. It is understood that the term "cellulose acetate” refers to partially acetylated cellulose, in which the acetyl content ranges from about 29% to 45%, corresponding to mono-, di-, and triacetate. Cellulose acetate is one of the most important cellulose derivatives and finds application, e.g., in textile fibers, plastics, films and paints.

[0009] The solubility of cellulose acetate in mixtures of alcohol and water, as well as the degree of biodegradability, are influenced by the degree of substitution. Thus, triacetates are generally less soluble than diacetates, which are in turn generally less soluble than monoacetates.

[0010] 240515EP01 Wid / 135 12.12.2024

[0011] M / BASFTR-4033-EP 240515EP01 2

[0012] Cellulose acetates with reduced degress of substitution may be obtained by deacetylation, in particular by solvolysis. Solvolysis is understood as a type of nucleophilic substitution or eliminiation wherein a solvent molecule acts as the nucleophile. A specific example of solvolysis is alcoholysis. A production process where the cellulose acetate can be obtained as a precipitate from solvolysis is particularly efficient.

[0013] EP 0 822 201 A2 describes a cellulose acetate propionate having an amorphous index of not more than 0.4. In the working examples, cellulose esterified with acetic acid and propionic acid is treated with acetic acid and water to adjust the degree of substitution.

[0014] US 4,415,734 A describes a process for the preparation of cellulose acetate via alcoholysis. In the working examples, acetic acid and methanol were used in the course alcoholysis.

[0015] EP 3 995 177 A1 describes a method for obtaining a cellulose acetate with a total degree of acetyl substitution in the range of 0.4 to 0.9. The cellulose acetate is produced by solvolysis in the presence of an acid catalyst. Methanol is preferably used as the solvent for solvolysis.

[0016] It is an object of the present invention to provide a polymeric additive, in particular a dispersant, for an agrochemical composition, which additive exhibits sufficiently high biodegradability. The cellulose acetate should be available through an efficient process.

[0017] The present invention provides an agrochemical composition comprising a cellulose acetate having a degree of substitution in the range of 0.3 to 1 .5, preferably 0.5 to 1 .0.

[0018] It has been found that a cellulose acetate in accordance with the invention is a useful dispersant exhibiting sufficiently high biodegradability.

[0019] The degree of substitution (DS, also referred to as the "degree of acetyl substitution”) relates to the total degree of substitution at the 2-postion, 3-position and 6-position of the glucose rings comprised in the cellulose acetate. The degree of substitution can be determined via the following equation:

[0020] DS = 162.14 x AV x 0.01 1 60.052 - 42.037 x AV x 0.01 wherein DS is the total degree of acetyl substitution, and AV is the acetyl value (%). The acetyl value may be determined via a titrimetric method, for example in accordance with ASTM D817-96.

[0021] In one embodiment, the cellulose acetate has a number average molecular weight Mnin the range of 1 ,000 to 100,000 g / mol, more preferably 1 ,000 to 50,000 g / mol, most preferably 1 ,000 to 10,000 g / mol. A low number average molecular weight Mnof the cellulose acetate increases the degree of biodegradability. The molecular weight may be determined as described below in the experimental part.

[0022] In one embodiment, the biodegradation of the cellulose acetate is at least 30 wt.-% by solids, preferably at least 60 wt.-% by solids, within 28 days according to OECD 301 F.

[0023] In another embodiment, the biodegradation of the cellulose acetate is at least 90 wt.-% by solids, preferably at least 95 wt.-% by solids, within 2 years according to ISO 17556. 240515EP01 3

[0024] In one embodiment, the cellulose acetate has an amorphous index (Am) as determined via X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) of 0.10 to 1.10, as defined in the following formula:

[0025] 0.5 X {1(20 = 5°) + 1(20 = 14.5°)} in which 1(20=5°), 1(20=14.5°) and 1(20=17°) are X-ray scattering intensities where Bragg angles (20) are 5°, 14.5° and 17° respectively. The amorphous index (Am) is preferably in the range of 0.20 to 0.95, more preferably 0.40 to 0.85.

[0026] The amorphous index is considered indicative of the proportion of crystalline to amorphous components of the cellulose acetate. A high proportion of amorphous components is believed to be indicative of transparent films being obtainable from the cellulose acetate.

[0027] In one embodiment, the cellulose acetate is obtained by a process comprising

[0028] - subjecting a solution of a raw cellulose acetate having a degree of substitution of at least 2.0 to alcoholysis at a pressure in the range of 1 to 10 bar and a temperature in the range of 80 to 170 °C to obtain precipitated cellulose acetate; and

[0029] - separating the precipitated cellulose acetate from the solution; wherein the solution comprises a solvent mixture of an aliphatic alcohol and a further organic solvent, the solvent mixture having a vapor pressure at 80 °C below 1.2 bar, preferably below 1.0 bar, and a Hansen solubility parameter 5d of at least 15.5 MPa1 / 2, preferably at least 15.7 MPa1 / 2, more preferably at least 15.9 MPa1 / 2’ most preferably at least 16.1 or at least 16.2 MPa1 / 2.

[0030] Alcoholysis is carried out at a pressure in the range of 1 to 10 bar, preferably 1 to 9 bar, more preferably 1 to 6 bar, and a temperature in the range of 80 to 170 °C, preferably 80 to 150 °C, more preferably 80 to 135 °C. At temperatures of about 180 °C and above, cellulose acetate decomposes.

[0031] The solvent mixture has a vapor pressure at 80 °C below 1 .2 bar, preferably below 1 .0 bar. Such a relatively low vapor pressure allows for carrying out the present process at temperatures of 80 °C and above without the need for applying significant overpressure so as to avoid excessive evaporation of the solvent mixture.

[0032] The definition and calculation of solubility parameters in the three dimensional Hansen solubility space are described in C. M. Hansen: "The Three Dimensional Solubility parameter and Solvent Diffusion Coefficient - Their Importance in Surface Coating Formulation”, Danish Technical Press, Copenhagen, 1967.

[0033] The Hansen solubility parameter 5d indicates the energy from dispersion forces between molecules, while 5Pdenotes the energy from dipolar intermolecul ar force between molecules, and 5h denotes the energy from hydrogen bonds between molecules. The unit of the Hansen solubility parameters of the parameters is MPa1 / 2.

[0034] Hansen solubility parameters for many compounds are tabulated in standard works, such as "Hansen Solubility Parameters: A User's Handbook”, C. M. Hansen, 2007, 2nd Edition, CRC. Well-known modeling software, such as HSPIP 3.1.25 (3rd Edition), developed and distributed by C. M. Hansen, or COSMOquick 2021 can also be used to calculate Hansen solubility parameters based on the chemical structure of the 240515EP01 4 compound. The Hansen solubility parameters are calculated assuming room temperature, approximately 25 °C. Herein, the Hansen solubility parameters, in particular 5d, are calculated according to the method described for the working examples below.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the aliphatic alcohol is selected from

[0036] - Ci-Ce-monohydric alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol; and

[0037] - Ci-Ce-polyhydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.

[0038] It is particularly preferred that the aliphatic alcohol is selected from Ci-Ce-monohydric alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol, more preferably from methanol and ethanol, especially methanol.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the further organic solvent is selected from

[0040] - alkylene carbonates, such as ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate;

[0041] - glycol ethers, such as 2-methoxyethanol and 2 -ethoxyethanol; and

[0042] - dialkyl ketones, such as methyl ethyl ketone and diethyl ketone.

[0043] It is particularly preferred that the further organic solvent is selected from alkylene carbonates, such as ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate, especially propylene carbonate.

[0044] In one embodiment, the weight ratio of the aliphatic alcohol to the further organic solvent in the solvent mixture is in the range of 10 : 1 to 1 : 10, preferably in the range of 8 : 1 to 1 : 8, more preferably 6 : 1 to 1 : 6.

[0045] In one embodiment, the weight of the solvent mixture is in the range of 50 to 90 wt.-%, preferably 60 to 90 wt.-%, more preferably 70 to 80 wt.-%, based on the weight of the solution of raw cellulose acetate.

[0046] Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the aliphatic alcohol primarily serves as the reactive nucleophile in the alcoholysis of raw cellulose acetate, whereas the presence of the further organic solvent allows for precipitation of cellulose acetate from the reaction mixture. Since the cellulose acetate precipitates from the reaction mixture in the presence of the further organic solvent, an additional precipitation medium such as an additional further organic solvent is not necessarily required, resulting in a more efficient process.

[0047] The content of water in the solvent mixture is preferably 2 parts by weight or less, more preferably 1 part by weight or less, and even more preferably 0.5 parts by weight or less, relative to 1 part by weight of the raw cellulose acetate.

[0048] When the raw cellulose acetate is subjected to alcoholysis, water originally contained in the raw cellulose acetate may be removed in advance or not removed. The water content percentage of the raw cellulose acetate may be, for example, 5 wt.% or less, 4 wt.% or less or 3 wt.% or less, and 1 wt.% or greater, in the raw cellulose acetate.

[0049] The water content of the raw cellulose acetate can be measured by the following method using a Kett moisture meter (METTLER TOLEDO HB43). Approximately 2.0 g of a sample in a water-containing state is placed on an aluminum sample pan of the Kett moisture meter and heated at 120°C until the weight does 240515EP01 5 not change, and the water content percentage (wt.%) in the sample can be calculated from the weight change before and after the heating.

[0050] The raw cellulose acetate having a degree of substitution of at least 2.0 is not particularly limited and may for example be any such cellulose acetate commercially available.

[0051] In one embodiment, the raw cellulose acetate is comprised in the solution in an amount of 5 to 30 wt.-%, preferably 10 to 25 wt.-%, more preferably 15 to 25 wt.-%, based on the weight of the solution of raw cellulose acetate.

[0052] The solution of raw cellulose acetate may be obtained in a straightforward manner by mixing the raw cellulose acetate, the aliphatic alcohol and the further organic solvent.

[0053] In one embodiment, the alcoholysis is performed in the presence of an acidic catalyst. Suitable acidic catalysts include inorganic acids such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and phosphoric acid; and organic acids such as sulfonic acids, carboxylic acids and / or salts thereof, including methane sulfonic acid, trifluoroacetic acid and formic acid. One type of these acidic catalysts or a combination of two or more types of these acidic catalysts may be used. The acidic catalyst is preferably methane sulfonic acid.

[0054] The acidic catalyst preferably has an acid dissociation constant pKa in water at 25°C of 0 or less, more preferably -0.5 or less, and even more preferably -1.0 or less. The acid dissociation constant pKa may be - 6.0 or greater.

[0055] The acidic catalyst is typically used in an amount of 0.5 to 20 wt.-%, preferably 1 to 10 wt.-%, more preferably 2 to 4 wt.-%, based on the weight of raw cellulose acetate. When the amount of the catalyst is too small, the time of the alcoholysis becomes excessively long. On the other hand, when the amount of the catalyst is too large, the degree of change in depolymerization rate with respect to the alcoholysis temperature becomes greater, the control of the reaction end becomes difficult, and the cellulose acetate having the total degree of substitution according to the present disclosure is less likely to be obtained. Furthermore, nonuniform cellulose acetate having an uneven degree of acetyl substitution tends to be formed.

[0056] In one embodiment, the time of alcoholysis is in the range of 20 to 300 min, for example 30 to 240 min, 60 to 200 min or 60 to 150 min. By setting the time to this range, the desired degree of substitution is typically achievable.

[0057] In one embodiment, additional further organic solvent may be added at the end of the alcoholysis reaction to achieve a higher degree of precipitation of the cellulose acetate. The additional further organic solvent may be the same or different than the one used in the solvent mixture. The amount of additional further organic solvent is typically in the range of 5 to 500 wt.-%, preferably 10 to 200 wt.-%, more preferably 20 to 50 wt.-%, such as 20 to 30 wt.-%, based on the weight of the solvent mixture.

[0058] In another embodiment, the solution may be subjected to cooling at the end of the alcoholysis to achieve a higher degree of precipitation of the cellulose acetate. Preferably, the solution is cooled to 10 to 100 °C, more preferably 20 to 80 °C, most preferably 20 to 40 °C. 240515EP01 6

[0059] The precipitated cellulose acetate is separated from the solution. Any suitable means may be used for this purpose, in particular mechanical separation. For example, the precipitated cellulose acetate may be filtered off.

[0060] The separated precipitated cellulose acetate may be washed, in particular with an organic solvent in which the cellulose acetate has poor solubility. In one embodiment, the cellulose acetate is washed with the additional further organic solvent used for achieving a higher degree of precipitation as described above.

[0061] The cellulose acetate may be subjected to further purification, such as precipitation fractionation (fractional precipitation) and / or dissolution fractionation (fractional dissolution).

[0062] Dissolution fractionation may be performed by forming a water-based solution by dissolving the precipitated cellulose acetate in water or a mixed solvent of water and a hydrophilic organic solvent such as acetone, and removing insoluble residues. As the method of removing the residues, centrifugal separation may be used.

[0063] The dissolution of the precipitated cellulose acetate may be performed under stirring at 20 to 80°C, preferably 25 to 60°C. The concentration of the cellulose acetate in the water-based solution is preferably in the range of 2 to 10 wt.-%, more preferably from 3 to 8 wt.-%, based on the weight of the water-based solution.

[0064] When a mixed solvent of water and a hydrophilic organic solvent is used, the concentration of the organic solvent in the mixed solvent is typically in the range of 5 to 50 wt.-%, preferably 10 to 40 wt.-%, based on the weight of the mixed solvent.

[0065] After removal of insoluble residues, the dissolved cellulose acetate is deposited. Suitable deposition methods include reprecipitation, e.g., using the additional further organic solvent used for achieving a higher degree of precipitation as described above, and spray drying.

[0066] After the cellulose acetate is precipitated, a stabilizer may be added to the precipitated cellulose acetate. The stabilizer suitably enhances the thermal stability of the cellulose acetate. Suitable stabilizers include alkali metal compounds, alkaline earth metal compounds and transition metal oxides. Preferred stabilizers include calcium compounds such as calcium hydroxide or magnesium oxide, sodium compounds such as sodium bicarbonate, and zink oxide.

[0067] Addition of the stabilizer is preferably performed in a volume ratio of a reaction mixture containing cellulose acetate to an aqueous solution of, e.g., calcium hydroxide (0.2 to 1.0 wt.-%) of 100:1 to 10:1.

[0068] The separated precipitated cellulose acetate is typically dried, optionally after washing and / or purification. The method of drying is not particularly limited. Suitable methods include air drying such as hot-air drying, drying under reduced pressure, and vacuum drying.

[0069] The obtained dried cellulose acetate may be pulverized. The pulverization can be performed by using a known pulverizer, such as a sample mill, hammer mill, turbo mill, atomizer, cutter mill, bead mill, ball mill, roll mill, jet mill, and pin mill. Furthermore, freezing and crushing, dry crushing at room temperature, or wet crushing may be performed. 240515EP01 7

[0070] In principle, the cellulose acetate of the invention can be employed in any application to replace conventional polymers or to improve the overall performance by adding the cellulose acetate in addition, such conventional polymers being for example commonly employed non-biodegradable EO-PO-EO triblock copolymers of higher molecular weights.

[0071] Such applications are avoiding or reducing depositions of solids, dispersion of actives, inhibiting crystal growth, reducing sedimentation and / or agglomeration, improving dispersion stability, compared to corresponding polymers according to the prior art.

[0072] The cellulose acetate of the invention as defined herein can improve the overall bio-degradation ratio of such formulations, compositions and products by replacing non-biodegradable polymers of similar structures or properties. They may thus be advantageously used, e.g., as dispersants and can be adjusted in their performance to the needs of the specific applications, and thus pose an advantage over simple PEGs, polyalkylene glycols and in particular EO-PO-EO triblock copolymers of higher molecular weights.

[0073] Specifically, and beyond the performance in a certain type of application, the cellulose acetate of the invention leads to an improved biodegradability when being employed within such compositions or products, compared to the previously known polymers.

[0074] Hence, the present invention provides an agrochemical composition comprising the cellulose acetate as described above. The cellulose acetate of the invention may be useful as a dispersant, a crystal growth inhibitor and / or as solubilizer.

[0075] The present invention moreover provides the use of the cellulose acetate of the invention in an agrochemical composition or agrochemical product, or any other formulation or product in the field of agrochemicals and their formulations and products, each comprising at least one cellulose acetate of the invention. In particular, cellulose acetate of the invention is employed in such a composition, product, or formulation for improved dispersion.

[0076] In one embodiment, the invention provides the use of the cellulose acetate of the invention in an agrochemical composition as a dispersant, in particular as a dispersant for pigments or agrochemical actives.

[0077] In one embodiment, the invention provides the use of the cellulose acetate of the invention in an agrochemical composition.

[0078] The following discussion is understood to relate to both the agrochemical composition of the invention and the use of the cellulose acetate in an agrochemical composition according to the invention, where applicable.

[0079] Herein, it is understood that the term "cellulose acetate of the invention” relates to the cellulose acetate as comprised in the agrochemical composition of the invention, optionally obtained by the process as described above.

[0080] In one embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises an agrochemical active ingredient. It was found that the cellulose acetate of the invention is suitable as a dispersant or emulsifier for a broad range of agrochemical active ingredients. 240515EP01 8

[0081] The term "agrochemical active ingredient” refers to a substance that confers a desirable biological activity to the agrochemical composition.

[0082] Agrochemical active ingredients include pesticides, safeners, nitrification inhibitors, urease inhibitors, micronutrients, and / or plant growth regulators. Typically, the agrochemical active ingredient is a pesticide. Pesticides include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, algaecides, rodenticides, molluscicides and nematicides. The skilled person is familiar with safeners, nitrification inhibitors, urease inhibitors, plant growth regulators, micronutrients, biopesticides and / or growth regulators. In one embodiment, the agrochemical active is an insecticide. In another embodiment, the agrochemical active is a herbicide. In a further embodiment, the agrochemical active is a fungicide. The skilled person is familiar with such pesticides, which can be found, for example, in the Pesticide Manual, 16th Ed. (2013), The British Crop Protection Council, London.

[0083] Preferably, the agrochemical active ingredient is selected from pesticides, in particular herbicides, fungicides and insecticides.

[0084] Suitable insecticides are insecticides from the classes of carbamates, organophosphates, organochlorine insecticides, phenylpyrazoles, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, spinosins, avermectins, milbemycins, juvenile hormone analogs, alkyl halides, organotin compounds nereistoxin analogs, benzoylureas, diacylhydrazines, METI acarizides, and insecticides such as chloropicrin, pymetrozin, flonicamid, clofentezin, hexythiazox, etoxazole, diafenthiuron, propargite, tetradifon, chlorofenapyr, DNOC, buprofezine, cyromazine, amitraz, hydramethylnon, acequinocyl, fluacrypyrim, rotenone, afidopyropene, amidrazones, dimpropyridaz, fipronil or their derivatives.

[0085] Suitable fungicides are fungicides from the classes of dinitroanilines, allylamines, anilinopyrimidines, antibiotics, aromatic hydrocarbons, benzenesulfonamides, benzimidazoles, benzisothiazoles, benzophenones, benzothiadiazoles, benzotriazines, benzyl carbamates, carbamates, carboxamides such as fluxapyroxad, carboxylic acid diamides, chloronitriles such as chlorothalonil, cyanoacetamide oximes, cyanoimidazoles, cyclopropanecarboxamides, dicarboximides, dihydrodioxazines, dinitrophenyl crotonates, dithiocarbamates, dithiolanes, ethylphosphonates, ethylaminothiazolecarboxamides, guanidines, hydroxy- (2-amino)pyrimidines, hydroxyanilides, imidazoles, imidazolinones, inorganic substances, isobenzofuranones, methoxyacrylates such as azoxystrobin, methoxycarbamates, morpholines, N-phenylcarbamates, oxazolidinediones, oximinoacetates, oximinoacetamides, peptidylpyrimidine nucleosides, phenylacetamides, phenylamides, phenylpyrroles such as fludioxonil, phenylureas, phosphonates, phosphorothiolates, phthalamic acids, phthalimides, piperazines, piperidines, propionamides, pyridazinones, pyridines, pyridinylmethylbenzamides, pyrimidinamines, pyrimidines, pyrimidinonehydrazones, pyrroloquinolinones, quinazolinones, quinolines, quinones, sulfamides, sulfamoyltriazoles, tetrazolinones such as metyltetraprole, thiazolecarboxamides, thiocarbamates, thiophanates, thiophenecarboxamides, toluamides, triphenyltin compounds, triazines, and conazole fungicides, in particular triazoles such as mefentrifluconazole, triticonazole, prothioconazole and tebuconazol. Especially preferred fungicides include azoxystrobin, fluxapyroxad, fludioxonil, prothioconazole, chlorothalonil, metyltetraprole, mefentrifluconazole and tebuconazol, in particular azoxystrobin, fluxapyroxad and chlorothalonil, most preferably azoxystrobin.

[0086] Suitable herbicides are herbicides from the classes of the acetamides, amides, aryloxyphenoxypropionates, benzamides, benzofuran, benzoic acids, benzothiadiazinones, bipyridylium, carbamates, cinmethylin, 240515EP01 9 chloroacetamides, chlorocarboxylic acids, cyclohexanediones, dinitroanilines, dinitrophenol, diphenyl ether, glycines, imidazolinones, isoxazoles, isoxazolidinones, nitriles, N-phenylphthalimides, oxadiazoles, oxazolidinediones, oxyacetamides, phenoxycarboxylic acids, phenoxynicotinanilides such as diflufenican, phenylcarbamates, phenylpyrazoles, phenylpyrazolines, phenylpyridazines, phosphinic acids such as glufosinate, phosphoroamidates, phosphorodithioates, phthalamates, pyrazoles such as pyroxasulfone, pyridazinones, pyridines, pyridinecarboxylic acids, pyridinecarboxamides, pyrimidinediones, pyrimidinyl(thio)benzoates, quinolinecarboxylic acids, semicarbazones, sulfonylaminocarbonyltriazolinones, sulfonylureas, tetrazolinones, thiadiazoles, thiocarbamates, triazines such as atrazine, indaziflam and terbuthylazine, triazinones such as metribuzin, triazoles, triazolinones, triazolocarboxamides, triazolopyrimidines, triketones, uracils including aryl uracils such as saflufenacil, and ureas. Especially preferred herbicides include atrazine, indaziflam, diflufenican, saflufenacil, pyroxasulfone, glufosinate, cinmethylin, terbuthylazine and metribuzine, in particular terbuthylazine, diflufenican and atrazine, most preferably terbuthylazine and diflufenican.

[0087] A pesticide is generally a chemical or biological agent (such as pesticidal active ingredient, compound, composition, virus, bacterium, antimicrobial, or disinfectant) that through its effect deters, incapacitates, kills or otherwise discourages pests. Target pests can include insects, plant pathogens, weeds, mollusks, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes (roundworms), and microbes that destroy property, cause nuisance, spread disease or are vectors for disease. The term "pesticide” also includes plant growth regulators that alter the expected growth, flowering, or reproduction rate of plants; defoliants that cause leaves or other foliage to drop from a plant, usually to facilitate harvest; desiccants that promote drying of living tissues, such as unwanted plant tops; plant activators that activate plant physiology for defense of against certain pests; safeners that reduce unwanted herbicidal action of pesticides on crop plants; and plant growth promoters that affect plant physiology e.g. to increase plant growth, biomass, yield or any other quality parameter of the harvestable goods of a crop plant.

[0088] Suitable pesticides for use in compositions of the invention:

[0089] A) Respiration inhibitors

[0090] - inhibitors of complex III at Qosite: azoxystrobin, coumethoxystrobin, coumoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, enestroburin, fenaminstrobin, fenoxystrobin / flufenoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, mandestrobin, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, pyrametostrobin, pyraoxystrobin, trifloxystrobin, pyribencarb, triclopyricarb / chlorodincarb, famoxadone, fenamidone, pyriminostrobin, bifujunzhi, metyltetraprole;

[0091] - inhibitors of complex III at Qi site: cyazofamid, amisulbrom, fenpicoxamid, florylpicoxamid, metarylpicoxamid;

[0092] - inhibitors of complex II: benodanil, benzovindiflupyr, bixafen, boscalid, carboxin, fenfuram, fluopyram, flutolanil, fluxapyroxad, furametpyr, isofetamid, isopyrazam, mepronil, oxycarboxin, penflufen, penthiopyrad, pydiflumetofen, pyraziflumid, sedaxane, tecloftalam, thifluzamide, inpyrfluxam, pyrapropoyne, fluindapyr, isoflucypram, cyclobutrifluram; 240515EP01 10

[0093] - other respiration inhibitors: diflumetorim; nitrophenyl derivates: binapacryl, dinobuton, dinocap, fluazinam, meptyldinocap; ferimzone; organometal compounds: fentin salts, e.g. fentin-acetate, fentin chloride or fentin hydroxide; silthiofam;

[0094] - quinone outside inhibitor stigmatellin binding type: ametoctradin;

[0095] B) Sterol biosynthesis inhibitors (SBI fungicides)

[0096] - C14 demethylase inhibitors: triazoles: azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, difenoconazole, diniconazole, diniconazole-M, epoxiconazole, fenbuconazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, hexaconazole, imibenconazole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, oxpoconazole, paclobutrazole, penconazole, propiconazole, prothioconazole, simeconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, triticonazole, uniconazole , fluoxytioconazole, ipfentrifluconazole, mefentrifluconazole; imidazoles: imazalil, pefurazoate, prochloraz, triflumizol; pyrimidines, pyridines, piperazines: fenarimol, pyrifenox, triforine;

[0097] - Delta14-reductase inhibitors: aldimorph, dodemorph, dodemorph-acetate, fenpropimorph, tridemorph, fenpropidin, piperalin, spiroxamine;

[0098] - Inhibitors of 3-keto reductase: fenhexamid, fenpyrazamine;

[0099] - other Sterol biosynthesis inhibitors: chlorphenomizole;

[0100] C) Nucleic acid synthesis inhibitors

[0101] - RNA polymerase I inhibitors: benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, kiralaxyl, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M, ofurace, oxadixy I;

[0102] - other nucleic acid synthesis inhibitors: hymexazole, octhilinone, oxolinic acid, bupirimate, 5- fluorocytosine, ipflufenoquin, quinofumelin;

[0103] D) Inhibitors of cell division and cytoskeleton

[0104] - tubulin polymerization inhibitors: benomyl, carbendazim, fuberidazole, thiabendazole, thiophanate- methyl, pyridachlometyl;

[0105] - other cell division inhibitors: diethofencarb, ethaboxam, pencycuron, fluopicolide, zoxamide, metrafenone, pyriofenone, phenamacril, fluopimomide;

[0106] E) Inhibitors of amino acid and protein synthesis

[0107] - methionine synthesis inhibitors: cyprodinil, mepanipyrim, pyrimethanil;

[0108] - protein synthesis inhibitors: blasticidin-S, kasugamycin, kasugamycin hydrochloride-hydrate, mildiomycin, streptomycin, oxytetracyclin;

[0109] F) Signal transduction inhibitors

[0110] MAP I histidine kinase inhibitors: fluoroimid, iprodione, procymidone, vinclozolin, fludioxonil; 240515EP01 11 mechanism unknown: quinoxyfen, proquinazid;

[0111] G) Lipid and membrane synthesis inhibitors

[0112] - Phospholipid biosynthesis inhibitors: edifenphos, iprobenfos, pyrazophos, isoprothiolane;

[0113] - lipid peroxidation: dicloran, quintozene, tecnazene, tolclofos-methyl, biphenyl, chloroneb, etridiazole;

[0114] - compounds affecting cell membrane permeability and fatty acides: propamocarb;

[0115] - inhibitors of oxysterol binding protein: oxathiapiprolin, fluoxapiprolin;

[0116] H) Inhibitors with Multi Site Action

[0117] - inorganic active substances: Bordeaux mixture, copper, copper acetate, copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride, basic copper sulfate, sulfur;

[0118] - thio- and dithiocarbamates: ferbam, mancozeb, maneb, metam, metiram, propineb, thiram, zineb, ziram;

[0119] - organochlorine compounds: anilazine, chlorothalonil, captafol, captan, folpet, dichlofluanid, dichlorophen, hexachlorobenzene, pentachlorphenole and its salts, phthalide, tolylfluanid;

[0120] - guanidines and others: guanidine, dodine, dodine free bas, guazatine, guazatine-acetate, iminoctadine, iminoctadine-triacetate, iminoctadine-tris(albesilate), dithianon, fluoroimide, methasulfocarb, chinomethionat;

[0121] I) Cell wall synthesis inhibitors

[0122] - inhibitors of glucan synthesis: validamycin, polyoxin B;

[0123] - melanin synthesis inhibitors: pyroquilon, tricyclazole, carpropamid, dicyclomet, fenoxanil, tolprocarb;

[0124] - cellulose synthase inhibitors: dimethomorph, flumorph, mandipropamid, pyrimorph, benthiavalicarb, iprovalicarb, valifenalate;

[0125] J) Plant defence inducers

[0126] - acibenzolar-S-methyl, probenazol, isotianil, tiadinil, prohexadione-calcium; phosphonates: fosetyl, fosetyl-aluminum, phosphorous acid and its salts, calcium phosphonate, potassium phosphonate, potassium or sodium bicarbonate, dichlobentiazox;

[0127] K) Unknown mode of action

[0128] - bronopol, cyflufenamid, cymoxanil, dazomet, debacarb, diclocymet, diclomezine, difenzoquat, difenzoquat-methylsulfate, diphenylamin, fenitropan, fenpyrazamine, flumetover, flumetylsulforim, flusulfamide, flutianil, harpin, nitrapyrin, nitrothal-isopropyl, oxin-copper, seboctylamine, tebufloquin, tecloftalam, triazoxide, pyrisoxazole, , benziothiazolinone, bromothalonil, aminopyrifen, flufenoxadiazam; 240515EP01 12

[0129] L) Biopesticides

[0130] L1) Microbial pesticides with fungicidal, bactericidal, viricidal and / or plant defense activator activity: Ampelomyces quisqualis, Aspergillus flavus, Aureobasidium pullulans, Bacillus altitudinis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. amyloliquefaciens ssp. plantarum (also referred to as B. velezensis), B. megaterium, B. mojavensis, B. mycoides, B. pumilus, B. simplex, B. solisalsi, B. subtilis, B. subtilis var. amyloliquefaciens, B. velezensis, Candida oleophila, C. saitoana, Clavibacter michiganensis (bacteriophages), Coniothyrium minitans, Cryphonectria parasitica, Cryptococcus albidus, Dilophosphora alopecuri, Fusarium oxysporum, Clonostachys rosea f. catenulate (also named Gliocladium catenulatum), Gliocladium roseum, Lysobacter antibioticus, L. enzymogenes, Metschnikowia fructicola, Microdochium dimerum, Microsphaeropsis ochracea, Muscodor albus, Paenibacillus alvei, Paenibacillus epiphyticus, P. polymyxa, Pantoea vagans, Penicillium bilaiae, Phlebiopsis gigantea, Pseudomonas sp., Pseudomonas chloraphis, Pseudozyma flocculosa, Pichia anomala, Pythium oligandrum, Sphaerodes mycoparasitica, Streptomyces griseoviridis, S. lydicus, S. violaceusniger, Talaromyces flavus, Trichoderma asperelloides, T. asperellum, T. atroviride, T. fertile, T. gamsii, T. harmatum, T. harzianum, T. polysporum, T. stromaticum, T. virens, T. viride, Typhula phacorrhiza, Ulocladium oudemansii, Verticillium dahlia, zucchini yellow mosaic virus (avirulent strain);

[0131] L2) Biochemical pesticides with fungicidal, bactericidal, viricidal and / or plant defense activator activity: harpin protein, Reynoutria sachalinensis extract;

[0132] L3) Microbial pesticides with insecticidal, acaricidal, molluscidal and / or nematicidal activity: Agrobacterium radiobacter, Bacillus cereus, B. firmus, B. thuringiensis, B. thuringiensis ssp. aizawai, B. t. ssp. israelensis, B. t. ssp. galleriae, B. t. ssp. kurstaki, B. t. ssp. tenebrionis, Beauveria bassiana, B. brongniartii, Burkholderia spp., Chromobacterium subtsugae, Cydia pomonella granulovirus, Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus, Flavobacterium spp., Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus, Helicoverpa zea nucleopolyhedrovirus, Helicoverpa zea single capsid nucleopolyhedrovirus, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Isaria fumosorosea, Lecanicillium longispo- rum, L. muscarium, Metarhizium anisopliae, M. anisopliae var. anisopliae, M. anisopliae var. acridum, Nomuraea rileyi, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, P. lilacinus, Paenibacillus popilliae, Pasteuria spp., P. nishizawae, P. penetrans, P. ramosa, P. thornea, P. usgae, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Spodoptera littoralis nucleopolyhedrovirus, Steinernema carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. kraussei, Streptomyces galbus, S. microflavus;

[0133] L4) Biochemical pesticides with insecticidal, acaricidal, molluscidal, pheromone and / or nematicidal activity: L-carvone, citral, (E,Z)-7,9-dodecadien-1-yl acetate, ethyl formate, (E,Z)-2,4-ethyl decadienoate (pear ester), (Z,Z,E)-7,11,13-hexadecatrienal, heptyl butyrate, isopropyl myristate, lavanulyl senecioate, cis-jasmone, 2-methyl 1 -butanol, methyl eugenol, methyl jasmonate, (E,Z)- 2, 13-octadecadien-1-ol, (E,Z)-2,13-octadecadien-1-ol acetate, (E,Z)-3,13-octadecadien-1-ol, (R)- 1-octen-3-ol, pentatermanone, (E,Z,Z)-3,8, 11 -tetradecatrienyl acetate, (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadien-1- yl acetate, (Z)-7-tetradecen-2-one, (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-yl acetate, (Z)-11-tetradecenal, (Z)-11-tetra- decen-1-ol, extract of Chenopodium ambrosiodes, Neem oil, Quillay extract;

[0134] L5) Microbial pesticides with plant stress reducing, plant growth regulator, plant growth promoting and / or yield enhancing activity: Azospirillum amazonense, A. brasilense, A. lipoferum, A. irakense, 240515EP01 13

[0135] A. halopraeferens, Bradyrhizobium spp., B. elkanii, B. japonicum, B. liaoningense, B. lupini, Delftia acidovorans, Glomus intraradices, Mesorhizobium spp., Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli, R. I. bv. trifolii, R. I. bv. viciae, R. tropici, Sinorhizobium meliloti;

[0136] 0) Insecticides from classes 0.1 to 0.29

[0137] 0.1 Acetylcholine esterase (AChE) inhibitors: aldicarb, alanycarb, bendiocarb, benfuracarb, butocarboxim, butoxycarboxim, carbaryl, carbofuran, carbosulfan, ethiofencarb, fenobucarb, formetanate, furathiocarb, isoprocarb, methiocarb, methomyl, metolcarb, oxamyl, pirimicarb, propoxur, thiodicarb, thiofanox, trimethacarb, XMC, xylylcarb, triazamate; acephate, azamethiphos, azinphos-ethyl, azinphosmethyl, cadusafos, chlorethoxyfos, chlorfenvinphos, chlormephos, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl, coumaphos, cyanophos, demeton-S-methyl, diazinon, dichlorvos / DDVP, dicrotophos, dimethoate, dimethylvinphos, disulfoton, EPN, ethion, ethoprophos, famphur, fenamiphos, fenitrothion, fenthion, fosthiazate, heptenophos, imicyafos, isofenphos, isopropyl 0- (methoxyaminothio-phosphoryl) salicylate, isoxathion, malathion, mecarbam, methamidophos, methidathion, mevinphos, monocrotophos, naled, omethoate, oxydemeton-methyl, parathion, parathion-methyl, phenthoate, phorate, phosalone, phosmet, phosphamidon, phoxim, pirimiphos- methyl, profenofos, propetamphos, prothiofos, pyraclofos, pyridaphenthion, quinalphos, sulfotep, tebupirimfos, temephos, terbufos, tetrachlorvinphos, thiometon, triazophos, trichlorfon, vamidothion;

[0138] 0.2 GABA-gated chloride channel antagonists: endosulfan, chlordane; ethiprole, fipronil, flufiprole, pyrafluprole, pyriprole;

[0139] 0.3 Sodium channel modulators: acrinathrin, allethrin, d-cis-trans allethrin, d-trans allethrin, bifenthrin, kappa-bifenthrin, bioallethrin, bioallethrin S-cylclopentenyl, bioresmethrin, cycloprothrin, cyfluthrin, beta-cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, alpha- cypermethrin, beta-cypermethrin, theta-cypermethrin, zeta-cypermethrin, cyphenothrin, deltamethrin, empenthrin, esfenvalerate, etofenprox, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, flucythrinate, flumethrin, tau-fluvalinate, halfenprox, heptafluthrin, imiprothrin, meperfluthrin, metofluthrin, momfluorothrin, epsilon-momfluorothrin, permethrin, phenothrin, prallethrin, profluthrin, pyrethrin (pyrethrum), resmethrin, silafluofen, tefluthrin, kappa-tefluthrin, tetramethylfluthrin, tetramethrin, tralomethrin, transfluthrin; DDT, methoxychlor;

[0140] 0.4 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists: acetamiprid, clothianidin, cycloxaprid, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam; nicotine; sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, triflumezopyrim, fenmezoditiaz, flupyrimin;

[0141] 0.5 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor allosteric activators: spinosad, spinetoram;

[0142] 0.6 Chloride channel activators: abamectin, emamectin benzoate, ivermectin, lepimectin, milbemectin;

[0143] 0.7 Juvenile hormone mimics: hydroprene, kinoprene, methoprene; fenoxycarb, pyriproxyfen;

[0144] 0.8 miscellaneous non-specific (multi-site) inhibitors: methyl bromide and other alkyl halides; chloropicrin, sulfuryl fluoride, borax, tartar emetic; 240515EP01 14

[0145] 0.9 Chordotonal organ TRPV channel modulators: afidopyropen, pymetrozine, pyrifluquinazon;

[0146] 0.10 Mite growth inhibitors: clofentezine, hexythiazox, diflovidazin; etoxazole;

[0147] 0.11 Microbial disruptors of insect midgut membranes: Bacillus thuringiensis, B. sphaericus and the insecticdal proteins they produce: Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, B. sphaericus, B. thuringiensis subsp. aizawai, B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, B. thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis, the Bt crop proteins: Cry1 Ab, CrylAc, Cry 1 Fa, Cry2Ab, mCry3A, Cry3Ab, Cry3Bb, Cry34 / 35Ab1;

[0148] 0.12 Inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP synthase: diafenthiuron; azocyclotin, cyhexatin, fenbutatin oxide, propargite, tetradifon;

[0149] 0.13 Uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation via disruption of the proton gradient: chlorfenapyr, DNOC, sulfluramid;

[0150] 0.14 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) channel blockers: bensultap, cartap hydrochloride, thiocyclam, thiosultap sodium;

[0151] 0.15 Inhibitors of the chitin biosynthesis type 0: bistrifluron, chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron, flucycloxuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron, lufenuron, novaluron, noviflumuron, teflubenzuron, triflumuron;

[0152] 0.16 Inhibitors of the chitin biosynthesis type 1 : buprofezin;

[0153] 0.17 Moulting disruptors: cyromazine;

[0154] 0.18 Ecdyson receptor agonists: methoxyfenozide, tebufenozide, halofenozide, fufenozide, chromafenozide;

[0155] 0.19 Octopamin receptor agonists: amitraz;

[0156] 0.20 Mitochondrial complex III electron transport inhibitors: hydramethylnon, acequinocyl, fluacrypyrim, bifenazate;

[0157] 0.21 Mitochondrial complex I electron transport inhibitors: fenazaquin, fenpyroximate, pyrimidifen, pyridaben, tebufenpyrad, tolfenpyrad; rotenone;

[0158] 0.22 Voltage-dependent sodium channel blockers: indoxacarb, metaflumizone;

[0159] 0.23 Inhibitors of the of acetyl CoA carboxylase: spirodiclofen, spiromesifen, spirotetramat, spiropidion, spirobudifen, spidoxamat;

[0160] 0.24 Mitochondrial complex IV electron transport inhibitors: aluminium phosphide, calcium phosphide, phosphine, zinc phosphide, cyanide;

[0161] 0.25 Mitochondrial complex II electron transport inhibitors: cyenopyrafen, cyflumetofen, cyetpyrafen, pyflubumide;

[0162] 0.28 Ryanodine receptor-modulators: chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, cyclaniliprole, flubendiamide, fluchlodiniliprole; tetraniliprole; tiorantraniliprole; 240515EP01 15

[0163] 0.29 Chordotonal organ modulators: flonicamid;

[0164] 0.30 GABA-gated chloride channel allosteric modulators: broflanilide, fluxametamide, isocycloseram;

[0165] 0.33 Calcium-activated potassium channel modulators: acynonapyr;

[0166] 0.34 Mitochondrial complex III electron transport inhibitors at Qi site: flometoquin;

[0167] O.UN Insecticidal compounds of unknown or uncertain mode of action: afoxolaner, azadirachtin, amidoflumet, benzoximate, bromopropylate, chinomethionat, cryolite, cyproflanilid, dicloro- mezotiaz, dicofol, dimpropyridaz, flufenerim, flometoquin, fluensulfone, fluhexafon, fluopyram, fluralaner, metaldehyde, metoxadiazone, piperonyl butoxide, pyridalyl, tioxazafen, trifluenfuronate, umifoxolaner, actives on basis of Bacillus firmus (Votivo); fluazaindolizine; tyclopyrazoflor; sarolaner, lotilaner; benzpyrimoxan; tigolaner; oxazosulfyl; cyproflanilide, nicofluprole; indazapyroxamet.

[0168] P) Herbicides from the classes P1 to P15

[0169] P1) lipid biosynthesis inhibitors:

[0170] - ACC-herbicides: alloxydim, alloxydim-sodium, butroxydim, clethodim, clodinafop, clodinafop-propargyl, cycloxydim, cyhalofop, cyhalofop-butyl, diclofop, diclofop-methyl, fenoxaprop, fenoxaprop-ethyl, fenoxaprop-P, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, fluazifop, fluazifop-butyl, fluazifop-P, fluazifop-P-butyl, haloxyfop, haloxyfop-methyl, haloxyfop-P, haloxyfop-P-methyl, metamifop, pinoxaden, profoxydim, propaquizafop, quizalofop, quizalofop-ethyl, quizalofop-tefuryl, quizalofop-P, quizalofop-P-ethyl, quizalofop-P-tefuryl, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, tralkoxydim;

[0171] - non ACC herbicides: benfuresate, butylate, cycloate, dalapon, dimepiperate, EPTC, esprocarb, ethofumesate, flupropanate, molinate, orbencarb, pebulate, prosulfocarb, TCA, thiobencarb, tiocarbazil, triallate and vernolate;

[0172] P2) ALS inhibitors:

[0173] - sulfonylureas: amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron, bensulfuron, bensulfuron-methyl, chlorimuron, chlorimuron- ethyl, chlorsulfuron, cinosulfuron, cyclosulfamuron, ethametsulfuron, ethametsulfuron-methyl, ethoxysulfuron, flazasulfuron, flucetosulfuron, flupyrsulfuron, flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium, foramsulfuron, halosulfuron, halosulfuron-methyl, imazosulfuron, iodosulfuron, iodosulfuron-methyl- sodium, iofensulfuron, iofensulfuron-sodium, mesosulfuron, metazosulfuron, metsulfuron, metsulfuron- methyl, nicosulfuron, orthosulfamuron, oxasulfuron, primisulfuron, primisulfuron-methyl, propyrisulfuron, prosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, rimsulfuron, sulfometuron, sulfometuron-methyl, sulfosulfuron, thifensulfuron, thifensulfuron-methyl, triasulfuron, tribenuron, tribenuron-methyl, trifloxysulfuron, triflusulfuron, triflusulfuron-methyl and tritosulfuron;

[0174] - imidazolinones: imazamethabenz, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin and imazethapyr; triazolopyrimidine herbicides and sulfonanilides: cloransulam, cloransulam-methyl, diclosulam, flumetsulam, florasulam, metosulam, penoxsulam, pyrimisulfan and pyroxsulam; 240515EP01 16 pyrimidinylbenzoates: bispyribac, bispyribac-sodium, pyribenzoxim, pyriftalid, pyriminobac, pyriminobac- methyl, pyrithiobac, pyrithiobac-sodium;

[0175] - sulfonylaminocarbonyl-triazolinone herbicides: flucarbazone, flucarbazone-sodium, propoxycarbazone, propoxycarbazone-sodium, thiencarbazone and thiencarbazone-methyl;

[0176] - and triafamone;

[0177] P3) photosynthesis inhibitors: amicarbazone, inhibitors of the photosystem II, triazine herbicides, including of chlorotriazine, triazinones, triazindiones, methylthiotriazines and pyridazinones such as ametryn, atrazine, chloridazone, cyanazine, desmetryn, dimethametryn, hexazinone, metribuzin, prometon, prometryn, propazine, simazine, simetryn, terbumeton, terbuthylazine, terbutryn and trietazin, aryl urea such as chlorobromuron, chlorotoluron, chloroxuron, dimefuron, diuron, fluometuron, isoproturon, isouron, linuron, metamitron, methabenzthiazuron, metobenzuron, metoxuron, monolinuron, neburon, siduron, tebuthiuron and thiadiazuron, phenyl carbamates such as desmedipham, karbutilat, phenmedipham, phenmedipham-ethyl, nitrile herbicides such as bromofenoxim, bromoxynil and its salts and esters, ioxynil and its salts and esters, uraciles such as bromacil, lenacil and terbacil, and bentazon and bentazon-sodium, pyridate, pyridafol, pentanochlor and propanil and inhibitors of the photosystem I such as diquat, diquat-dibromide, paraquat, paraquat-dichloride and paraquat-dimetilsulfate;

[0178] P4) protoporphyrinogen-IX oxidase inhibitors: acifluorfen, acifluorfen-sodium, azafenidin, bencarbazone, benzfendizone, bifenox, butafenacil, carfentrazone, carfentrazone-ethyl, chlomethoxyfen, chlorphthalim, cinidon-ethyl, cyclopyranil, fluazolate, flufenpyr, flufenpyr-ethyl, flumiclorac, flumiclorac-pentyl, flumioxazin, fluoroglycofen, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, fluthiacet, fluthiacet-methyl, fomesafen, halosafen, lactofen, oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, oxyfluorfen, pentoxazone, profluazol, pyraclonil, pyraflufen, pyraflufen-ethyl, saflufenacil, sulfentrazone, thidiazimin, tiafenacil, trifludimoxazin, epyrifenacil;

[0179] P5) bleacher herbicides:

[0180] - PDS inhibitors: beflubutamid, diflufenican, fluridone, flurochloridone, flurtamone, norflurazon, picolinafen, rimisoxafen;

[0181] - HPPD inhibitors: benzobicyclon, benzofenap, bicyclopyrone, clomazone, fenquinotrione, isoxaflutole, mesotrione, oxotrione, pyrasulfotole, pyrazolynate, pyrazoxyfen, sulcotrione, tefuryltrione, tembotrione, tolpyralate, topramezone, bipyrazone, fenpyrazone, cypyrafluone, tripyrasulfone, benquitrione, dioxopyritrione;

[0182] - bleacher, unknown target: aclonifen, amitrole flumeturon, bixlozone;

[0183] P6) EPSP synthase inhibitors:

[0184] - glyphosate, glyphosate-isopropylammonium, glyposate-potassium and glyphosate-trimesium (sulfosate); 240515EP01 17

[0185] P7) glutamine synthase inhibitors: bilanaphos (bialaphos), bilanaphos-sodium, glufosinate, glufosinate-P and glufosinate-ammonium;

[0186] P8) DHP synthase inhibitors: asulam;

[0187] P9) mitosis inhibitors:

[0188] - group K1 : dinitroanilines: benfluralin, butralin, dinitramine, ethalfluralin, fluchloralin, oryzalin, pendimethalin, prodiamine and trifluralin; phosphoramidates: amiprophos, amiprophos-methyl, and butamiphos; benzoic acid herbicides: chlorthal, chlorthal-dimethyl; pyridines: dithiopyr and thiazopyr; benzamides: propyzamide and tebutam;

[0189] - group K2: carbetamide, chlorpropham, flamprop, flamprop-isopropyl, flamprop-methyl, flamprop-M- isopropyl, flamprop-M-methyl and propham;

[0190] P10) VLCFA inhibitors:

[0191] - chloroacetamides: acetochlor, alachlor, amidochlor, butachlor, dimethachlor, dimethenamid, dimethenamid-P, metazachlor, metolachlor, metolachlor-S, pethoxamid, pretilachlor, propachlor, propisochlor and thenylchlor,

[0192] - oxyacetanilides: flufenacet and mefenacet;

[0193] - acetanilides: diphenamid, naproanilide, napropamide and napropamide-M;

[0194] - tetrazolinones: fentrazamide;

[0195] - other herbicides: anilofos, cafenstrole, fenoxasulfone, ipfencarbazone, piperophos, pyroxasulfone, dimesulfazet and isoxazoline;

[0196] P11) cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors: chlorthiamid, dichlobenil, flupoxam, indaziflam, isoxaben, triaziflam;

[0197] P12) decoupler herbicides: dinoseb, dinoterb and DNOC and its salts;

[0198] P13) auxinic herbicides:

[0199] 2,4-D and its salts and esters such as clacyfos, 2,4-DB and its salts and esters, aminocyclopyrachlor and its salts and esters, aminopyralid and its salts such as aminopyralid-dimethylammonium, aminopy ral id-tris(2- hydroxypropyl)ammonium and its esters, benazolin, benazolin-ethyl, chloramben and its salts and esters, clomeprop, clopyralid and its salts and esters, dicamba and its salts and esters, dichlorprop and its salts and esters, dichlorprop-P and its salts and esters, flopyrauxifen, fluroxypyr, fluroxypyr-butometyl, fluroxypyr- meptyl, halauxifen and its salts and esters; MCPA and its salts and esters, MCPA-thioethyl, MCPB and its salts and esters, mecoprop and its salts and esters, mecoprop-P and its salts and esters, picloram and its salts and esters, quinclorac, quinmerac, TBA (2,3,6) and its salts and esters, triclopyr and its salts and esters, florpyrauxifen, florpyrauxifen-benzyl and 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-(7-fluoro-1 / 7-indol-6-yl)picolinic acid;

[0200] P14) auxin transport inhibitors: diflufenzopyr, diflufenzopyr-sodium, naptalam and naptalam-sodium; 240515EP01 18

[0201] P15) other herbicides: bromobutide, chlorflurenol, chlorflurenol-methyl, cinmethylin, cumyluron, cyclopyrimorate and its salts and esters, dalapon, dazomet, difenzoquat, difenzoquat-metilsulfate, dimethipin, DSMA, dymron, endothal and its salts, etobenzanid, flurenol, flurenol-butyl, flurprimidol, fosamine, fosamine-ammonium, indanofan, maleic hydrazide, mefluidide, metam, methiozolin, methyl azide, methyl bromide, methyl-dymron, methyl iodide, MSMA, oleic acid, oxaziclomefone, pelargonic acid, pyributicarb, quinoclamine, tetflupyrolimet, tridiphane.

[0202] Q) Safeners

[0203] (quinolin-8-oxy)acetic acids, 1 -phenyl-5-haloalkyl-1 H-1 ,2,4-triazol-3-carboxylic acids, 1 -phenyl-4,5-dihydro- 5-alkyl-1 H-pyrazol-3,5-dicarboxylic acids, 4,5-dihydro-5,5-diaryl-3-isoxazol carboxylic acids, dichloroacetamides, alpha-oximinophenylacetonitriles, acetophenonoximes, 4,6-dihalo-2- phenylpyrimidines, N-[[4-(aminocarbonyl)phenyl]sulfonyl]-2-benzoic amides, 1 ,8-naphthalic anhydride, 2- halo-4-(haloalkyl)-5-thiazol carboxylic acids, phosphorthiolates and N-alkyl-O-phenylcarbamates and their agriculturally acceptable salts and their agriculturally acceptable derivatives such amides, esters, and thioesters, provided they have an acid group.

[0204] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the agrochemical active ingredient is selected from azoxystrobin, fluxapyroxad, fludioxonil, prothioconazole, chlorothalonil, diflufenican, metyltetraprole, mefentrifluconazole, tebuconazole, atrazine, indaziflam, saflufenacil, pyroxasulfone, glufosinate, cinmethylin, terbuthylazine, oxyfluorfen, pyraclostrobin, difenoconazole, trifloxystrobin, flufenacetat, pinoxaden, metaflumizon and metribuzin, preferably from azoxystrobin, fluxapyroxad, fludioxonil, prothioconazole, chlorothalonil, diflufenican, terbuthylazine and atrazine, most preferably from azoxystrobin, diflufenican and terbuthylazine.

[0205] Suitable safeners include (quinolin-8-oxy)acetic acids, 1 -phenyl-5-haloalkyl-1 H-1 ,2,4-triazol-3-carboxylic acids, 1 -phenyl-4,5-dihydro-5-alkyl-1 H-pyrazol-3,5-dicarboxylic acids, 4,5-dihydro-5,5-diaryl-3-isoxazol carboxylic acids, dichloroacetamides, alpha-oximinophenylacetonitriles, acetophenonoximes, 4,6-dihalo-2- phenylpyrimidines, N-[[4-(aminocarbonyl)phenyl]sulfonyl]-2-benzoic amides, 1 ,8-naphthalic anhydride, 2- halo-4-(haloalkyl)-5-thiazol carboxylic acids, phosphorthiolates and N-alkyl-O-phenylcarbamates and their agriculturally acceptable salts and their agriculturally acceptable derivatives such amides, esters, and thioesters, provided they have an acid group.

[0206] Suitable nitrification inhibitors are linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, methyl p-coumarate, methyl ferulate, methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate (MHPP), Karanjin, brachialacton, p-benzoquinone sorgoleone, 2- chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)-pyridine (nitrapyrin or N-serve), dicyandiamide (DCD, DIDIN), 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate (DMPP, ENTEC), 4-amino-1 ,2,4-triazole hydrochloride (ATC), 1 -amido-2-thiourea (ASU), 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM), 2-mercapto-benzothiazole (MBT), 5-ethoxy-3- trichloromethyl-1 ,2,4-thiodiazole (terrazole, etridiazole), 2-sulfanilamidothiazole (ST), ammoniumthiosulfate (ATU), 3-methylpyrazol (3-MP), 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (DMP), 1 ,2,4-triazol thiourea (TU), N-(1 H-pyrazolyl- methyl)acetamides such as N-((3(5)-methyl-1 H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl)acetamide, and N-(1 H-pyrazolyl- methyl)formamides such as N-((3(5)-methyl-1 H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl formamide, N-(4-chloro-3(5)-methyl- pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide, N-(3(5),4-dimethyl-pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide, neem, products based on ingredients of neem, cyan amide, melamine, zeolite powder, catechol, benzoquinone, sodium terta board, zinc sulfate, 2-(3,4-dimethyl-1 H-pyrazol-1 -yl)succinic acid (referred to as “DMPSA1” in the following) and / or 2-(4,5-dimethyl-1 H-pyrazol-1 -yl)succinic acid (referred to as "DMPSA2” in the following), and / or a derivative thereof, and / or a salt thereof; glycolic acid addition salt of 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole (3,4-dimethyl 240515EP01 19 pyrazolium glycolate, referred to as "DMPG” in the following), and / or an isomer thereof, and / or a derivative thereof; citric acid addition salt of 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole (3,4-dimethyl pyrazolium citrate, referred to as "DMPC” in the following), and / or an isomer thereof, and / or a derivative thereof; lactic acid addition salt of 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole (3,4-dimethyl pyrazolium lactate, referred to as "DMPL” in the following), and / or an isomer thereof, and / or a derivative thereof; mandelic acid addition salt of 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole (3,4-dimethyl pyrazolium mandelate, referred to as "DMPM” in the following), and / or an isomer thereof, and / or a derivative thereof; 1 ,2,4-triazole (referred to as „TZ" in the following), and / or a derivative thereof, and / or a salt thereof; 4-Chloro-3-methylpyrazole (referred to as „CIMP” in the following), and / or an isomer thereof, and / or a derivative thereof, and / or a salt thereof; a reaction adduct of dicyandiamide, urea and formaldehyde, or a triazonyl-formaldehyde-dicyandiamide adduct; 2-cyano-1-((4-oxo-1 ,3,5-triazinan-1-yl)methyl)guanidine, 1- ((2-cyanoguanidino)methyl)urea; 2-cyano-1-((2-cyanoguanidino)methyl)guanidine; 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate; allylthiourea, and chlorate salts.

[0207] Examples of urease inhibitors include N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide (NBPT, Agrotain), N-(n- propyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide (NPPT), 2-nitrophenyl phosphoric triamide (2-NPT), further NXPTs known to the skilled person, phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD / PPDA), hydroquinone, ammonium thiosulfate, and mixtures of NBPT and NPPT (see e.g., US 8,075,659). Such mixtures of NBPT and NPPT may comprise NBPT in amounts of 40 to 95% wt.-% and preferably of 60 to 80% wt.-% based on the total amount of active substances. Such mixtures are marketed as LIMUS, which is a composition comprising about 16.9 wt.-% NBPT and about 5.6 wt.-% NPPT and about 77.5 wt.-% of other ingredients including solvents and adjuvants.

[0208] Suitable plant growth regulators are antiauxins, auxins, cytokinins, defoliants, ethylene modulators, ethylene releasers, gibberellins, growth inhibitors, morphactins, growth retardants, growth stimulators, and further unclassified plant growth regulators.

[0209] Suitable micronutrients are compounds comprising boron, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, chlorine, and molybdenum.

[0210] The agrochemical composition typically comprises a biologically effective amount, e.g., a pesticidally effective amount of the agrochemical active ingredient. The term "effective amount” denotes an amount of the composition or of the agrochemical active ingredient, which is sufficient for, e.g., controlling harmful fungi on cultivated plants or in the protection of materials and which does not result in a substantial damage to the treated plants. Such an amount can vary in a broad range and is dependent on various factors, such as, e.g., the fungal species to be controlled, the treated cultivated plant or material, the climatic conditions and the specific agrochemical active ingredient used.

[0211] The agrochemical composition typically comprises the agrochemical active ingredient in a concentration of 1 to 70% by weight of solids (% w.s.), preferably 1 to 60% w.s., more preferably 10 to 50% w.s., most preferably 20 to 45% w.s., based on the total weight of the agrochemical composition. The agrochemical composition typically contains at least 5% w.s. of the agrochemical active ingredient, preferably at least 15% w.s., more preferably at least 25% w.s., most preferably at least 35% w.s. of the agrochemical active ingredient based on the total weight of the agrochemical composition. The agrochemical composition typically contains up to 95% w.s. of the agrochemical active ingredient, preferably up to 65% w.s., more preferably up to least 45% w.s. of the agrochemical active ingredient based on the total weight of the 240515EP01 20 agrochemical composition. The active substances are employed in a purity of 90% to 100%, preferably 95% to 100%, as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

[0212] In one embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises the cellulose acetate of the invention in a concentration of 0.5 to 20% w.s., preferably 0.5 to 10% w.s., more preferably 1 to 8% w.s. based on the total weight of the agrochemical composition. The concentration of the cellulose acetate of the invention is typically up to 15% w.s., more preferably up to 9% w.s., most preferably up to 7% w.s. based on the total weight of the agrochemical composition. The concentration of the cellulose acetate of the invention is usually at least 2% w.s., preferably at least 2.5% w.s. based on the total weight of the agrochemical composition. These concentrations are particularly suitable when the cellulose acetate in the agrochemical composition is used as a dispersant.

[0213] In one embodiment, the agrochemical composition is an aqueous agrochemical composition. In another embodiment, the agrochemical composition is a non-aqueous composition.

[0214] The cellulose acetate is typically present in the agrochemical composition in dissolved form, in particular if the agrochemical composition is an aqueous agrochemical composition. Typical solvents include those discussed as auxiliaries below.

[0215] The cellulose acetate may be present as solid particles, such as dispersed particles, especially if the agrochemical composition is a non-aqueous composition, such as a solid composition or an agrochemical composition with a continuous organic phase.

[0216] The weight ratio of the active agrochemical ingredient to the cellulose acetate in the agrochemical composition is typically in the range of 1 :1 to 30:1 , preferably 5: 1 to 30:1 , more preferably 7: 1 to 20: 1.

[0217] The agrochemical composition can be any customary type of agrochemical compositions, including solutions, emulsions, suspensions, dusts, powders, pastes, granules, pressings, capsules, and mixtures thereof. Examples for composition types are suspensions (e.g., SC, CD, FS, SE, DC), emulsifiable concentrates (e.g., EC), emulsions (e.g., EW, EC, ES, ME), capsules (e.g., CS, ZC), pastes, pastilles, wettable powders or dusts (e.g., WP, SP, WS, DP, DS), pressings (e.g., BR, TB, DT), granules (e.g., WG, SG, GR, FG, GG, MG), as well as insecticidal articles (e.g., LN). These and further compositions types are defined in the "Catalogue of pesticide formulation types and international coding system”, Technical Monograph No. 2, 6th Ed. May 2008, CropLife International.

[0218] Preferred composition types are suspensions such as suspension concentrates (SC) or suspo-emulsions (SE), dispersible concentrates (DC), emulsifiable concentrates (EC), wettable powders or wettable dusts. Preferred are suspension concentrates (SC) and dispersible concentrates (DC). Most preferred are suspension concentrates (SC).

[0219] In one embodiment, the agrochemical composition is a suspension, in particular a suspension concentrate, and comprises an agrochemical active ingredient selected from azoxystrobin, fluxapyroxad, fludioxonil, prothioconazole, chlorothalonil, diflufenican, metyltetraprole, mefentrifluconazole, tebuconazole, atrazine, indaziflam, saflufenacil, pyroxasulfone, glufosinate, cinmethylin, terbuthylazine, oxyfluorfen, pyraclostrobin, difenoconazole, trifloxystrobin, flufenacetat, pinoxaden, metaflumizon and metribuzin, preferably from azoxystrobin, fluxapyroxad, fludioxonil, prothioconazole, chlorothalonil, diflufenican, terbuthylazine and atrazine, most preferably from azoxystrobin, diflufenican and terbuthylazine. 240515EP01 21

[0220] The compositions are prepared in a known manner, such as described by Mollet and Grubemann, Formulation technology, Wiley VCH, Weinheim, 2001 ; or Knowles, New developments in crop protection product formulation, Agrow Reports DS243, T&F Informa, London, 2005.

[0221] When preparing agrochemical formulations, it is usually required to dissolve the agrochemically active ingredient, e.g. one or more pesticides in a solvent, which is then diluted in a larger volume of water in order for it to be applied in the form of a fine spray. Alternatively, it may be necessary to dilute the agrochemically active ingredient in a solution and load it onto a solid carrier. Whilst some agrochemically active ingredients are salts and thus highly water-soluble, allowing for simply dissolution, many other non-ionic agrochemically active ingredients are hydrophobic and not at all water-soluble.

[0222] In the case of active ingredients that are not water-soluble, it is normally necessary to dissolve the formulation in a water-immiscible solvent and add one or more surfactants, so that the solution will form an oil-in-water emulsion, when added to water. Such a formulation is called an Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) formulation. Alternatively, the water-immiscible solution comprising active ingredient can be pre-emulsified in water in a concentrated form. Such a formulation is called an Emulsion-in-water (EW) formulation.

[0223] Emulsifiable concentrates are typically optically transparent oily liquid formulations that are prepared by dissolving a certain amount of pesticide in organic solvents (such as benzene, toluene, xylene, and solvent oil), which may also contain surfactants (i.e. emulsifiers) and other additives. These concentrates are suitable for dispersion within an aqueous phase to form an oil-in-water emulsion formulation. Emulsifiable concentrates must be monophasic, i.e., the pesticide and any emulsifiers must be completely soluble in the organic solvent at the concentrations used.

[0224] An emulsion is a mixture of two or more liquids that are normally immiscible, wherein one liquid forms a dispersed phase, suspended as droplets within the other liquid, which is known as the continuous phase. Emulsions are typically referred to as oil-in-water (i.e. the water is the continuous phase) or water-in-oil (i.e. the oil is the continuous phase). In the context of agrochemical formulations, oil-in-water emulsions, known as emulsion-in-water formulations are often used to disperse hydrophobic pesticides across fields of crop plants.

[0225] The agrochemical composition is typically prepared by contacting the cellulose acetate and the active agrochemical ingredient. If the agrochemical composition is a suspension, the method typically comprises contacting the active agrochemical ingredient with water to form a mill-base. The premix is then typically submitted to grinding or milling to form the final suspension. The cellulose acetate may either be added to the mill-base or to the final suspension, in particular to the mill-base.

[0226] In case the agrochemical composition is a granule, it is typically obtained by preparing a premix containing the agrochemical active ingredient, the cellulose acetate, a filler, and typically up to 5 wt.-% of water, and the premix is then extruded. The extrudate is then dried and converted to granules.

[0227] Suitable auxiliaries that may be added to the agrochemical composition are solvents, liquid carriers, solid carriers or fillers, surfactants, dispersants, emulsifiers, wetters, adjuvants, solubilizers, penetration enhancers, protective colloids, adhesion agents, thickeners, humectants, repellents, attractants, feeding stimulants, compatibilizers, bactericides, anti-freezing agents, anti-foaming agents, and crystal growth inhibitors. 240515EP01 22

[0228] Suitable solvents and liquid carriers are water and organic solvents, such as mineral oil fractions of medium to high boiling point, e.g., kerosene, diesel oil; oils of vegetable or animal origin; aliphatic, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, e. g. toluene, paraffin, tetrahydronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes; alcohols, e.g., ethanol, propanol, butanol, benzylalcohol, cyclohexanol; glycols; DMSO; ketones, e.g., cyclohexanone; esters, e.g., lactates, carbonates, fatty acid esters, alkyl esters, gamma-butyrolactone; fatty acids; phosphonates; amines; amides, e.g., N-methylpyrrolidone, lactamides, alkyl amides, fatty acid dimethylamides; and mixtures thereof.

[0229] Suitable solid carriers or fillers are mineral earths, e.g., silicates, silica gels, talc, kaolins, limestone, lime, chalk, clays, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, bentonite, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide; polysaccharides, e.g., cellulose, starch; fertilizers, e.g., ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ureas; products of vegetable origin, e.g., cereal meal, tree bark meal, wood meal, nutshell meal, and mixtures thereof.

[0230] Suitable surfactants are surface-active compounds, such as anionic, cationic, nonionic and amphoteric surfactants, block polymers, polyelectrolytes, and mixtures thereof. Such surfactants can be used as emusifier, dispersant, solubilizer, wetter, penetration enhancer, protective colloid, or adjuvant. Examples of surfactants are listed in McCutcheon's, Vol.1 : Emulsifiers & Detergents, McCutcheon's Directories, Glen Rock, USA, 2008 (International Ed. or North American Ed.).

[0231] Suitable anionic surfactants are alkali, alkaline earth or ammonium salts of sulfonates, sulfates, phosphates, carboxylates, and mixtures thereof. Examples of sulfonates are alkylarylsulfonates, diphenylsulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, lignine sulfonates, sulfonates of fatty acids and oils, sulfonates of ethoxylated alkylphenols, sulfonates of alkoxylated arylphenols, sulfonates of condensed naphthalenes, sulfonates of dodecyl- and tridecylbenzenes, sulfonates of naphthalenes and alkylnaphthalenes, sulfosuccinates or sulfosuccinamates. Examples of sulfates are sulfates of fatty acids and oils, of ethoxylated alkylphenols, of alcohols, of ethoxylated alcohols, or of fatty acid esters. Examples of phosphates are phosphate esters. Examples of carboxylates are alkyl carboxylates, and carboxylated alcohol or alkylphenol ethoxylates.

[0232] Suitable nonionic surfactants are alkoxylates, N-subsituted fatty acid amides, amine oxides, esters, sugar- based surfactants, polymeric surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Examples of alkoxylates are compounds such as alcohols, alkylphenols, amines, amides, arylphenols, fatty acids or fatty acid esters which have been alkoxylated with 1 to 100 equivalents. Ethylene oxide and / or propylene oxide may be employed for the alkoxylation, preferably ethylene oxide. Examples of N-subsititued fatty acid amides are fatty acid glucamides or fatty acid alkanolamides. Examples of esters are fatty acid esters, glycerol esters or monoglycerides. Examples of sugar-based surfactants are sorbitans, ethoxylated sorbitans, sucrose and glucose esters or alkylpolyglucosides. Examples of polymeric surfactants are home- or copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone, vinylalcohols, or vinylacetate.

[0233] Suitable cationic surfactants are quaternary surfactants, for example quaternary ammonium compounds with one or two hydrophobic groups, or salts of long-chain primary amines. Suitable amphoteric surfactants are alkylbetains and imidazolines. Suitable block polymers are block polymers of the A-B or A-B-A type comprising blocks of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide, or of the A-B-C type comprising alkanol, polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide. Suitable polyelectrolytes are poly acids or polybases. Examples 240515EP01 23 of polyacids are alkali salts of polyacrylic acid or polyacid comb polymers. Examples of polybases are polyvinylamines or polyethyleneamines.

[0234] Suitable adjuvants are compounds which have a neglectable or even no pesticidal activity themselves, and which improve the biological performance of the compound I on the target. Examples are surfactants, mineral or vegetable oils, and other auxiliaries. Further examples are listed by Knowles, Adjuvants and additives, Agrow Reports DS256, T&F Informa UK, 2006, chapter 5.

[0235] Suitable thickeners are polysaccharides (e.g., xanthan gum, carboxymethylcellulose), anorganic clays (organically modified or unmodified), polycarboxylates, and silicates. Suitable bactericides are bronopol and isothiazolinone derivatives such as alkylisothiazolinones and benzisothiazolinones. Suitable anti-freezing agents are ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, urea and glycerin. Suitable anti-foaming agents are silicones, long chain alcohols, and salts of fatty acids.

[0236] Examples for composition types and their preparation include:

[0237] I) Water-soluble concentrates (SL, LS)

[0238] 10 to 60 wt.-% of an agrochemical active, 5 to 15 wt.-% wetting agent (e.g., alcohol alkoxylates), and 1 to 15 wt.-% of the cellulose acetate are dissolved in water and / or in a water-soluble solvent (e.g., alcohols) ad 100 wt.-%. The active substance dissolves upon dilution with water. ii) Dispersible concentrates (DC)

[0239] 5 to 25 wt.-% of the agrochemical active ingredient, 1 to 10 wt.-% of the cellulose acetate and optionally further dispersants (e. g. polyvinylpyrrolidone) are dissolved in organic solvent (e.g., cyclohexanone) ad 100 wt.-%. Dilution with water gives a dispersion. iii) Emulsifiable concentrates (EC)

[0240] 15 to 70 wt.-% of an agrochemical active ingredient, 1 to 15 wt.-% of the cellulose acetate, 5 to 10 wt.-% emulsifiers (e.g., calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate) are dissolved in waterinsoluble organic solvent (e.g., aromatic hydrocarbon) ad 100 wt.-%. Dilution with water gives an emulsion. iv) Emulsions (EW, EC, ES)

[0241] 5 to 40 wt.-% of the agrochemical active ingredient, the 1 to 15 wt.-% of the cellulose acetate and 1 to 10 wt.-% emulsifiers (e.g., calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate) are dissolved in 20 to 40 wt.-% water-insoluble organic solvent (e.g., aromatic hydrocarbon). This mixture may be introduced into water ad 100 wt.-% by means of an emulsifying machine and made into a homogeneous emulsion. v) Suspensions (SC, CD, FS)

[0242] In an agitated ball mill, 20 to 60 wt.-% of an agrochemical active ingredient are comminuted with addition of 1 to 10 wt.-% the cellulose acetate and optionally further dispersants, and wetting agents (e.g., sodium lignosulfonate and alcohol ethoxylate), 0, 1 to 2 wt.-% thickener (e.g., xanthan gum) and water ad 100 wt.- % to give a fine active substance suspension. Dilution with water gives a stable suspension of the active substance. For FS type composition up to 40 wt.-% binder (e.g., polyvinylalcohol) is added. A suspension 240515EP01 24 emulsion (SE) may be obtained by mixing a suspension with an emulsifiable concentrate or with an emulsion, such as an oil-in-water emulsion (EW). vi) Water-dispersible granules and water-soluble granules (WG, SG)

[0243] 50 to 80 wt.-% of the agrochemical active ingredient are ground finely with addition of the cellulose acetate, optionally further dispersants, and wetting agents (e.g., sodium lignosulfonate and alcohol ethoxylate) ad 100 wt.-% and prepared as water-dispersible or water-soluble granules by means of technical appliances (e. g. extrusion, spray tower, fluidized bed). Dilution with water gives a stable dispersion or solution of the active substance. vii) Water-dispersible powders and water-soluble powders (WP, SP, WS)

[0244] 50 to 80 wt.-% of an agrochemical active ingredient are ground in a rotor-stator mill with addition of 1 to 5 wt.-% of the cellulose acetate and optionally further dispersants (e.g., sodium lignosulfonate), 1 to 3 wt.-% wetting agents (e.g., alcohol ethoxylate) and solid carrier (e.g., silica gel) ad 100 wt.-%. Dilution with water gives a stable dispersion or solution of the active substance. viii) Gel (GW, GF)

[0245] In an agitated ball mill, 5 to 25 wt.-% of an agrochemical active ingredient are comminuted with addition of 3 to 10 wt.-% of cellulose acetate and optionally further dispersants (e.g., sodium lignosulfonate), 1 to 5 wt.- % thickener (e.g., carboxymethylcellulose) and water ad 100 wt.-% to give a fine suspension of the active substance. Dilution with water gives a stable gel of the active substance. iv) Microemulsion (ME)

[0246] 5 to 20 wt.-% of an agrochemical active ingredient are added to 5 to 30 wt.-% organic solvent blend (e.g., fatty acid dimethylamide and cyclohexanone), 10 to 25 wt.-% surfactant blend (e.g., alkohol ethoxylate and arylphenol ethoxylate), 1 to 25 wt.-% of the cellulose acetate, and water ad 100 %. This mixture is stirred for 1 h to produce spontaneously a thermodynamically stable microemulsion. iv) Microcapsules (CS)

[0247] An oil phase comprising 5 to 50 wt.-% of an agrochemical active ingedient, 0 to 40 wt.-% water insoluble organic solvent (e.g., aromatic hydrocarbon), 2 to 15 wt.-% acrylic monomers (e.g., methylmethacrylate, methacrylic acid and a di- or triacrylate) are dispersed into an aqueous solution of a protective colloid (e.g., polyvinyl alcohol). Radical polymerization initiated by a radical initiator results in the formation of poly(meth)acrylate microcapsules. Alternatively, an oil phase comprising 5 to 50 wt.-% of an agrochemical active ingredient, 0 to 40 wt.-% water insoluble organic solvent (e.g., aromatic hydrocarbon), and an isocyanate monomer (e.g., diphenylmethene-4,4'-diisocyanatae) are dispersed into an aqueous solution of a protective colloid (e.g., polyvinyl alcohol).

[0248] The addition of a polyamine (e.g., hexamethylenediamine) results in the formation of a polyurea microcapsules. The monomers amount to 1 to 10 wt.-%. The wt.-% relate to the total CS composition. The microcapsules may then be dispersed in an aqueous composition. To this end, 1 to 40 wt.-% of the microcapsules are mixed with 2 to 10 wt.-% the cellulose acetate and optionally further dispersants, and 240515EP01 25 wetting agents (e.g., sodium lignosulfonate and alcohol ethoxylate), 0, 1 to 2 wt.-% thickener (e.g., xanthan gum) and water ad 100 wt.-% to yield a CS composition. lx) Dustable powders (DP, DS)

[0249] 1 to 10 wt.-% of an agrochemical active ingredient are ground finely and mixed intimately with the 1 to 20 wt.-% of the cellulose acetate, and solid carrier (e.g., finely divided kaolin) ad 100 wt.-%. x) Granules (GR, FG)

[0250] 0.5 to 30 wt.-% of an agrochemical active ingredient is ground finely and associated with 1 to 20 wt.-% of the cellulose acetate and with solid carrier (e.g., silicate) ad 100 wt.-%. Granulation is achieved by extrusion, spray-drying or the fluidized bed. xi) Ultra-low volume liquids (UL)

[0251] 1 to 50 wt.-% of an agrochemical active ingredient and 1 to 30 wt.-% of the cellulose acetate are dissolved in organic solvent (e.g., aromatic hydrocarbon) ad 100 wt.-%.

[0252] The compositions types I) to xi) may optionally comprise further auxiliaries such as those discussed above, e.g., 0.1 to 1 wt.-% bactericides, 5 to 15 wt.-% anti-freezing agents, 0.1 to 1 wt.-% anti-foaming agents, and 0.1 to 1 wt.-% colorants.

[0253] In one embodiment, the agrochemical composition is a suspension, preferably a suspension concentrate. The agrochemical suspension typically contains the agrochemical active ingredient in a concentration of 1 to 65 wt.-%, preferably 10 to 60 wt.-%, more preferably 20 to 50 wt.-%, most preferably 30 to 50 wt.-% based on the total weight of the agrochemical suspension.

[0254] The agrochemical suspension contains at least a portion of the agrochemical active as solid particles suspended in a continuous phase, which is preferably an aqueous continuous phase. Accordingly, the agrochemical suspension is preferably an aqueous agrochemical suspension containing at least 5 wt.-% of water, preferably at least 10 wt.-%, more preferably at least 15 wt.-%, most preferably at least 20 wt.-%, especially preferably at least 25 wt.-%, such as at least 30 wt.-%, in particular at least 40 wt.-%, each time based on the total weight of the suspension. The agrochemical composition may contain up to 95 wt.-% of water, preferably up to 80 wt.-%, more preferably up to 70 wt.-%, most preferably up to 60 wt.-% of water, such as up to 50 wt.-% of water, each time based on the total weight of the suspension.

[0255] The agrochemical active ingredient typically exhibits low water-solubility. The agrochemical active may have a water-solubility at 20 °C and pH of 7 of up to 10 g / L, preferably up to 5 g / L, more preferably up to 1 g / L, most preferably up to 0.5 g / L, in particular up to 0.1 g / L.

[0256] The agrochemical active ingredient is present in the form of suspended particles in the agrochemical suspension. The particles may be characterized by their size distribution, which can be determined by dynamic light scattering techniques. Suitable dynamic light scattering measurement units are inter alia produced under the trade name Malvern Mastersizer 3000.

[0257] The particles of the agrochemical active ingredient may be characterized by their median diameter, which is usually abbreviated as D50 value. The D50 value refers to a particular particle diameter, wherein half of 240515EP01 26 the particle population by volume is smaller than this diameter. The D50 value is typically determined according to ISO 13320:2009. The particles may have an D50 value in the range of 0.05 m to 25 pm, preferably in the range of 0.1 pm to 20 pm, more preferably in the range of 0.5 to less than 20 pm, most preferably in the range of 0.5 pm to 15 pm, especially preferably in the range of 0.5 pm to 10 pm. The particles typically have a D50 value of at least 0.75 pm, preferably at least 1 pm, and as upper limit preferably at most 3 pm or at most 2 pm.

[0258] The particles of the agrochemical active ingredient may further be characterized by their D90 value. The D90 value refers to a particular particle diameter, wherein 90% of the particle population by volume is smaller than this diameter. The D90 value is typically determined according to ISO 13320:2009. The particles may have a D90 value of less than 30 to 3 pm, in particular less than 20 pm or less than 15 pm, especially less than 10 pm or less than 8 pm or less than 6 pm or less than 5 pm.

[0259] The particles of the agrochemical active ingredient may also be characterized by their D10 value. The D10 value refers to a particular particle diameter, wherein 10% of the particle population by volume is smaller than this diameter. The D10 value is typically determined according to ISO 13320:2009. The particles may generally have a D10 value of less than 2 pm, e.g. in the range of 0.05 to < 2 pm, in particular in the range of 0.1 to 1.5 pm or in the range of 0.1 to 1 pm.

[0260] Preferably, the particles have D50 value in the range of 0.5 to 10 pm, especially in the range of 0.5 to 3 pm or in the range of 0.75 to 2 pm and a D90 value in the range of 3 to less than 10 pm.

[0261] The suspended particles may be present in the form of crystalline or amorphous particles which are solid at 20 °C.

[0262] Typically, at least 50 wt.-% of the agrochemical active ingredient may be present as solid particles based on the total weight of the agrochemical active ingredient in the agrochemical suspension, preferably at least 70 wt.-%, more preferably at least 90 wt.-%.

[0263] The agrochemical suspension may contain a further active ingredient, which may be selected from fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, herbicides, safeners, micronutrients, biopesticides, nitrification inhibitors, urease inhibitors, and / or growth regulators. The further active ingredient may be present in dissolved form or as suspended particles in the agrochemical suspension. The concentration of the further active ingredient is typically from 1 to 50 wt.-%, preferably from 10 to 25 wt.-% based on the total weight of the agrochemical suspension.

[0264] The agrochemical suspension may be prepared at any pH value. Preferably, agrochemical suspensions according to the invention have a pH below 9, more preferably from 4 to below 9

[0265] The agrochemical suspension typically contains a thickener. The term "thickener(s)” usually refers to inorganic clays (organically modified or unmodified), such as bentonites, attapulgite, hectorite and smectite clays, and silicates (e.g., colloidal hydrous magnesium silicate, colloidal hydrous aluminium silicate, colloidal hydrous aluminium magnesium silicate, hydrous amorphous silicon dioxide); and organic clays, such as polycarboxylates (e.g., poly(meth)acrylates and modified poly(meth)acrylates), polysaccharides (e.g., xanthan gum, agarose, rhamsan gum, pullulan, tragacanth gum, locust bean gum, guar gum, tara gum, Whelan cum, casein, dextrin, diutan gum, cellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, methylhydroxypropylcellulose), polyvinyl ethers, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polypropylene oxide - polyethylene 240515EP01 27 ocide condensates, polyvinyl acetates, maleic anhydrides, polypropylene glycols, polyacrylonitrile block copolymers, proteins, and carbohydrates.

[0266] The invention also relates to the use of the cellulose acetate as a dispersant for agrochemical active ingredients in agrochemical compositions, such as in suspensions. It is understood that all embodiments regarding the agrochemical composition herein relate to both the agrochemical composition of the invention and the use of the cellulose acetate in an agrochemical composition according to the invention, fore example as a dispersant for agrochemical active ingredients.

[0267] The invention also relates to a method for controlling phytopathogenic fungi and / or undesired plant growth and / or undesired attack by insects or mites and / or for regulating the growth of plants, where the agrochemical composition is allowed to act on the phytopathogenic fungi, undesired plant growth or undesired insects or mites; and / or on the habitat of the phytopathogenic fungi, undesired plant growth or undesired insects or mites; and / or on the plants to be protected, and / or on the soil of the plants to be protected; and / or on the useful plants and / or their habitat.

[0268] In one embodiment, the method is for controlling phytopathogenic fungi. In another embodiment, the method is for controlling undesired plant growth. In another embodiment, the method is for controlling undesired attach by insects or mites. These methods typically comprise the treatment of the plant to be protected, its locus of growth, the phytopathogenic fungi and / or undesired plant growth and / or undesired attack by insects or mites with the agrochemical composition.

[0269] Suitable methods of treatment include inter alia soil treatment and foliar application. Soil treatment methods include drenching the soil, drip irrigation (drip application onto the soil), dipping roots, tubers or bulbs, or soil injection.

[0270] When employed in plant protection, the amounts of agrochemical active applied are, depending on the kind of effect desired, from 0.001 to 2 kg per ha, preferably from 0.005 to 2 kg per ha, more preferably from 0.05 to 0.9 kg per ha, and in particular from 0.1 to 0.75 kg per ha.

[0271] When used in the protection of materials or stored products, the amount of active substance applied depends on the kind of application area and on the desired effect. Amounts customarily applied in the protection of materials are 0.001 g to 2 kg, preferably 0.005 g to 1 kg, of active substance per cubic meter of treated material.

[0272] Various types of oils, wetters, adjuvants, fertilizer, or micronutrients, and further pesticides (e.g., herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators, safeners) may be added to the agrochemical composition as premix or, if appropriate not until immediately prior to use (tank mix). These agents can be admixed with the compositions according to the invention in a weight ratio of 1 :100 to 100:1 , preferably 1 :10 to 10:1.

[0273] The user applies the agrochemical composition according to the invention usually from a predosage device, a knapsack sprayer, a spray tank, a spray plane or a spray drone, or an irrigation system. Usually, the agrochemical composition is made up with water, buffer, and / or further auxiliaries to the desired application concentration and the ready-to-use spray liquor or the agrochemical composition according to the invention is thus obtained. Usually, 20 to 2,000 liters, preferably 50 to 400 liters, of the ready-to-use spray liquor are applied per hectare of agricultural useful area. 240515EP01 28

[0274] The invention also relates to a method for combating or controlling invertebrate pests, which method comprises contacting the invertebrate pest or its food supply, habitat or breeding grounds with a pesticidal ly effective amount of the agrochemical composition. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for protecting growing plants from attack or infestation by invertebrate pests, which method comprises contacting a plant, or soil or water in which the plant is growing, with a pesticidally effective amount of the agrochemical composition. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for treating or protecting an animal from infestation or infection by invertebrate pests, which method comprises bringing the animal in contact with a pesticidally effective amount of the agrochemical composition.

[0275] Invertebrate pests according to the present invention are typically arachnids, mollusca, or insects, in particular insects.

[0276] According to one embodiment, individual components of the composition according to the invention such as parts of a kit or parts of a binary or ternary mixture may be mixed by the user itself in a spray tank and further auxiliaries may be added, if appropriate.

[0277] In a further embodiment, either individual components of the composition according to the invention or partially premixed components may be mixed by the user in a spray tank and further auxiliaries and additives may be added, if appropriate.

[0278] In a further embodiment, either individual components of the composition according to the invention or partially premixed components can be applied jointly (e.g., after tank mix) or consecutively.

[0279] Specific Embodiments

[0280] In a preferred embodiment, at least one cellulose acetate according to any embodiment disclosed herein throughout the description and the examples, either as described in its structure or as obtainable or obtained by the process according to any embodiment disclosed herein throughout the description and the examples is used in a composition, that is an agrochemical formulation.

[0281] In a preferred embodiment, a composition being an agrochemical formulation is encompassed, comprising at least one agrochemical active ingredient and at least one cellulose acetate according to any embodiment disclosed herein throughout the description and the examples, either as described in its structure or as obtainable or obtained by the process according to any embodiment disclosed herein throughout the description and the examples, wherein the agrochemical active ingredient is selected from pesticides, in particular herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical active ingredient is selected from azoxystrobin, fluxapyroxad, fludioxonil, prothioconazole, chlorothalonil, diflufenican, metyltetraprole, mefentrifluconazole, tebuconazole, atrazine, indaziflam, saflufenacil, pyroxasulfone, glufosinate, cinmethylin, terbuthylazine, oxyfluorfen, pyraclostrobin, difenoconazole, trifloxystrobin, flufenacetat, pinoxaden, metaflumizon and metribuzin, preferably from azoxystrobin, fluxapyroxad, fludioxonil, prothioconazole, chlorothalonil, diflufenican, terbuthylazine and atrazine, most preferably from azoxystrobin, diflufenican and terbuthylazine.

[0282] In a preferred embodiment of the compositions in any of the two paragraphs before, the composition is a suspension such as a suspension concentrate, an emulsifiable concentrate, a suspo-emulsion or a dispersible concentrate, a wettable powder, a wettable dust, or a granule, preferably a suspension, most preferably a suspension concentrate or an emulsifiable concentrate. 240515EP01 29

[0283] In a preferred embodiment of the compositions in any of the three paragraphs before, the amount of the sum of all active agrochemical ingredients (if more than one is present) is from 0.5 to 80, preferably 5 to 50, more preferably 10 to 40 weight percent (based on the formulation). The amount of the cellulose acetate of the invention in the agrochemical composition is typically from 1 to 30, preferably 1.5 to 15, more preferably up to 10, and any number in between 5 and 30 as the upper limit.

[0284] Combinations of Specific Embodiments

[0285] The specific embodiments as described throughout this disclosure are encompassed by the present invention as part of this invention; the various further options being disclosed in this present specification as "optional”, "preferred”, "more preferred”, "even more preferred” or "most preferred” (or "preferably” etc.) etc. options of a specific embodiment may be individually and independently (unless such independent selection is not possible by virtue of the nature of that feature or if such independent selection is explicitly excluded) selected and then combined within any of the other embodiments (where other such options and preferences can be also selected individually and independently unless such independent selection is not possible by virtue of the nature of that feature or if such independent selection is explicitly excluded), with each and any and all such possible combinations being included as part of this invention as individual embodiments.

[0286] In a preferred set of embodiments, all options of the same level of preference may be combined with each other.

[0287] The definitions and their preferences given within the "Definition” -section are included as part of this invention as described herein.

[0288] Definitions

[0289] It is understood that any reference to "the cellulose acetate” and "cellulose acetate of the invention” refers to a cellulose acetate as comprised in the agrochemical composition of the invention as well as to a cellulose acetate obtained according to the process described above.

[0290] Throughout this application, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise”, and variations such as "comprises” and "comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integer or step. When used herein the term "comprising” can be substituted with the term "containing” or "including” or sometimes when used herein with the term "having”.

[0291] When used herein, "consisting of" excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claim element. When used herein, "consisting essentially of" does not exclude materials or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claim.

[0292] In each instance herein any of the terms "comprising", "consisting essentially of" and "consisting of" may be replaced with either of the other two terms. "Comprising” may be replaced in a preferred embodiment with "consisting essentially of" and both may be replaced by "consisting of" in an even more preferred embodiment.

[0293] The compositions of the present disclosure can "comprise” (i.e. contain other ingredients), "consist essentially of” (comprise mainly or almost only the mentioned ingredients and other ingredients in only very 240515EP01 30 minor amounts, mainly only as impurities), or "consist of' (i.e. contain only the mentioned ingredients and in addition may contain only impurities not avoidable in an technical environment, preferably only the ingredients) the components of the present disclosure.

[0294] Similarly, the terms "substantially free of ...” or" substantially free from ...” or “(containing / comprising) essentially no ...” may be used herein; this means that the indicated material is at the very minimum not deliberately added to the composition to form part of it, or, preferably, is not present at analytically detectable levels. It is meant to include compositions whereby the indicated material is present only as an impurity in one of the other materials deliberately included. The indicated material may be present, if at all, at a level of less than 1 %, or even less than 0.1%, or even more less than 0.01%, or even 0%, by weight of the composition.

[0295] Generally, as used herein, the term "obtainable by” means that corresponding products do not necessarily have to be produced (i.e. obtained) by the corresponding method or process de-scribed in the respective specific context, but also products are comprised which exhibit all features of a product produced (obtained) by said corresponding method or process, wherein said products were actually not produced (obtained) by such method or process. However, the term "obtainable by” also comprises the more limiting term "obtained by”, i.e. products which were actually produced (obtained) by a method or process described in the respective specific context.

[0296] When used herein any definition requiring a compound or a substituent of a compound to consist of "at least a number of carbon atoms”, number of carbon atoms refers to the total number of carbon atoms in said compound or substituent of a compound. For example for a substituent disclosed as "alkyl ether with at least 8 carbon atoms comprising alkylene oxide groups”, the total number of at least 8 carbon atoms needs to be the sum of the number of carbon atoms of the alkyl moiety and the number of carbon atoms of the alkylene oxide moieties.

[0297] All such terms not specifically defined have their ordinary meaning as known in the field of organic chemistry.

[0298] The term "containing one hydroxy group” means that only one group -OH is present. Any functionalized group derived from a hydroxy group such as an ether group is not considered to be an -OH group. This applies in analogy to any other functional group being discussed herein.

[0299] The term "containing at least two hydroxy groups” means that two or more -OH groups are present. The term "hydroxy group” is equal to the term "hydroxyl group” or "-OH group”. Alcohols / compounds having only one hydroxy group, such as methanol or ethanol, do, by consequence, not fall under the definition of an alcohol containing at least two hydroxy groups according to compound (A) of the present invention. Any functionalized group derived from a hydroxy group such as an ether group is not considered to be an -OH group. This applies in analogy to any other functional group being discussed herein.

[0300] As used herein, the articles "a” and "an” when used in a claim or an embodiment, are understood to mean one or more of what is claimed or described. As used herein, the terms "include(s)” and "including” are meant to be non-limiting, and thus encompass more than the specific item mentioned after those words.

[0301] The term "about” as used herein encompasses the exact number "X” mentioned as e.g. "about X%” etc., and small variations of X, including from minus 5 to plus 5 % deviation from X (with X for this calculation set to 100%), preferably from minus 2 to plus 2 %, more preferably from minus 1 to plus 1 %, even more 240515EP01 31 preferably from minus 0.5 to plus 0.5 % and smaller variations. Of course if the value X given itself is already "100%” (such as for purity etc.) then the term "about” clearly can and thus does only mean deviations thereof which are smaller than "100”.

[0302] The term "free of water" means that the composition contains no more than 5 wt.-% of water based on the total amount of solvent, in another embodiment no more than 1 wt.-% of water based on the total amount of solvent, in a further embodiment the solvent contains no water at all.

[0303] All temperatures herein are in degrees Celsius (°C) unless otherwise indicated. Unless otherwise specified, all measurements herein are conducted at 20 °C and under the atmospheric pressure.

[0304] In all embodiments of the present disclosure, all percentages are by weight of the total composition, unless specifically stated otherwise. All ratios are weight ratios, unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0305] Unless otherwise noted, all component or composition levels are in reference to the active portion of that component or composition, and are exclusive of impurities, for example, residual solvents or by-products, which may be present in commercially available sources of such components or compositions.

[0306] The specific embodiments as described throughout this disclosure are encompassed by the present invention as part of this invention; the various further options being disclosed in this present specification as "optional”, "preferred”, "more preferred”, "even more preferred” or "most preferred” (or "preferably” etc.) options of a specific embodiment may be individually and independently (unless such independent selection is not possible by virtue of the nature of that feature or if such independent selection is explicitly excluded) selected and then combined within any of the other embodiments (where other such options and preferences can be also selected individually and independently unless such independent selection is not possible by virtue of the nature of that feature or if such independent selection is explicitly excluded), with each and any and all such possible combinations being included as part of this invention as individual embodiments.

[0307] The invention is further illustrated by the following examples.

[0308] Examples

[0309] Method - Degree of Substitution

[0310] The degree of substitution (DS, also referred to as the "degree of acetyl substitution”) relates to the total degree of substitution at the 2-postion, 3-position and 6-position of the glucose rings comprised in the cellulose acetate. The degree of substitution can be determined via the following equation:

[0311] DS = 162.14 x AV x 0.01 1 60.052 - 42.037 x AV x 0.01 wherein DS is the total degree of acetyl substitution, and AV is the acetyl value (%). The acetyl value may be determined via a titrimetric method, for example in accordance with ASTM D817-96. 240515EP01 32

[0312] Method - Amorphous Index

[0313] The amorphous index (Am) is defined in the following formula:

[0314] 0.5 x [1(20 = 5°) + 1(20 = 14.5°)} Am =1(20 = 17°)

[0315] In the formula, 1(20=5°) and 1(20=14.5°) and 1(20=17°) mean X-ray scattering intensities where Bragg angles (20) are 5°, 14.5° and 17° respectively. The X-ray scattering intensities are obtained via X-ray powder diffraction (XRD).

[0316] To determine, the amorphous index, powder samples were placed into a standard sample holder and flattened using a glass slide. Data was collected using a Bruker D8 Advance Series II Diffractometer with multiple sample changer; using Cu-Ka radiation. The voltage and current were set to 40kV and 40mA respectively. Primary side: Cu anode, divergence aperture: 0.1 ° with ASS; secondary side: scattered beam aperture: 8 mm with Ni 0.5 mm, Seller 4° + Lynx-Eye (3° aperture).

[0317] Data was collected from 2° to 80° (2q), with a step size of 0.02° (2q). The integrated data collection time per step over all the channels of the utilized LynxEye detector 691 .2 seconds. The most prominent features are tabulated and were determined in the following manner. The background was estimated using the Bruker software DIFFRAC.EVA v5. The background function parameters were set to the minimum values of zero for both curvature and threshold. The position and intensity at maximum elevation was chosen to report. Due to the broad signals the error is estimated at 2°. The reported lattice spacing is given for convenience only. The reported intensity is the peak height over the computed background. The relative intensities are pertinent, the absolute values are reported as well.

[0318] An exemplary obtained X-ray diffraction is shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 1 , the ordinate represents the X-ray scattering intensity (Kcps) and the abscissa represents the Bragg angle (20). As is shown in Fig. 1 , a major peak was observed for different cellulose acetates at the Bragg angle (20) of 17°. The amorphous index (Am) was calculated according to the formula above.

[0319] Method - Biodegradation

[0320] Biodegradation was determined within 28 days in accordance with OECD 301 F (sludge degradation), and / or within two years in accordance with ISO 17556 (degradation in soil).

[0321] Method - Number Average Molecular Weight (Mn)

[0322] The number average molecular weight (Mn) of cellulose acetate was determined by gel permeation chromatography in DMSO with 0.5 wt.-% LiBr. The mobile phase (eluent) used was DMSO + 0.5 wt.-% LiBr. The concentration of cellulose acetate in DMSO with 0.5 wt.-% LiBr was 1.5 mg per mL. After filtration, (Millipore Millex FG, pore size 0.2 pm), 4 L of this solution were injected into the GPC system. PolarGelM (from Agilent) was used as columns. The GPC system was operated at a flow rate of 0.5 mL per min. A DRI Agilent G1362A was used as the detection system. Polystyrene standards (from Polymer Laboratories) having a molecular weight Mnfrom 580 to 2,467,000 g / mol were used for the calibration. 240515EP01 33

[0323] Method - Particle Size Analysis According to CIPAC MT 187

[0324] Approximately 1.0 mL of the sample (suspension) was slightly shaken into 9 mL of fully demineralized water. This diluted sample was added dropwise to a Malvern Master Sizer Dispersing Unit (Hydro MV) until a laser shadowing of 6% (+ / - 1.5%) was reached. Within the dispersing unit, the sample was diluted in 120 mL of fully demineralized water and pumped through the measuring cell of the Malvern Mastersizer 3000 (Malvern Pananalytical GmbH, Germany) that used a 632.8 nm laser (4 mW He-Ne) for analysis. The sample and the fully demineralized water used for the dilution were at room temperature. Particle size distribution, including D10, D50 and D90 values, was calculated using the Fraunhofer model as known in the art. See, e.g., ISO 13320-1 : 1999(E).

[0325] Method - Accelerated Storage Test According to CIPAC MT 46.3

[0326] About 10 mL of the sample (suspension) were placed in a 40 mL Penicillin glass bottle fitted with screw cap and polyethylene inserts and kept in a temperature-controlled cabinet at the specified temperatures (+ / - 2 °C) for the defined period of time. In the swing tests indicated as "-10 / +40 °C” below, the temperature was switched between -10 °C and 40 °C every 12 h. After the defined period of time, the bottle was removed from the oven and allowed to reach room temperature before further analysis.

[0327] Method - Blooming

[0328] 95 mL of CIPAC water D were filled into a 100 mL measuring cylinder. Then 4 drops of the suspension concentrate were added and the distribution was evaluated: 1 : homogeneous, 3: cylinder completely filled, but not completely homogeneous (<20%), 5: SC does not distribute, remains either at the top or at the bottom, 2 and 4 are accordingly in between, respectively.

[0329] Method - Suspensibility According to CIPAC MT 161

[0330] The filled measuring cylinder from Method III was taken and more suspension concentrate was added until the cylinder comprised 5 g thereof. Subsequently, the cylinder content was homogenized by ten times 180° inversion, and allowed to stand for 30 min. Next, the top nine-tenths of the content were removed, and the remaining tenth was then dried (ca. 50 °C 1500 mbar), assayed gravimetrically, and the suspensibility was calculated according to the following method:

[0331] Calculation 1 :

[0332] 1 - (wt. solids I wt. water in sample composition) = % wt. by solids

[0333] Calculation 2:

[0334] [(Starting sample weight) x (value of calculation 1 , as decimal)] = grams of dispersible solids

[0335] Calculation 3: 100 = Suspensibility (%) 240515EP01 34

[0336] Reference Example: Vapor Pressure and Hansen Parameters of Solvent Mixtures

[0337] The vapor pressure and Hansen parameters of different solvent mixtures were determined.

[0338] The vapor pressure of the mixtures was calculated using the extended Raoult's law. The NRTL model was used as the gE model for interpolation. The parameterization of the NRTL model was based on experimental data (exp. vapour-liquid phase equilibrium) as far as these were available and otherwise via the group contribution method UNI FAC (version 2023).

[0339] The Hansen parameters for dispersion (5d), hydrogen bonding (5h) and polarity (5P) were calculated using a Quantitative Structure Property Relationship (QSPR) from COSMOquick from 2008. The Hansen parameters of the mixture were obtained by weighting with the volume fractions (Hansen Solubility Parameters: A User's Handbook, Second Edition published in 2007 by CRC Press). 240515EP01 35

[0340] 1weight ratio of the aliphatic alcohol to the further organic solvent

[0341] 2Hansen solubility parameter

[0342] Production Examples

[0343] Cellulose acetates were obtained from raw cellulose acetate as described in the following. The properties of the obtained cellulose acetates, including the armophous index (Am), the degree of substitution (DS), the number average molecular weight (Mn), and the weight average molecular weight (Mw) are shown in Table 1 below.

[0344] Reference Production Example 1 -A

[0345] Acetic acid (720 g) and demineralized water (260 g) were mixed and heated to 40 °C. Raw cellulose acetate (240 g; degree of substitution: 2.45; Mn: 30,000 g / mol; Aldrich) was dissolved therein while stirring.

[0346] Over the course of 15 min, methane sulfonic acid (100%, 24 g) was added under stirring. The reaction mixture was subsequently stirred for approximately 55 h. Water was added stepwise: 250 mL after 8 h, 100 mL after 24 h, 200 mL after 30 h.

[0347] The obtained cellulose acetate was precipitated in 2,000 mL of 2-propanol. The thus obtained white precipitate was collected by filtration and washed with a mixture of 50 mL of 2-propanol and 5 mL 5% aqueous solution of NaHCOa.

[0348] Production Example 1-B

[0349] Acetic acid (400 g) and demineralized water (300) were mixed and heated to 100 °C. Raw cellulose acetate (250 g; degree of substitution: 2.45; Mn: 30,000 g / mol; Aldrich) was dissolved therein while stirring. Over the course of 15 min, zinc acetate (2.5 g) was added under stirring. The reaction mixture was subsequently stirred for approximately 30 h. Water was added stepwise to avoid precipitation: 250 mL after 8 h, 100 mL after 24 h, 200 mL after 30 h.

[0350] The obtained cellulose acetate was precipitated in 2,000 mL of 2-propanol. The thus obtained white precipitate was collected by filtration and with washed a mixture of 50 mL of 2-propanol and 5 mL 5% aqueous solution of NaHCOa.

[0351] Production Example 1 -C

[0352] Acetic acid (600 g) and demineralized water (216 g) were mixed and heated to 40 °C. Raw cellulose acetate (200 g; degree of substitution: 2.45; Mn: 30,000 g / mol; Aldrich) was dissolved therein while stirring. 240515EP01 36

[0353] Over the course of 15 min, hydrochloric acid (37 wt.-%, 21.6 g) was added under stirring. The reaction mixture was subsequently stirred for approximately 50 h. Water was added stepwise to avoid precipitation: 40 mL after 8 h, 20 mL after 24 h, 20 mL after 30 h.

[0354] The obtained cellulose acetate was precipitated in 2,000 mL of 2-propanol. The thus obtained white precipitate was collected by filtration and washed with a mixture of 50 mL of 2-propanol and 5 mL 5% aqueous solution of NaHCOa.

[0355] Production Example 2 -A

[0356] In a 3 L steel reactor, raw cellulose acetate (200 g; degree of substitution: 2.45; Mn: 30,000 g / mol; Aldrich) was dissolved in a mixture of 350 mL of acetic acid 350 mL of methanol. Methane sulfonic acid (100%, 2 g) was added.

[0357] The reaction mixture was subsequently stirred at 100 °C for 4 h.

[0358] Then, the reaction mixture was allowed to cool to 25 °C, and the product precipitated from the reaction mixture. The obtained cellulose acetate was filtered and washed with a solution of sodium acetate in isopropanol (1 % sodium acetate: 2 x 200 mL). Subsequently, the product was dried in a vacuum oven (40 °C, 10 mbar) for 24 h.

[0359] Production Example 2-B

[0360] In a 3 L steel reactor, raw cellulose acetate (200 g; degree of substitution: 2.45; Mn: 30,000 g / mol; Aldrich) was dissolved in a mixture of 350 mL of acetic acid 350 mL of methanol. Methane sulfonic acid (100%, 2 g) was added. The reaction mixture was subsequently stirred at 90 °C for 8 h.

[0361] Then, the reaction mixture was allowed to cool to 25 °C, and the product precipitated from the reaction mixture. The obtained cellulose acetate was filtered and washed with a solution of sodium acetate in isopropanol (1 % sodium acetate: 2 x 200 mL). Subsequently, the product was dried in a vacuum oven (40 °C, 10 mbar) for 24 h.

[0362] Examples 3-A, 3-B and 3-C

[0363] In a 2 L reactor with a stirrer, propylene carbonate (BASF) and ethanol were mixed and raw cellulose acetate (degree of substitution: 2.45; Mn: 30,000 g / mol; Aldrich) were added in the proportions indicated in Table 1 below.

[0364] The stirrer was started at low speed at room temperature. The mixture was heated to a temperature of 80 °C over the course of about 30 min, and the stirring speed was increased to 200 rpm over the same time. Methane sulfonic acid (100%) was added over the course of 10 min.

[0365] The reaction mixture was stirred for the time indicated in Table 1 below and maintained at about 80 °C. After cooling to 25 °C, the reaction mixture was filtered to obtain a white powder. The white powder was washed 3 times with 50 mL of methanol and finally with a 50 mL of NaHCOa saturated aqueous solution in 95% methanol. 240515EP01 37

[0366] Table 1

[0367] * reference production example ** n d = not determined

[0368] Application Examples

[0369] Agrochemical Formulations Agrochemical formulations were prepared and tested. All references to "fully demineralized water” refer to water which was fully demineralized and additionally purified by ion exchange, having a pH value of about 5.5 at about 23 °C (room temperature).

[0370] Suspension concentrates were prepared by grinding 40 wt.-% of solids (w.s.) active ingredient, 5% w.s. dispersant, 0.3% w.s. Agnique DFM 111 S (silicon emulsion defoamer) and optionally propylene glycol (amounts indicated below in wt.-%) with fully demineralized water in a disperser "DAS 200”, Lau GmbH with glass balls (diameter: 2 or 3 mm) such that the dispersed pesticide particles reached a particle size distribution characterized by a D90 of < 10 pm and a D50 < 3 pm and a D10 < 1 pm. Particle size analysis (CIPAC MT 187), storage stability (CIPAC MT 46.3), blooming and suspensibility (CIPAC MT 161) were determined according to the methods described above. The specific components and experimental results are shown in the tables below. 240515EP01 38

[0371] Particle Size: 40% w.s. azoxystrobin, 5% w.s. cellulose acetate, 8% w.s. propylene glycol

[0372] Particle Size: 40% w.s. azoxystrobin, 5% w.s. cellulose acetate

[0373] Particle Size: 40% w.s. diflufen I can, 5% w.s. cellulose acetate 240515EP01 39

[0374] Particle Size: 40% w.s. diflufen lean, 5% w.s. cellulose acetate, 7% propylene glycol

[0375] Particle Size: 40% w.s. terbutylazine, 5% w.s. cellulose acetate 240515EP01 40

[0376] Suspensibility and Blooming: 40% w.s. azoxystrobin, 5% w.s. cellulose acetate, 8% w.s. propylene glycol

[0377] Suspensibility and Blooming: 40% w.s. azoxystrobin, 5% w.s. cellulose acetate

[0378] Suspensibility and Blooming: 40% w.s. diflufenican, 5% w.s. cellulose acetate 240515EP01 41

[0379] Suspensibility and Blooming: 40% w.s. diflufenican, 5% w.s. cellulose acetate, 7% w.s. propylene glycol

[0380] Suspensibility and Blooming: 40% w.s. terbutylazine, 5% w.s. cellulose acetate

[0381] The experimental data shows that the cellulose acetate of the invention is a useful dispersant.

Claims

240515EP01 42Claims1 . An agrochemical composition comprising a cellulose acetate having a degree of substitution in the range of 0.3 to 1 .5, preferably 0.5 to 1 .0.

2. The agrochemical composition according to claim 1, wherein the cellulose acetate has a molecular weight in the range of 1 ,000 to 50,000 g / mol.

3. The agrochemical composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the biodegradation of the cellulose acetate is at least 30 wt.-% by solids, preferably at least 60 wt.-% by solids, within 28 days according to OECD 301 F.

4. The agrochemical composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cellulose acetate has an amorphous index (Am) as determined via X-ray powder diffraction of 0.10 to 1 .10 as defined in the following formula:0.5 x [1(20 = 5°) + 1(20 = 14.5°)}in which 1(20=5°), 1(20=14.5°) and 1(20=17°) are X-ray scattering intensities where Bragg angles (20) are 5°, 14.5° and 17° respectively.

5. The agrochemical composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cellulose acetate is obtained by a process comprising- subjecting a solution of a raw cellulose acetate having a degree of substitution of at least 2.0 to alcoholysis at a pressure in the range of 1 to 10 bar and a temperature in the range of 80 to 170 °C to obtain precipitated cellulose acetate; and- separating the precipitated cellulose acetate from the solution; wherein the solution comprises a solvent mixture of an aliphatic alcohol and a further organic solvent, the solvent mixture having a vapor pressure at 80 °C below 1 .2 bar, preferably below 1 .0 bar, and a Hansen solubility parameter 5d of at least 15.5 MPa1 / 2.

6. The agrochemical composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the agrochemical composition comprises at least one agrochemical active ingredient.

7. The agrochemical composition according to claim 6, wherein the agrochemical active ingredient is selected from pesticides, in particular herbicides, fungicides and insecticides.

8. The agrochemical composition according to claim 7, wherein the agrochemical active ingredient is selected from azoxystrobin, fluxapyroxad, fludioxonil, prothioconazole, chlorothalonil, diflufenican, metyltetraprole, mefentrifluconazole, tebuconazole, atrazine, indaziflam, saflufenacil, pyroxasulfone, glufosinate, cinmethylin, terbuthylazine, oxyfluorfen, pyraclostrobin, difenoconazole, trifloxystrobin,240515EP01 43 flufenacetat, pinoxaden, metaflumizon and metribuzin, preferably from azoxystrobin, fluxapyroxad, fludioxonil, prothioconazole, chlorothalonil, diflufenican, terbuthylazine and atrazine, most preferably from azoxystrobin, diflufenican and terbuthylazine.

9. The agrochemical composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the agrochemical composition comprises the cellulose acetate in a concentration of 0.5 to 20% by weight of solids, based on the total weight of the agrochemical composition.

10. The agrochemical composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the agrochemical composition is a suspension such as a suspension concentrate, an emulsifiable concentrate, a suspo-emulsion or a dispersible concentrate, a wettable powder, a wettable dust, or a granule, most preferably a suspension concentrate or an emulsifiable concentrate.11 . Use of a cellulose acetate according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or as obtained in the process as described in claim 5 in an agrochemical composition.

12. The use according to claim 11, wherein the cellulose acetate is used as a dispersant, in particular as a dispersant for pigments or agrochemical actives.

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