High-Loading Acetamide Herbicide Microcapsules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Highly concentrated microencapsulated acetamide herbicide compositions face formulation instability issues, such as settling and compatibility challenges with additives, which affect their stability and controlled release properties.

Innovation Solution

Development of herbicidal concentrate compositions with a high loading of acetamide herbicides encapsulated in a polyurea shell wall, dispersed in an aqueous medium, achieving a weight ratio of acetamide herbicide to shell wall of at least 12:1, and minimal unencapsulated additives to ensure stability and compatibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the concentration of microencapsulated acetamide herbicide is increased to improve transport and storage economy, then the formulation stability deteriorates due to bottom settling, top clearing, or floating capsules

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcentration of microencapsulated acetamide herbicideVSAvoidformulation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the density parameter of the aqueous liquid medium by adding density-adjusting agents to match the density of microencapsulated herbicide particles. This prevents settling and floating by eliminating density-driven phase separation, enabling stable high-concentration formulations (≥40 wt% active ingredient) without the formulation instability issues that normally occur at such concentrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional herbicides and additives are included to enhance pest control efficiency, then the controlled release properties and stability of microencapsulated acetamide herbicide deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepest control efficiencyVSAvoidcontrolled release properties

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces compatibility agents as intermediary substances that mediate between the microencapsulated acetamide herbicide and other additives or co-herbicides. These compatibility agents prevent negative interactions that would otherwise compromise the polyurea shell integrity or release properties, allowing multiple ingredients to coexist stably while maintaining the controlled release mechanism of the microencapsulated component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The compositions provide stable, high-loading acetamide herbicide formulations that are economically viable, transportable, and maintain controlled release properties, enhancing weed control efficacy while minimizing crop injury.

Implementation Method 1

forming microcapsules by encapsulating a core material comprising an acetamide herbicide in a shell wall comprising a polyurea formed by a polymerization reaction between a polyisocyanate component and a polyamine component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolymerization reaction:

Implementation Method 2

dispersing the microcapsules in an aqueous medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Data Source

PatentUS11419331B2Microencapsulated acetamide herbicides

Publication Date: 2022.08.23 MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

The present invention relates to various herbicidal compositions comprising microcapsules containing an acetamide herbicide. The present invention also relates to processes for preparing these compositions and methods of using these compositions for controlling weeds.