Adjuvant Combination for Agrochemical Formulations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agrochemical formulations containing multiple active ingredients often experience reduced efficacy due to antagonism between components, leading to suboptimal performance when co-formulated, particularly between selective broadleaf herbicides and graminicides, which can result in decreased effectiveness and increased costs when using separate applications or additional adjuvants.

Innovation Solution

The use of a combination of a fatty ester of a polyol or oligomer with a co-adjuvant, such as alkoxylated fatty alcohol, in agrochemical formulations, including non-selective and selective herbicides, to enhance adjuvancy and overcome antagonism, thereby improving the formulation's effectiveness and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple agrochemical actives are co-formulated, then the ability to control different weed types is improved, but the efficacy is reduced due to antagonism between components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweed control spectrumVSAvoidherbicide efficacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a specific adjuvant composition containing alkyl polyglycoside and alkoxylated fatty alcohol as intermediary substances that mediate between antagonistic herbicide components. This adjuvant system facilitates compatibility between glyphosate and graminicides, allowing them to be co-formulated without losing efficacy while maintaining broad weed control spectrum

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the formulation parameters by incorporating specific concentrations of adjuvant components (alkyl polyglycoside at 0.1-10% and alkoxylated fatty alcohol at 0.1-10%) to change the physical and chemical properties of the mixture, thereby reducing antagonism and improving herbicide compatibility without sacrificing weed control versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If separate applications of herbicides are used to avoid antagonism, then the efficacy of each herbicide is maintained, but the cost and complexity of application increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveherbicide efficacyVSAvoidapplication complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple herbicide applications into a single co-formulated product by resolving the antagonism issue through the addition of specific adjuvants. This allows glyphosate and graminicides to be applied simultaneously in one spray operation, maintaining the efficacy of each component while simplifying the application process and reducing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If higher application rates are used to overcome antagonism, then the weed control effectiveness is improved, but the cost and environmental impact increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweed control effectivenessVSAvoidherbicide application rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The adjuvant system acts as a mediator that enables effective herbicide performance at standard application rates. By incorporating alkyl polyglycoside and alkoxylated fatty alcohol, the formulation maintains full efficacy of glyphosate and graminicides without requiring dose increases, thereby reducing the quantity of active ingredients needed while preserving weed control effectiveness

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 described adjuvant combination enhances the biological activity of agrochemical formulations, improving the penetration, retention, and overall effectiveness of herbicides, reducing the need for higher application rates and separate applications, while maintaining low aquatic toxicity and compatibility with organic production standards.

Implementation Method 1

An adjuvant is generally defined as a chemical or a mixture of chemicals (commonly surfactants) capable of improving the biological activity or effectiveness of an agrochemical active

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

these additives modify some property (e.g. spreading, retention, penetration, droplet size etc.) of the agrochemical formulation which improves the ability of the active to penetrate, target, or protect the target organism

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3032951B1Adjuvancy combination

Publication Date: 2023.05.31 CRODA INC

AI summary

Adjuvants for agrochemical active formulation and methods of providing adjuvancy in agrochemical formulations are disclosed. An agrochemical formulation may comprise a first adjuvant comprising a fatty ester of a C3 to C8 polyol, or an oligomer thereof having from 2 to 5 repeat units, a co-adjuvant comprising an alkoxylated fatty alcohol having a C4 to C30 fatty chain and from 1 to 30 oxyalkylene groups, and at least one agrochemical active. Use of a combination of a first adjuvant comprising a fatty ester of a C3 to C8 polyol, or an oligomer thereof having from 2 to 5 repeat units, and a co-adjuvant comprising an alkoxylated fatty alcohol having a C4 to C30 fatty chain and from 1 to 30 oxyalkylene groups and a method for treating vegetation to control pests is also disclosed.