Multifunctional Agricultural Adjuvant for Hard Water pH Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hard water in agriculture reduces the effectiveness of agrochemicals due to high pH and concentrations of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and iron ions, which bind with pesticide molecules, making them less effective, and existing pH adjustment methods are cumbersome and prone to errors.

Innovation Solution

A multifunctional nutritional adjuvant chemical composition that includes a pH modifying complex matrix, pH indicators, surfactants, penetrating agents, and auxiliary chemicals to treat water hardness, adjust pH, and enhance agrochemical efficiency, while providing visual pH indication and immune system support for plants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If hard water is used for agrochemical application, then water availability is improved, but agrochemical effectiveness is reduced due to cation binding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater availabilityVSAvoidagrochemical effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces water treatment agents (chelating agents like EDTA, DTPA, or acidifiers like phosphoric acid) as intermediaries between hard water and agrochemicals. These agents bind to calcium and magnesium cations, preventing them from interacting with and deactivating pesticide molecules, thus maintaining agrochemical effectiveness while allowing use of hard water

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies water parameters by adjusting pH levels and adding chelating substances to alter the chemical environment. By changing the pH to acidic range and adding chelating agents, the water's interaction with agrochemicals is modified to prevent cation binding, thereby resolving the contradiction between water availability and chemical effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If pH adjustment is performed using traditional methods, then pH control is achieved, but operational complexity increases due to need for pH meters and calibration

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovepH control accuracyVSAvoidoperational simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the pH measurement and adjustment functions into a simplified integrated system. Pre-packaged pH test strips with built-in color charts and pre-measured acid/alkali adjustment tablets remove the need for complex pH meter calibration and manual measurement procedures, making pH control accessible to ordinary farmers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service pH management through color-changing test strips that automatically indicate pH levels without calibration, and self-adjusting formulations where the agrochemical package includes built-in pH buffer systems that automatically maintain optimal pH range, eliminating the need for continuous manual monitoring and adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If high pH water is used, then water quality is maintained, but agrochemical stability is reduced due to dissociation and hydrolysis

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater quality stabilityVSAvoidagrochemical stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the pH parameter of water from alkaline to acidic range (pH 4-6) through addition of acidifiers. This parameter change prevents the dissociation and hydrolysis reactions that occur at high pH, thereby maintaining agrochemical stability and effectiveness throughout the treatment period

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies pH adjustment and water treatment agents before mixing agrochemicals with water. By preliminarily treating the water to achieve optimal pH and stability conditions, the agrochemical is protected from degradation from the outset, ensuring maximum stability and duration of action

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 composition increases agrochemical efficiency by 25-35% by treating water hardness, improving plant immune systems, and providing nutrients, while simplifying pH adjustment with visual indicators, reducing the need for cumbersome pH meters.

Implementation Method 1

pH modifying complex matrix

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectpH modification:

Implementation Method 2

treating water hardness

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater softening:

Implementation Method 3

pH indicators

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectpH indicator color change:

Implementation Method 4

Surfactants

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension reduction: Surfactant

Implementation Method 5

Penetrating agents

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPenetration enhancement:

Data Source

PatentUS10238104B2Multifunctional nutritional adjuvant chemical composition for use in agriculture
Publication Date: 2019.03.26 CHAUDHRY SUUNIL SUDHAKAR

AI summary

The invention discloses herein a multifunctional nutritional adjuvant chemical composition for use in agriculture with water comprises pH modifying complex matrix, pH indicators, surfactants, penetrating agents, auxiliary chemicals and solvent; having multiple uses in agriculture such as pH corrector, auto pH indicator, wetting agent adjuvant, plants immune system activator, plant defense mechanism enhancer, nutrient supplement and plant growth hormone provider. The invention further discloses the process for preparation of said multifunctional nutritional adjuvant chemical composition.