Agrochemical Adjuvant Composition for Temperature-Stable Pourability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agrochemical formulations face challenges with compatibility and stability issues due to temperature and concentration-dependent behavior of surfactants, leading to separation into multiple layers and increased viscosity, especially when salts or pesticides are added.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous formulations comprising specific concentrations of non-ionic surfactants with cloud points between 35°C to 55°C, ethoxylated or propoxylated sorbitan esters, alkyl polyglucosides, and propylene glycol, along with water, ensuring stability across a wide temperature range and preventing separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If non-ionic surfactants are added to enhance biological efficacy, then the biological performance is improved, but the formulation becomes unstable and separates into multiple layers at certain temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces specific co-surfactants (ethoxylated or propoxylated sorbitan esters, alkyl polyglucosides) as intermediary substances that mediate between the non-ionic surfactant and water. These co-surfactants act as compatibility agents that prevent phase separation and maintain formulation stability across a wide temperature range while allowing the primary surfactant to perform its biological function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the cloud point parameter of the non-ionic surfactant by selecting surfactants with specific cloud points (35°C to 55°C) and adjusting the concentration of co-surfactants. This parameter control ensures the formulation remains stable throughout the intended temperature range while maintaining surfactant functionality for enhanced biological efficacy.
2Productivity
If surfactant concentration is increased to improve performance, then biological efficacy is enhanced, but viscosity increases and the formulation becomes non-pourable
Solution Approach 1:
The co-surfactants serve as intermediary agents that reduce the viscosity caused by high concentrations of primary non-ionic surfactant. These additional surfactant components interact with the primary surfactant to maintain fluidity and pourability even when the total surfactant concentration is high enough to provide the desired biological efficacy.
3Stability of the object's composition
If formulation stability is maintained across wide temperature range, then shelf life is extended, but compatibility problems arise when salts or other ingredients are added
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses co-surfactants with multiple functions: they stabilize the formulation across temperature ranges, maintain viscosity control, and provide compatibility with salts and other agrochemical ingredients. This multi-functionality allows a single formulation system to handle multiple requirements simultaneously, enabling both temperature stability and ingredient compatibility.
4Stability of the object's composition
If high concentration of surfactant is used to ensure stability, then formulation remains homogeneous, but the formulation becomes too viscous to pour
Solution Approach 1:
The co-surfactants act as intermediary substances that allow high concentrations of primary surfactant to be used while maintaining pourability. These additional surfactant components modify the micellar structure and reduce viscosity, enabling the formulation to remain homogeneous at high surfactant concentrations while retaining ease of application.
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 formulations maintain a homogeneous single-phase liquid state from -10°C to 50°C, allowing for stable and pourable agrochemical compositions with extended shelf life and compatibility with pesticides.
Implementation Method 1
a non-ionic surfactant with a cloud point of from 35°C to 55°C
Implementation Method 2
Many adjuvant materials are surfactants which display temperature and concentration dependent behaviour in water. This is often called liquid crystal behaviour.
Implementation Method 3
A problem which can occur with these formulations is that they become viscous sometimes at high temperatures and sometimes on cooling.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an aqueous formulation comprising an agrochemical at a concentration of up to 45% w/w; a non-ionic surfactant with a cloud point of from 35°C to 55°C at a concentration of up to 60% w/w; an ethoxylated or propoxylated sorbitan ester at a concentration from 1% to 40% w/w; an alkyl polyglucoside, propylene glycol, glycerol or a glycol ether or two or more of these compounds, at a concentration from 1% to 40% w/w; and water at a concentration of at least 1% w/w. The formulation provides low and high temperature stability.