Alkyl Furan Ester Solvents for Concentrated Agricultural Formulations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural solvents used for water-insoluble active ingredients like pesticides and fertilizers often have high environmental and health concerns, and there is a need for solvents with high solubility, low water solubility, and a sustainable profile.
Innovation Solution
Agricultural formulations using alkyl furan ester solvents with R1 being a methyl, ethyl, or linear/branched alkyl group of 3 to 12 carbon atoms, providing high solubility for active ingredients and potentially up to 80% concentration, with optional co-solvents like N,N-dialkyl fatty amides, aromatic hydrocarbons, etc., to form emulsifiable concentrates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional organic solvents are used to achieve high solubility for water-insoluble active ingredients, then solubility is improved, but environmental and health hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the solvent system by using alkyl furan esters with specific molecular structures (Formula 1) instead of conventional organic solvents. This parameter change maintains high solubility for water-insoluble active ingredients while fundamentally altering the toxicity and environmental persistence profile, thereby resolving the contradiction between solubility performance and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite solvent systems combining alkyl furan esters with co-solvents (such as N,N-dialkyl fatty amides, aromatic hydrocarbons, or other compatible solvents) to achieve optimal solubility. This composite approach allows the formulation to leverage the low-toxicity base solvent while using co-solvents strategically to enhance active ingredient dissolution, balancing performance and safety.
2Productivity
If solvent concentration is increased to achieve more concentrated formulations, then productivity is improved, but solubility requirements become more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves high formulation concentrations (up to 80 wt% active ingredient in some embodiments) by changing the solvent parameters to alkyl furan esters, which possess superior solubility characteristics compared to conventional solvents. The specific chemical structure parameters of the alkyl furan ester (chain length, branching, ester group position) are optimized to maximize solubility capacity, enabling highly concentrated formulations without compromising dissolution.
3Stability of the object's composition
If emulsifiable concentrates are formulated with high polarity and low water solubility solvents, then emulsion stability is improved, but solvent selection becomes more restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent formulates emulsifiable concentrates using composite solvent systems where alkyl furan esters serve as the primary solvent providing low water solubility and high polarity characteristics for stable emulsion formation. Co-solvents are added in controlled amounts to fine-tune the emulsification properties and adapt the formulation to different active ingredients, thereby maintaining emulsion stability while expanding solvent selection flexibility through strategic combinations.
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 alkyl furan ester solvents offer superior solubility for active ingredients like bifenthrin and dicamba acid, reduce solvent hazards, and provide a sustainable, low-toxicity alternative for emulsifiable concentrates.
Implementation Method 1
Organic solvents are widely utilized in the agriculture industry in order to achieve a suitable delivery system for water insoluble active ingredients such as pesticides and fertilizer stabilizers
Implementation Method 2
an emulsifiable concentrate is a concentrated solution of a pesticide in an organic solvent that may further contain suitable surfactants, including emulsifiers, so that when mixed with a relatively large volume of water, it will generate a stable oil-in-water emulsion
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention relate to formulations that can be used in the agriculture industry. In one aspect, an agricultural formulation comprises at least one agricultural active ingredient in an amount from 1 weight percent up to 80 weight percent based on the total weight of the formulation, and an alkyl furan ester solvent of Formula 1, wherein the formulation comprises from 5 weight percent up to 80 weight percent of the alkyl furan ester solvent.