Amphoteric Surfactant Compatibility in Glyphosate Herbicide Formulations
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glyphosate herbicide formulations face issues with surfactant compatibility, particularly with high concentrations of potassium and ammonium salts, leading to phase separation and high dermal and eye irritability, which complicates handling and stability.
Innovation Solution
A surfactant composition comprising trialkyl ammonium propanoates, which are amphoteric surfactants that exhibit excellent compatibility with various glyphosate salts, including high concentrations, and are produced without forming inorganic salts byproducts, thereby enhancing formulation stability and reducing eye irritability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ethoxylated alkyl amines are used as surfactants in glyphosate formulations, then agronomic efficacy is improved, but phase separation occurs with certain glyphosate salts and dermal/eye irritability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the surfactant from ethoxylated alkyl amines to alkyl polyglucosides, which have different molecular structure and chemical properties. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by maintaining surfactant functionality for agronomic efficacy while eliminating the phase separation issue with potassium and ammonium glyphosate salts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a surfactant system where alkyl polyglucosides serve as the primary compatible surfactant, potentially combined with other surfactants in a flexible formulation approach. This allows the formulation to be adjusted for different glyphosate salt types without requiring complete reformulation, providing a practical solution to the compatibility problem.
2Productivity
If ethoxylated alkyl amines are used to enhance glyphosate absorption, then effectiveness increases, but eye irritability and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes ethoxylated alkyl amines with alkyl polyglucosides, which provide the necessary surfactant functionality for enhanced glyphosate absorption and effectiveness while having significantly lower dermal and eye irritability. This replacement maintains the agronomic benefits without the harmful side effects.
3Quantity of substance
If concentrated glyphosate formulations are prepared using potassium salt, then packaging and logistic costs are reduced, but surfactant compatibility decreases leading to phase separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surfactant chemical parameters to alkyl polyglucosides, which have demonstrated compatibility with concentrated potassium glyphosate formulations. This parameter change enables the formulation to achieve high concentration (reducing packaging and logistic costs) while maintaining surfactant compatibility and preventing phase separation.
4Ease of manufacture
If ammonium glyphosate is used to reduce formulation cost, then manufacturing cost decreases, but surfactant compatibility is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surfactant type to alkyl polyglucosides, which exhibit compatibility with ammonium glyphosate salts. This allows the formulation to take advantage of the lower cost of ammonia neutralizer while avoiding the surfactant compatibility problems that would otherwise prevent its use.
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 surfactant composition improves the stability and effectiveness of glyphosate herbicide formulations, maintaining compatibility with multiple glyphosate salts, ensuring low eye irritability, and providing a stable, easy-to-handle product with enhanced agronomic efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
surfactant composition comprising at least one amphoteric derivative of the class of amphopropanoates which is used to increase the agronomic efficacy of herbicide formulations containing a high concentration of glyphosate salts
Data Source
AI summary
A surfactant composition for use in glyphosate-containing herbicide formulations, includes from 5 to 50% by weight of one or more amphoteric surfactants, diluted in solvents derived from the process of synthesis thereof, wherein the surfactants have general formula (I)R1—(XR2)m—N+(R3)(R4)—CH2—CH(R5)—COO− (I)wherein R1 is hydrogen or C1-18 hydrocarbyl; each X is independently an ether, thioether, sulfoxide, ester, thioester or amide bond; each R2 is independently a C3-6 chain; m is a number from 0 to 8 such that the number of carbon atoms in R1—(XR2)m is from 8 to 24; R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen or C1-4 chains; R5 is hydrogen or methyl. The surfactant composition is used to increase the agronomic efficacy of herbicide formulations containing a high concentration of glyphosate salts. Herbicide formulations including the surfactant composition and uses thereof are also provided.