Anionic Copolymer Enhances Herbicide Efficacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing herbicides face challenges in achieving satisfactory efficacy due to barriers such as trichomes on plant surfaces and environmental stress, which can reduce their biological activity, and higher application rates are often not feasible for regulatory, ecological, and economic reasons.
Innovation Solution
The use of a specific copolymer CP, composed of repeating units of polymerized ethylenically unsaturated monomers, is applied in combination with an aqueous spray liquor of the herbicide. This copolymer enhances the biological activity of the herbicide, allowing for increased control of target plants at lower application rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If higher application rates of herbicide are used, then herbicidal efficacy is improved, but regulatory, ecological and economic constraints are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a copolymer consisting of N-alkyl acrylamide and acrylic acid units as an intermediary substance that enhances herbicide efficacy. The copolymer acts as a mediator between the herbicide and the plant surface, improving penetration through barriers like trichomes and wax layers, thereby enabling effective weed control at reduced herbicide application rates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical-chemical parameters of the herbicide formulation by adding a copolymer with specific molecular weight (10,000-1,000,000 Da) and composition (N-alkyl acrylamide:acrylic acid ratio of 95:5 to 50:50). This parameter change enhances the herbicide's ability to overcome plant surface barriers and improve biological activity without increasing application rate
2Reliability
If plant surface barriers such as trichomes and wax layers are present, then spray droplet penetration is reduced, but herbicide application can still be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The copolymer serves as an intermediary that facilitates herbicide penetration through surface barriers. Its amphiphilic structure (hydrophobic N-alkyl acrylamide units and hydrophilic acrylic acid units) enables it to interact with both the plant surface barriers and the herbicide, improving penetration efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the formulation parameters by incorporating a copolymer with specific hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance (controlled by the ratio of N-alkyl acrylamide to acrylic acid units). This parameter modification enhances the formulation's ability to penetrate through waxy cuticles and trichome layers
Data Source
AI summary
A method for increasing the efficacy of a herbicide which comprises applying an aqueous spray liquor of the herbicide in combination with an anionic copolymer CP, where the copolymer CP is made of repeating units of polymerized ethylenically unsaturated monomers M comprising a) 50 to 99.5% by weight, based on the total weight of ethylenically unsaturated monomers M, of at least one monomer Ma selected from the group consisting of primary amides of a monoethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having 3 to 6 carbon atoms; b) 0 to 50% by weight, based on the total weight of ethylenically unsaturated monomers M, of one or more monomers Mb, where the monomer Mb is either—at least one monomer Mb. 1 selected from the group consisting of monoethylenically unsaturated sulfonic acids and the salts thereof; or—at least one monomer Mb.2 selected from the group consisting of monoethylenically unsaturated monomers bearing at least one quaternary ammonium group; and c) 0 to 15% by weight, based on the total weight of ethylenically unsaturated monomers M, of one or more monoethylenically unsaturated monomers Me having at least one poly-C2-C6-alkyleneoxide moiety which has a terminal OH group or a terminal C1-C6-alkxoy group in addition to the moiety bearing an ethylenically unsaturated double bond; where the total amount of monomers Ma and Mb is at least 85% by weight, based on the total weight of ethylenically unsaturated monomers M, and where the total amount monomers Mb and Mc is from 0.5 to 50% by weight, based on the total weight of ethylenically unsaturated monomers M.