Aqueous Herbicidal Concentrates Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing formulations of herbicidal compositions containing water-soluble salts of carboxylic acid herbicides and water-insoluble herbicides face challenges in stability, physical properties, and loading capacity, particularly due to high ionic strength and chemical/physical instability issues.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous herbicidal compositions combining a water-soluble salt of a synthetic auxin herbicide with a water-insoluble herbicide, such as haloxyfop ester, in the presence of surfactants and a water-immiscible organic solvent, forming stable, transparent, and homogeneous mixtures that maintain stability under various temperature and storage conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water-insoluble herbicides are formulated in water using conventional methods (aqueous suspension concentrates or oil-in-water emulsions), then the herbicides can be applied in agricultural settings, but the formulations exhibit physical instability including phase separation, crystallization, settling, sedimentation, gelling, and agglomeration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs surfactants as intermediary substances to mediate between water-insoluble herbicides and the aqueous phase containing glyphosate salts. The surfactants form stable micellar structures that solubilize the hydrophobic herbicides while maintaining compatibility with the high ionic strength aqueous environment, thereby preventing phase separation and physical instability without requiring additional stabilizing agents
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes specific parameters including the concentration of surfactants (0.1-10% w/v), the ratio of water-insoluble to water-soluble herbicides, pH levels (adjusted to maintain glyphosate in appropriate ionization state), and ionic strength of the aqueous phase. These parameter adjustments enable stable formulations at high glyphosate concentrations (400-800 g ae/L) while maintaining physical stability
2Quantity of substance
If high concentrations of water-soluble herbicide salts (e.g., glyphosate salts) are used to reduce shipping and handling costs, then economic efficiency improves, but the high ionic strength of the aqueous phase makes it difficult to stabilize the formulation
Solution Approach 1:
Surfactants serve as critical intermediaries that enable high concentrations of water-soluble herbicide salts (400-800 g ae/L) to coexist with water-insoluble herbicides. The surfactants form protective micellar structures that prevent precipitation and phase separation even in the high ionic strength environment created by concentrated glyphosate salts, eliminating the need for additional stabilizing agents
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite formulation system combining water-soluble herbicide salts, water-insoluble herbicides, and surfactants in specific ratios. This composite approach allows the formulation to achieve both high herbicide loading (reducing shipping costs) and formulation stability, as the surfactant-based micellar structure integrates all components into a stable pre-mix concentrate
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pesticidal active ingredients are combined to control a wider spectrum of pests or utilize multiple modes of action, then pest control efficacy improves, but chemical and/or physical instability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surfactant system acts as a universal intermediary that facilitates the compatibility of multiple pesticidal active ingredients with different solubility characteristics. The surfactants form micellar structures that can simultaneously solubilize water-insoluble herbicides and maintain stability with water-soluble herbicide salts, enabling multi-ingredient formulations without chemical or physical instability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops a composite pre-mix concentrate formulation that integrates water-soluble and water-insoluble herbicides in specific ratios. This composite structure, stabilized by surfactants, allows multiple pesticidal active ingredients to coexist chemically and physically stable, providing expanded pest control spectrum while maintaining formulation reliability
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 compositions exhibit excellent storage stability, prevent phase separation, and form stable emulsions upon dilution, ensuring herbicidal efficacy and extended shelf life without the need for additional stabilizing agents.
Implementation Method 1
aqueous herbicidal compositions combining a water-soluble salt of a synthetic auxin herbicide with a water-insoluble herbicide, such as haloxyfop ester, in the presence of surfactants and a water-immiscible organic solvent, forming stable, transparent, and homogeneous mixtures
Implementation Method 2
in the presence of surfactants and a water-immiscible organic solvent, forming stable, transparent, and homogeneous mixtures that maintain stability under various temperature and storage conditions
Implementation Method 3
The compositions exhibit excellent storage stability, prevent phase separation, and form stable emulsions upon dilution
Data Source
AI summary
Aqueous based pesticide compositions having a high concentration of a water-soluble salt of a herbicide and a water-insoluble pesticide are provided herein. These compositions are, among other things, transparent, homogeneous, stable upon storage in various thermal environments, and upon dilution in water form a stable emulsion.