Aqueous Herbicide Concentrate Stability via Nonionic Surfactants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing herbicidal formulations containing 4-benzoyl-substituted pyrazole compounds and benzoic acid compounds face stability and homogeneity issues when combined with adjuvants, leading to incompatibility and reduced effectiveness during storage and application.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating nonionic surfactants such as polyether compounds derived from ethylene oxide and alkyl polyglycosides, which stabilize the formulation, prevent solid separation, and enhance the herbicidal effect while reducing damage to agricultural crops.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adjuvants are incorporated into herbicidal formulations containing 4-benzoyl-substituted pyrazole compounds and benzoic acid compounds, then the herbicidal effectiveness and selectivity are improved, but the formulation stability and homogeneity deteriorate due to incompatibility and solid separation during storage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveherbicidal effectivenessVSAvoidformulation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs solubilizing agents and compatibility promoters as intermediary substances that mediate between the hydrophobic adjuvants and the aqueous herbicidal active ingredients. These intermediaries prevent direct incompatibility reactions while maintaining the stabilizing effect of adjuvants, thus resolving the contradiction between effectiveness enhancement and formulation stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite formulation system that integrates multiple components including herbicidal active ingredients, adjuvants, solubilizing agents, and compatibility promoters into a unified stable mixture. This composite approach allows the synergistic effects of adjuvants to be preserved while preventing separation and incompatibility through proper formulation design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If adjuvants are added to enhance herbicidal activity, then the selectivity towards harmful plants is improved, but the formulation becomes incompatible with other components leading to reduced practical applicability

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveselectivityVSAvoidpractical applicability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies formulation parameters by introducing solubilizing agents and compatibility promoters that change the physical and chemical properties of the mixture. These parameter changes enable the adjuvants to maintain their selectivity-enhancing properties while becoming compatible with other formulation components, thus improving practical applicability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of stationary object

If herbicidal formulations are stored for long periods, then the opportunity for extended use is improved, but incompatibility reactions occur between active ingredients and excipients reducing effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage durationVSAvoideffectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating stability-enhancing excipients and compatibility promoters that preemptively protect against incompatibility reactions during storage. These protective agents cushion against potential degradation and separation, allowing the formulation to maintain its effectiveness throughout the intended storage period

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Reliability

If concentrations of adjuvants and benzoic acid compounds are increased to enhance herbicidal effect, then the absolute effectiveness is improved, but inhomogeneities and solid separation occur in the formulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabsolute effectivenessVSAvoidhomogeneity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses solubilizing agents as intermediaries that enable higher concentrations of adjuvants and benzoic acid compounds to be incorporated into the formulation without causing inhomogeneity or solid separation. These intermediaries facilitate the integration of high concentrations of active components while maintaining formulation stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 use of nonionic surfactants results in a stable, homogeneous aqueous active ingredient concentrate that maintains effectiveness and reduces crop damage, allowing for easy dilution and improved herbicidal performance beyond synergistic effects.

Implementation Method 1

The effect of adjuvants for herbicides is often based on their interfacial activity, which ensures contact with the application form of the active ingredient, i.e. d. R. an aqueous spray mixture containing active ingredients, which improves the plant surface and improves the penetration of the application form and thus the active ingredient into the soil by reducing the surface tension

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension reduction: Surface Tension

Implementation Method 2

aqueous active ingredient concentrates, which contain in dissolved form: a) at least one 4-benzoyl-substituted pyrazole compound... b) at least one benzoic acid compound... c) at least one nonionic surfactant S

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolubilization: Solvation

Implementation Method 3

The formulation should also be easy to dilute with water... The active ingredient concentrates are easy to handle and can be diluted with water without any separation of active ingredients occurring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHomogeneity enhancement:

Data Source

PatentEP2048947B1Aqueous active ingredient concentrate having an herbicidal effect
Publication Date: 2009.12.02 BASF SE

AI summary

The invention relates to an aqueous active ingredient concentrate, comprising in dissolved form: a) at least one 4-benzoyl-substituted pyrazol compound of the formula (I), wherein R1, R3 independently of each other stand for hydrogen, halogen, methyl, halogen methyl, methoxy, halogen methoxy, methylthio, methyl sulfinyl, or methyl sulfonyl; R2 stands for a 5-membered heterocyclic residue, which is unsubstituted, or which carries 1, 2, 3, or 4 substituents, which are selected from halogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C4-akoxy, C1-C4-halogenalkyl, C1-C4-halogen alkoxy, and C1-C4-alkylthio; R4 stands for hydrogen, halogen, or methyl; R5 stands for C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, or C3-C6-cycloalkyl methyl; and R6 stands for hydrogen or C1-C4-Alkyl; or one of its salts used in agriculture; b) at least one benzoic acid compound of the formula (II), wherein R7 stands for hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, or methoxy, and R8 stands for hydrogen, halogen, or amino; or one of its salts used in agriculture; and c) have at least one non-ionic surface-active substance S, selected from polyether compounds having repeat units derived from ethylene oxide, alkyl polyglycosides, and mixtures thereof.