Dicamba-K Solubility via Polyalkylene Oxide Block-Copolymer Additives

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current herbicide formulations, particularly those containing dicamba, face challenges with off-target movement and stability issues, leading to reduced efficacy and environmental concerns, as well as difficulties in mixing with other pesticides like glyphosate and glufosinate.

Innovation Solution

An aqueous agrochemical composition comprising potassium salt of dicamba (dicamba-K) combined with specific additives such as polyalkylene oxide block-copolymers, hyperbranched polycarbonates connected to polyethylene oxide, and solvents like alkyl lactates or pyrrolidones, which enhances solubility and stability, reducing off-target movement and improving handling safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If dicamba-K is formulated in aqueous solution, then solubility and handling safety are improved, but stability and off-target movement control deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling safetyVSAvoidstability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces specific additives (non-ionic surfactants, polymers, or organic solvents) as intermediaries between dicamba-K and the aqueous environment. These additives stabilize the aqueous formulation by preventing premature degradation and off-target movement, while maintaining the solubility and handling safety benefits of water-based formulations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite aqueous formulations by combining dicamba-K with stabilizing additives such as non-ionic surfactants, polymers, or organic solvents. This composite approach maintains the advantages of aqueous formulations (solubility, safety) while compensating for their disadvantages (stability, off-target movement) through the synergistic effects of the additive components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If dicamba-K concentration is increased for higher efficacy, then biological activity is improved, but solubility and mixing compatibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiological activityVSAvoidmixing compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs additives such as non-ionic surfactants and polymers as intermediaries that enable high concentrations of dicamba-K to remain soluble in aqueous formulations. These additives prevent precipitation and maintain mixing compatibility with other pesticides like glyphosate and glufosinate, even at elevated dicamba-K concentrations that provide superior biological activity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If conventional dicamba formulations are used, then off-target movement is reduced, but solubility and handling safety deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoff-target movement controlVSAvoidhandling safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of dicamba formulations by using the potassium salt form (dicamba-K) instead of conventional ester forms, and by formulating it in aqueous solutions with stabilizing additives. This parameter change improves handling safety and solubility while the additives concurrently control off-target movement through mechanisms such as reduced volatility and improved droplet retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 composition effectively increases the solubility and stability of dicamba-K, minimizing off-target movement and enhancing its biological activity, allowing for safer and more efficient application, including compatibility with other pesticides.

Implementation Method 1

An aqueous agrochemical composition comprises the potassium salt of dicamba (hereinafter referred to as dicamba-K), and an additive selected from a) a polyalkylene oxide block-copolymer of formula (I)... b) a hyperbranched polycarbonate, which is connected to a linear polymer comprising polyethylene oxide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

The composition effectively increases the solubility and stability of dicamba-K, minimizing off-target movement and enhancing its biological activity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStabilization:

Data Source

PatentUS20230157284A1High-load solution concentrates of dicamba

Publication Date: 2023.05.25 BASF CORPORATON

AI summary

The invention relates to an agrochemical composition comprising the potassium salt of dicamba and an adjuvant selected from a) a polyalkylene oxide block-copolymer, b) a hyperbranched polycarbonate, and c) a solvent selected from C1-C6-alkyl lactate, C3-C6-lactone and N—C1-C15-alkyl pyrrolidone. It also relates to a method of controlling undesired vegetation, and/or for regulating the growth of plants, wherein the agrochemical composition is allowed to act on the respective pests, their environment, or the crop plants to be protected from the respective pest, on the soil and/or on the crop plants and/or on their environment; to a method for producing the agrochemical composition; to an adjuvant composition for increasing the solubility of the potassium salt of dicamba in an aqueous composition comprising a mixture of additive a) or additive b) with additive c) fine droplet formation.