Doped Copper Biocides for HLB Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current copper-based pesticides, fungicides, and bactericides are toxic to aquatic organisms and contribute to water pollution, and existing formulations struggle with persistence, phytotoxicity, and resistance issues, failing to effectively control systemic bacterial infections like Huanglongbing (HLB) and Xylella fastidiosa without harming plants.
Innovation Solution
A biocidal composition comprising a biologically inert carrier and a doped component with fixed copper compounds, such as copper hydroxide, doped with iron, zinc, magnesium, or calcium compounds, which enhances the biocidal activity, reduces copper usage, and reverses resistance, allowing for systemic uptake and effective pathogen control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If copper-based pesticides are used to control bacterial infections, then pathogen control effectiveness is improved, but water pollution and toxicity to aquatic organisms worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining copper compounds with iron compounds, zinc compounds, magnesium compounds, or calcium compounds to create doped copper formulations. This composite approach enhances the biocidal activity and persistence of copper while reducing the total copper load required, thereby maintaining pathogen control effectiveness while minimizing water pollution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by doping copper compounds with other metal compounds to alter the physical and chemical properties of the pesticide. This changes the release rate, persistence, and biocidal activity of copper, allowing for reduced copper usage while maintaining or improving pathogen control effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If fixed copper compounds are used to reduce copper solubility, then phytotoxicity is reduced, but biocidal activity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines fixed copper compounds with iron, zinc, magnesium, or calcium compounds to create a composite material that maintains low solubility (reducing phytotoxicity) while enhancing biocidal activity through synergistic effects of the dopant compounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The doping approach creates local quality changes at the molecular level within the copper compound structure, where the dopant compounds create specific sites that enhance biocidal activity while the overall formulation maintains low solubility to reduce phytotoxicity.
3Reliability
If copper usage is increased to control systemic bacterial infections, then pathogen control effectiveness is improved, but environmental pollution worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The doped copper formulations use composite materials to enhance the biological activity and persistence of copper, allowing for reduced copper application rates while maintaining pathogen control effectiveness and minimizing environmental pollution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates more persistent biocidal formulations that last longer in the environment, reducing the frequency of reapplication needed. This effectively reduces the total copper load entering the environment over time while maintaining pathogen control.
4Ease of operation
If conventional copper formulations are used, then application simplicity is maintained, but resistance development by pathogens increases
Solution Approach 1:
The doped copper formulations use composite materials with multiple metal compounds that work synergistically to combat resistant pathogens. These formulations maintain ease of application similar to conventional copper products while providing enhanced effectiveness against resistant strains through the combined action of copper and dopant compounds.
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 doped copper composition increases the activity and persistence of copper-based biocides, reducing the need for toxic pesticides, minimizing environmental pollution, and effectively controlling systemic bacterial infections like HLB and Xylella fastidiosa while being safer for plants.
Implementation Method 1
fixed copper compounds, such as copper hydroxide, doped with iron, zinc, magnesium, or calcium compounds, which enhances the biocidal activity
Implementation Method 2
a doped component with fixed copper compounds, such as copper hydroxide, doped with iron, zinc, magnesium, or calcium compounds
Implementation Method 3
allowing for systemic uptake and effective pathogen control
Data Source
AI summary
A pesticide, fungicidal, bactericidal, anti-pathogen or biocidal composition includes at least one biologically inert carrier; and at least one doped component including at least one fixed copper compound doped with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of iron compounds, zinc compounds, magnesium compounds, calcium compounds, and combinations and/or mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the doped component has a particle size of about 0.5 nm to about 30 microns. A method for the control of pests includes the step of applying to the pests or their growth habitat the aforementioned composition. The method also includes the control of disease in citrus plants caused by vectors such as Psyllid nymphs, by applying the aforementioned composition to their growth habitat in citrus groves.