Doped Copper Biocides for Pathogen Control and Pollution Reduction
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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 copper compound, such as copper hydroxide, with iron, zinc, magnesium, or calcium, which enhances the activity of copper while reducing the amount of copper required, allowing for systemic uptake and increased efficacy against pathogens like HLB and Xylella fastidiosa.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If copper-based pesticides are used to control pathogens, then pathogen control efficacy is improved, but water pollution and toxicity to aquatic organisms worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of copper by doping it with other metals (zinc, iron, manganese, calcium) to create composite particles with modified properties. This allows achieving the same or better pathogen control efficacy while reducing the total copper load and its environmental harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite copper particles doped with other metallic elements (zinc, iron, manganese, calcium) to form a multi-element composition. This composite structure enhances the biocidal activity while reducing the amount of copper needed, thereby reducing water pollution and toxicity to aquatic organisms.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If copper usage is reduced to decrease pollution, then water pollution is reduced, but pathogen control efficacy worsens
Solution Approach 1:
By doping copper with other metals, the patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of copper particles, enhancing their biocidal activity per unit mass. This allows using less copper while maintaining or improving pathogen control efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite copper particles doped with zinc, iron, manganese, or calcium provide synergistic effects that enhance pathogen control. The doping elements modify copper's properties to increase its effectiveness, enabling reduced copper usage without compromising efficacy.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If fixed copper compounds are used to reduce copper solubility, then copper persistence is improved, but biocidal activity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite particles where copper is doped with other metals within a fixed copper compound matrix. This composite structure maintains the low solubility and persistence of fixed copper while the doping elements enhance the biocidal activity through synergistic effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The doping elements are distributed within the copper compound structure, creating local regions with enhanced biocidal properties. This allows the bulk material to remain insoluble and persistent while localized doping zones provide increased biological activity.
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 of copper, reduces copper usage and pollution, and effectively controls copper-resistant pathogens, providing a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for plant protection.
Implementation Method 1
a doped copper compound, such as copper hydroxide, with iron, zinc, magnesium, or calcium, which enhances the activity of copper
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.