Emulsifiable Concentrate Surfactant System for Crop Film Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phytosanitary compositions face challenges in achieving storage stability and easy emulsification for crop spraying, while being non-toxic to the environment and plants, and require a surfactant system that separates quickly on contact with plants to minimize water residue and ensure effective insecticidal or fungicidal action.
Innovation Solution
A phytosanitary emulsifiable concentrate comprising over 90% hydrocarbons from a distillation cut above 250°C, with less than 20% n-paraffins and 1-4% of a surfactant mixture with a specific HLB range, including polyalkoxylated carboxylic acids and sorbitan mono/polyethoxylates, and minimal water content, facilitating easy transportation and rapid emulsion breakdown on plant contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional surfactants are used to ensure emulsion stability during storage and spraying, then emulsion stability is improved, but environmental toxicity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the surfactant system by using specific ethoxylated alcohols with controlled ethoxy group numbers (2.8 average) and specific carbon chain lengths (C10-C16), combined with glycerol mono/dioleates in defined ratios. This parameter optimization achieves both emulsion stability and reduced environmental toxicity compared to conventional surfactants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite surfactant system combining two different types of surfactants: polyethoxylated alcohols and glycerol mono/dioleates. This composite approach synergistically improves emulsion stability while maintaining environmental compatibility, as each component contributes different functional properties that together achieve the dual goal.
2Reliability
If paraffinic oils with high normal paraffin content are used to improve insecticidal effectiveness, then insecticidal effect is improved, but pour point increases making winter application difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical parameters of the oil base by carefully controlling the paraffin content and composition. It uses paraffinic oils from specific distillation cuts (above 250°C) with controlled normal paraffin content, balancing the insecticidal effectiveness provided by paraffins against the pour point issue, ensuring remain fluid enough for winter application while maintaining bioactivity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If emulsifiers are added to ensure storage stability, then emulsion stability is improved, but the complexity of the formulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes the natural emulsifying properties inherent in the paraffinic oil itself and the interaction between the oil and water phases, reducing dependence on high concentrations of external emulsifiers. The surfactant system is optimized at 1-3% rather than higher levels, simplifying the overall formulation while maintaining stability.
4Stability of the object's composition
If conventional emulsifiers are used to ensure stability throughout spraying duration, then emulsion stability is improved, but rapid breaking on plant contact is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic surfactant system that adapts its behavior based on environmental conditions. The ethoxylated alcohol/glycerol mono/dioleate combination maintains strong emulsion stability during storage and spraying through its HLB characteristics, but upon contact with plant surfaces (which have different surface energy and moisture conditions), the emulsion dynamically breaks down to form the desired protective film with rapid water elimination.
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 solution provides stable, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly emulsifiable concentrates that form a homogeneous oil film on crops, effectively controlling insects and fungal diseases without blocking photosynthesis, and can be easily transported and applied, with minimal water residue and optimal growth mitigation.
Implementation Method 1
water/oil emulsions in the presence of surfactant additives
Implementation Method 2
1 to 4% by weight of a mixture of at least two surfactants TA1 and TA2
Implementation Method 3
break on contact with the plant to form the homogeneous oil film on the crops, in particular the trunks, branches and the leaves to provide an insecticidal function and the water is instantly eliminated by runoff
Implementation Method 4
the insecticidal effect is obtained by asphyxiation of the insects present (lack of air) or a barrier limiting their access
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an emulsifiable concentrate for an emulsified phytosanitary composition containing more than 90 wt% of at least one hydrocarbon mixture having a distillation cut greater than 250° C, said emulsifiable concentrate moreover including less than 20 wt% n-paraffins, less than 1 wt% aromatics, and 1 to 4 wt% of a mixture of at least two surfactants TA1 and TA2 such that TA2 is more hydrophobic than TA1, and the mixture HLB of which varies from 6 through 10.%