Emulsifiable Herbicide Concentrate Preventing Phase Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The joint use of herbicidal dinitroanilines and imidazolinone herbicides in formulations is challenging due to their differing solubility properties, leading to stability issues and segregation problems during storage and dilution, particularly with the use of polar organic solvents and adjuvants which increase costs and regulatory concerns.
Innovation Solution
A liquid, water-emulsifiable active ingredient concentrate comprising 100-400 g/l of herbicidal dinitroaniline, 5-100 g/l of imidazolinone herbicide as its ammonium salt, 20-150 g/l of anionic surface-active substances, 5-100 g/l of polymeric nonionic surface-active substances, and 50-250 g/l of nonionic surface-active substances, along with a hydrocarbon solvent, which maintains stability and prevents segregation at various temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If imidazolinone herbicide is formulated as aqueous concentrate, then water solubility is improved, but storage stability at high and low temperatures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines imidazolinone herbicide (water-soluble) with dinitroaniline herbicide (water-insoluble) into a single emulsifiable concentrate formulation. This merging allows both active ingredients to coexist stably in the concentrated form, and only separates into emulsion upon water dilution during application, thereby maintaining storage stability while ensuring water solubility when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The formulation uses specific emulsifiers and co-emulsifiers that change their properties based on water content. In the concentrated form (low water content), the system remains stable and homogeneous. Upon dilution with water (high water content), the system transforms into a stable emulsion, thus adapting to different water solubility requirements while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If dinitroaniline is formulated in water-immiscible organic solvent, then water solubility is reduced, but storage stability improves, however dilution stability deteriorates with creaming and settling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs specific emulsifiers and co-emulsifiers as intermediary substances that mediate between the water-immiscible organic solvent containing dinitroaniline and the aqueous phase. These intermediaries prevent creaming and settling during dilution by forming stable emulsion structures, thus improving dilution stability while maintaining storage stability of the concentrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The formulation creates a composite emulsion system combining organic solvent phase with dinitroaniline and aqueous phase with imidazolinone herbicide, stabilized by specific emulsifier-co-emulsifier combinations. This composite structure ensures both storage stability of the concentrate and dilution stability of the applied emulsion, preventing phase separation and settling.
3Quantity of substance
If polar organic solvents are used to dissolve imidazolinone herbicide, then water solubility is improved, but formulation cost increases and regulatory approval becomes restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic polar organic solvents from the formulation by using an emulsifiable concentrate system instead. The imidazolinone herbicide is dissolved in the aqueous phase without requiring polar organic solvents, while the dinitroaniline is dissolved in the organic solvent phase. This extraction eliminates the need for costly and regulated polar organic solvents while maintaining water solubility of imidazolinone.
Solution Approach 2:
The formulation uses conventional, well-approved emulsifiers and co-emulsifiers that are cheaper and have easier regulatory approval compared to polar organic solvents. These emulsifying agents achieve the desired water solubility and stability at lower cost and with fewer regulatory restrictions.
4Productivity
If larger amounts of adjuvants are incorporated, then effectiveness of active ingredients is improved, but storage stability is reduced and water dilution problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses specific emulsifiers and co-emulsifiers as intermediary substances that provide the necessary adjuvant effects for enhanced effectiveness of active ingredients. These intermediaries improve herbicide performance through better spreadability, retention, and penetration without causing storage stability issues or dilution problems, unlike larger amounts of conventional adjuvants.
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 formulation achieves long-term chemical and temperature stability, allowing for easy dilution without phase separation, ensuring effective and stable application of the active ingredients.
Implementation Method 1
liquid, water-emulsifiable active ingredient concentrates which contain at least one herbicidal dinitroaniline... and at least one imidazolinone herbicide
Implementation Method 2
15 to 150 g/l of at least one anionic surface-active substance which has at least one sulfonic acid group... 5 to 100 g/l of at least one polymeric, nonionic surface-active substance
Implementation Method 3
The formulation achieves long-term chemical and temperature stability, allowing for easy dilution without phase separation
Implementation Method 4
5 to 100 g/l of imidazolinone herbicide in the form of its ammonium salt or substituted ammonium salt
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to liquid active ingredient concentrates that can be emulsified in water, said concentrates comprising at least a herbicidal dinitroaniline, in particular pendimethalin, and at least an imidazolinone herbicide, in particular Imazomax. The composition comprises: a) 100 to 400 g/l of at least one herbicidal dinitroaniline (component a); b) 5 to 100 g/l of at least one imidazolinone herbicide in the form of the ammonium salt or substituted ammonium salt thereof (component b); c) 20 to 100 g/l water (component c); d) 15 to 150 g/l of at least one anionic surface active substance comprising at least one sulfonic acid group in the form of the sodium, potassium, ammonium or substituted ammonium salt of said surface active substance, (component d); e) 5 to 100 g/l of at least one polymeric, non-ionic surface active substance comprising at least a polyethylene oxide group and at least a radical selected from poly-C3-C4-alkylene oxide groups (component e); f) 50 to 250 g/l of at least one non-ionic surface active substance selected from ethoxylated fatty acid esters of polyhydroxyl compounds, alkylpolyglucosides, ethoxylated C4-C16 alkyl phenols and ethoxylated C8-C22- alkanols (component f); g) at least one hydrocarbon solvent to make 1 I (component g); wherein the amounts of components a) to f) indicated in g/l are based on the total volume of the active ingredient concentrate.