Emulsion Composition for Agrochemicals Without Ionic Surfactants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional agrochemical emulsion compositions face challenges with emulsifiability when using cationic active ingredients due to the formation of salts with anionic surfactants, and require high amounts of nonionic surfactants like polyoxy alkylene aryl phenyl ether, which are environmentally undesirable.

Innovation Solution

An emulsion composition comprising lauryl alcohol, polyoxyethylene monolaurate, polyether-modified silicon oil, polyoxyethylene tristyryl phenyl ether, aromatic hydrocarbon-based nonpolar solvents, and polar solvents like ketones or lactones, without anionic or cationic surfactants, ensuring good emulsifiability regardless of the agrochemical active ingredient's ionicity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an anionic surfactant is used to achieve good emulsifiability, then emulsifiability is improved, but flocculation occurs when cationic agrochemical active ingredients are used together

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveemulsifiabilityVSAvoidstability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a nonionic surfactant as an intermediary substance that mediates between the anionic surfactant and cationic agrochemical active ingredients. The nonionic surfactant forms a complex with the cationic ingredient, preventing direct interaction and salt formation between the anionic surfactant and cationic ingredient, thereby avoiding flocculation while maintaining emulsifiability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite surfactant system combining both anionic and nonionic surfactants. This composite approach allows the anionic surfactant to provide excellent emulsifiability while the nonionic surfactant component prevents flocculation by interacting with cationic agrochemical active ingredients, achieving both good emulsifiability and stability simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If polyoxy alkylene aryl phenyl ether is used as a nonionic surfactant to avoid flocculation, then stability is improved, but excessive amounts are required achieving sufficient emulsifiability

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidsurfactant amount

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration ratio and chemical composition parameters of the surfactant system. By carefully adjusting the proportions of anionic and nonionic surfactants, the formulation achieves sufficient emulsifiability with reduced total surfactant content, avoiding the need for excessive polyoxy alkylene aryl phenyl ether while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If polyoxy alkylene aryl phenyl ether is used to ensure emulsifiability, then emulsifiability is improved, but environmental friendliness deteriorates due to restrictions on its content

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveemulsifiabilityVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by reducing the proportion of polyoxy alkylene aryl phenyl ether and increasing the use of alternative nonionic surfactants with better environmental profiles. This parameter adjustment maintains sufficient emulsifiability while complying with environmental restrictions and improving overall environmental friendliness.

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 solution provides environmentally friendly agrochemical emulsion compositions with sustained emulsifiability and prevents flocculation, even with cationic active ingredients, reducing the need for excessive nonionic surfactants and maintaining stability over time.

Implementation Method 1

an emulsion composition, comprising a component (A) which is at least one selected from the group consisting of lauryl alcohol, polyoxyethylene monolaurate, polyoxyethylene dilaurate and polyether-modified silicon oil, a component (B) which is polyoxyethylene tristyryl phenyl ether

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

a component (D) which is a polar solvent, wherein the emulsion composition contains neither anionic surfactant nor cationic surfactant and the polar solvent (D) is selected from the group consisting of ketones and lactones

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP2216092B1Emulsion composition and agrochemical emulsion composition

Publication Date: 2016.05.18 NIPPON SODA CO LTD

AI summary

This invention provides an emulsion composition, containing a component (A) which is at least one selected from the group consisting of alkanol having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, alkenol having 6 to 20 carbons, polyoxyethylene alkyl ester, polyoxyethylene alkyl diester, polyoxyethylene alkenyl ester, polyoxyethylene dialkenyl ester, polyoxyethylene·polyoxypropylene·block copolymer and a silicon-based surfactant, a component (B) which is at least one polyoxyalkylene aryl phenyl ether, and a component (C) which is an aromatic hydrocarbon-based nonpolar solvent, wherein the emulsion composition contains neither anionic surfactant nor cationic surfactant, and an agrochemical emulsion composition using the emulsion composition.