High-Strength Glyphosate and 2,4-D Salt Compositions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-strength herbicidal formulations of glyphosate and 2,4-D are limited to less than 320 gae/L total active ingredient loading, which is not economically or environmentally optimal, and lack stability at varying temperatures.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous herbicidal compositions comprising glyphosate and 2,4-D amine salts with a pH adjusted to 6.0-8.0, allowing for a total active ingredient loading of at least 350 gae/L, with a weight ratio of 1:2.3 to 2.3:1, and optionally including cosolvents and surfactants for enhanced stability and efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the total active ingredient loading is increased to achieve high-strength formulation, then shipping and handling costs are reduced and packaging material is reduced, but the formulation stability and homogeneity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the pH to a specific range (5.5-7.5) and controlling the ratio of glyphosate to 2,4-D salts to achieve a stable high-strength formulation. This resolves the contradiction by finding optimal parameter values that allow both high active ingredient loading (≥320 gae/L) and formulation stability to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining glyphosate salt and 2,4-D salt in specific ratios within an aqueous formulation. This composite approach allows the formulation to achieve high strength while maintaining stability through the synergistic interaction between the different salt components.
2Quantity of substance
If the total active ingredient loading is increased to achieve high-strength formulation, then shipping and handling costs are reduced, but the formulation homogeneity and liquid stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains formulation homogeneity by controlling the pH within the range of 5.5-7.5 and adjusting the salt ratios, which prevents precipitation and phase separation even at high active ingredient loadings of ≥320 gae/L.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent explicitly targets formulation homogeneity by ensuring the glyphosate and 2,4-D salts are uniformly distributed in the aqueous medium, creating a stable liquid composition that remains homogeneous during storage and shipping.
3Quantity of substance
If the formulation strength is increased to reduce packaging and shipping costs, then economic efficiency is improved, but the formulation may precipitate at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prevents temperature-induced precipitation by optimizing the pH to 5.5-7.5 and controlling the salt composition ratios, which raises the formulation's freezing point and maintains solubility across a wide temperature range from 0°C to 50°C and above.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by pre-adjusting the formulation parameters (pH and salt ratios) to prevent precipitation before temperature extremes occur, ensuring the formulation remains stable during shipping and storage at varying temperatures.
4Device complexity
If commercially available formulations are used with limited active ingredient loading, then formulation simplicity is maintained, but economic efficiency and environmental impact are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves high economic efficiency by formulating a simple aqueous composition with glyphosate and 2,4-D salts at high concentrations (≥320 gae/L), optimized at pH 5.5-7.5, which reduces shipping volume and application frequency while maintaining ease of use.
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 compositions provide a stable, high-strength, homogeneous liquid herbicide that maintains potency at temperatures from 0°C to 50°C and above, reducing shipping and handling costs while being effective against resistant crops.
Implementation Method 1
both the glyphosate and the 2,4-D are provided as salts, which exhibit sufficiently high solubility in water to provide a high-strength herbicidal formulation
Implementation Method 2
the pH is adjusted to about 6.0 to about 8.0... the composition... is stable at temperatures at least as high as 50° C. and should not exhibit any precipitation at temperatures at least as low as 0° C.
Data Source
AI summary
The mixture of certain amine salts of glyphosate and 2,4-D allows the preparation of high-strength liquid compositions containing up to greater than 450 gae/L of total active ingredient loading if the pH is adjusted to about 6.0 to about 8.0. Compositions are particularly well-suited for application to crops that are resistant or tolerant to both glyphosate and 2,4-D.