Glyphosate Dicamba Salt Herbicide Concentration pH Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current herbicidal formulations containing glyphosate and dicamba have limited total active ingredient loading, typically less than 300 gae/L, which is not sufficient for economic and environmental benefits such as reduced shipping and handling costs, and require stability across a wide temperature range without precipitation or phase separation.
Innovation Solution
A high-strength aqueous herbicidal composition comprising potassium or amine salts of glyphosate and dicamba, with a total active ingredient loading of at least 300 gae/L, maintained within a pH range of 6.0 to 8.0, and optionally including cosolvents and surfactants to ensure stability and efficacy, allowing for higher concentrations up to 450 gae/L and compatibility across varying temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the total active ingredient loading is increased to reduce shipping and handling costs, then the concentration of herbicide increases, but the formulation becomes unstable and exhibits precipitation or phase separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter of the formulation to a specific range (5.5 to 7.5, preferably 6.0 to 7.0) to enable high active ingredient loading (at least 300 gae/L) while maintaining formulation stability. This pH adjustment prevents precipitation and phase separation that would otherwise occur at higher concentrations, resolving the contradiction between concentration and stability.
2Loss of substance
If the concentration of active ingredients is increased to reduce packaging material, then the amount of packaging required decreases, but the formulation stability at varying temperatures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the pH parameter to a specific range (5.5 to 7.5) which enables the formulation to remain stable across a wide temperature range (0 °C to 50 °C) even at high active ingredient concentrations. This prevents temperature-induced precipitation and phase separation, allowing reduced packaging while maintaining reliability.
3Quantity of substance
If the pH is adjusted to enable high-strength formulation, then the active ingredient loading increases, but the formulation may become unstable outside the optimal pH range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the pH parameter to a specific range (5.5 to 7.5, preferably 6.0 to 7.0) that enables high active ingredient loading (at least 300 gae/L) while maintaining formulation stability. This precise pH control resolves the contradiction by enabling high concentration within a defined optimal range, though the formulation is designed to be relatively stable within this range.
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 composition provides a stable, homogeneous liquid herbicide with enhanced active ingredient loading, maintaining potency and stability at temperatures from 50 °C to below 0 °C, reducing the need for excessive packaging and handling, and is suitable for use in crops resistant to both glyphosate and dicamba.
Implementation Method 1
if the pH is adjusted to 6.0 to 8.0
Implementation Method 2
the salts exhibit sufficiently high solubility in water to provide a high-strength herbicidal formulation
Implementation Method 3
one or more cosolvents and/or efficacy-enhancing surfactants can optionally be incorporated into the high-strength composition
Implementation Method 4
one or more cosolvents and/or efficacy-enhancing surfactants can optionally be incorporated into the high-strength composition while still maintaining the high loading
Data Source
AI summary
The mixture of potassium or certain amine salts of glyphosate and dicamba allows the preparation of high-strength liquid compositions containing greater than 300 gae/L of total active ingredient loading if the pH is adjusted between about 6.0 and about 8.0. Compositions are particularly well-suited for herbicidal applications on crops that are resistant or tolerant to both glyphosate and dicamba.