Herbicidal Aqueous Dispersion Stability via Surfactant Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Herbicidal formulations containing diflufenican and flurtamone face issues with storage stability due to the presence of alkylphenol polyethoxylates, leading to flocculation, agglomeration, and crystal growth, and there is a need for more flexible application rates with maintained effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous dispersions comprising diflufenican, flurtamone, anionic surfactants from naphthalene sulfonates or their condensation products, nonionic surfactants from di- and tri-block copolymers of alkylene oxides, polybasic organic acids, thickeners, flufenacet, and other agrochemical active ingredients, which provide excellent storage stability and flexible application options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If alkylphenol polyethoxylates are used as surfactants in herbicidal formulations containing diflufenican and flurtamone, then good applicability and user-friendliness are achieved, but storage stability deteriorates due to flocculation, agglomeration, and crystal growth
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the problematic alkylphenol polyethoxylate surfactants from the formulation while replacing them with alternative surfactant systems (specifically polyalkylene glycol ethers and polyacrylamide derivatives) that do not cause flocculation, agglomeration, or crystal growth, thereby eliminating the stability issue while maintaining applicability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the surfactant system by transitioning from alkylphenol polyethoxylates to polyalkylene glycol ethers and polyacrylamide derivatives, altering the formulation's chemical composition to achieve both good applicability and long-term storage stability without the adverse effects of crystal growth and agglomeration
2Reliability
If conventional herbicidal formulations are used, then basic herbicidal effect is achieved, but flexibility in application rates is limited and effectiveness against difficult-to-control weeds is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges three herbicidal active ingredients (diflufenican, flurtamone, and flufenacet) into a single synergistic formulation, combining their individual herbicidal activities to achieve enhanced effectiveness against a broader spectrum of weeds while providing flexible application rates for different weed control scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite herbicidal formulation integrating three different active ingredients with distinct modes of action, along with specially selected surfactants and additives, to produce a synergistic effect that delivers both reliable herbicidal control and adaptable application rates for various weed challenges
3Reliability
If higher application rates are used to improve effectiveness against perennial weeds, then herbicidal effectiveness increases, but environmental impact on soil and groundwater increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the formulation by incorporating flufenacet and optimizing surfactant systems, which enhances herbicidal effectiveness at lower application rates, thereby reducing environmental load on soil and groundwater while maintaining reliable control of perennial weeds
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 proposed formulation achieves long-term storage stability and reduced application rates with enhanced herbicidal effectiveness against a broad spectrum of weeds, including difficult-to-control perennial species, while minimizing soil and groundwater impact.
Implementation Method 1
b) one or more anionic surfactants from the group of naphthalene sulfonates or from the group of condensation products of naphthalene sulfonates with formaldehyde, c) one or more nonionic surfactants from the group of di- and tri-block- copolymers of alkylene oxides
Data Source
AI summary
Aqueous dispersion comprises 2',4'-difluoro-2-(alpha ,alpha ,alpha -trifluoro-m-tolyloxy)nicotinanilide (diflufenican) and (RS)-5-methylamino-2-phenyl-4-(alpha ,alpha ,alpha -trifluoro-m-tolyl)furan-3(2H)-one (flurtamone), a mixture of anionic surfactants such as naphthalenesulfonates or condensates of naphthalenesulfonates with formaldehyde, nonionic surfactants of di- and tri-block copolymers of alkylene oxides, polybasic organic acids, and water. Independent claims are included for: (1) herbicides comprising diflufenican, flurtamone and flufenacet as active ingredients; (2) methods for combating weeds, comprising applying the aqueous dispersion or its components on the plants, parts of the plants, seeds or the areas in which the plants grow; and (3) liquid herbicidal agents, obtained by the dilution of aqueous dispersion. ACTIVITY : Herbicide. MECHANISM OF ACTION : None given.