Transparent Inverse Polyacrylamide Microlatices Reduce Herbicide Drift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing herbicide formulations, particularly those containing dicamba, glyphosate, and clethodim, face challenges with herbicide drift due to incompatibility with lipophilic drift reduction adjuvants, leading to off-target movement and failure in EPA mandated tests, and current macroemulsion and solution-based polyacrylamides face handling and compatibility issues.
Innovation Solution
Development of transparent/semitransparent inverse microlatices of polyacrylamide microemulsion compatible with lipophilic adjuvants, which can be mixed with herbicides like clethodim to increase droplet size and reduce drift, forming a stable, commercially viable formulation that passes EPA testing criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If lipophilic drift reduction adjuvants are added to herbicide mixtures containing dicamba, glyphosate, and clethodim, then drift control is improved, but the formulation becomes incompatible and fails EPA mandated tests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hydrophilic polyacrylamide polymer as an intermediary substance that mediates between the hydrophilic herbicide mixture (dicamba, glyphosate, clethodim) and the lipophilic drift reduction adjuvant. The polymer forms a compatible interface that allows the lipophilic adjuvant to function for drift control without causing incompatibility issues, enabling the formulation to pass EPA mandated tests while maintaining drift control efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite adjuvant formulation combining hydrophilic polyacrylamide polymer with lipophilic drift reduction components. This composite structure integrates both hydrophilic and lipophilic characteristics, allowing the formulation to be compatible with hydrophilic herbicides while maintaining effectiveness with lipophilic adjuvants for drift control, thus resolving the incompatibility issue.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If macroemulsion or solution-based polyacrylamide is used as drift reduction adjuvant, then droplet size increases and drift is reduced, but handling and compatibility issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the molecular weight parameters of the polyacrylamide polymer, using high molecular weight macroemulsion polyacrylamide (10,000,000 to 20,000,000 Daltons) to achieve optimal droplet size increase and drift reduction while improving handling characteristics. The specific molecular weight range provides the right balance between drift control efficacy and operational ease, resolving the handling and compatibility issues associated with lower molecular weight variants.
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 microemulsion PAM formulations effectively increase droplet size and decrease the driftable fraction, mitigating herbicide drift and ensuring compliance with EPA standards while maintaining effective weed control.
Implementation Method 1
transparent or semitransparent inverse microlatices of polyacrylamide
Implementation Method 2
macroemulsion polyacrylamide (PAM)
Implementation Method 3
Macroemulsion and water-solution PAMs have properties that increase viscosity of pesticide tank mixes
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides compositions comprising polyacrylamide microemulsions, for example transparent or semitransparent inverse microlatices of polyacrylamide, and methods and formulations using the compositions for management of crop pests.