Isononanoic Acid Amide Pesticide Solvent Phytotoxicity Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Current pesticide solvents, such as isophorone and MBK, are expensive, difficult to source, and pose environmental and phytotoxic risks, necessitating the development of alternatives that can maintain pesticides in solution without harming crops or the environment.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising a pesticide and isononanoic acid N,N-dimethyl amide, which acts as a solvent with no phytotoxic effects on plants, allowing for the formulation of agrochemicals that maintain pesticide solubility and reduce environmental toxicity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional solvents like isophorone and MBK are used to maintain pesticide solubility, then pesticide solubility is improved, but environmental toxicity and phytotoxicity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepesticide solubilityVSAvoidphytotoxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive, toxic solvents with a biodegradable alternative derived from renewable resources. The isononanoic acid N,N-dimethyl amide is designed to be environmentally benign and rapidly degradable, effectively 'disposable' without long-term environmental harm, while maintaining solvent functionality for pesticides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical structure parameters of the solvent by introducing a methyl group at the 2-position of the nonanoic acid chain and N,N-dimethyl substitution on the amide nitrogen. This structural modification reduces phytotoxicity while preserving solubility properties, demonstrating parameter changes to resolve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If conventional solvents like isophorone and MBK are used, then pesticide solubility is maintained, but environmental toxicity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepesticide solubilityVSAvoidenvironmental toxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive, toxic solvents with a biodegradable alternative derived from renewable resources. The isononanoic acid N,N-dimethyl amide is designed to be environmentally benign and rapidly degradable, effectively 'disposable' without long-term environmental harm, while maintaining solvent functionality for pesticides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical structure parameters of the solvent by introducing a methyl group at the 2-position of the nonanoic acid chain and N,N-dimethyl substitution on the amide nitrogen. This structural modification reduces phytotoxicity while preserving solubility properties, demonstrating parameter changes to resolve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If n-nonanoic acid N,N-dimethyl amide is used as solvent, then pesticide solubility is maintained, but phytotoxicity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepesticide solubilityVSAvoidphytotoxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical structure parameters of the solvent by introducing a methyl group at the 2-position of the nonanoic acid chain and N,N-dimethyl substitution on the amide nitrogen. This structural modification reduces phytotoxicity while preserving solubility properties, demonstrating parameter changes to resolve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite molecular structure combining the hydrophobic nonanoic acid chain with the polar N,N-dimethyl amide group. This composite structure provides both pesticide solubility through the polar amide group and reduced phytotoxicity through the modified hydrocarbon chain, resolving the contradiction between solubility and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 use of isononanoic acid N,N-dimethyl amide as a solvent effectively maintains pesticide solubility and reduces phytotoxicity, providing a safer and more environmentally friendly option for agricultural applications.

Implementation Method 1

A large number of liquid concentrates are available to the agricultural markets... agrochemical pesticides have the advantages of containing a high concentration of active ingredients, and the ability to incorporate various ingredients into the composition to increase the efficacy of the composition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS10463040B2Composition comprising a pesticide and isononanoic acid N,N-dimethyl amide

Publication Date: 2019.11.05 BASF SE

AI summary

A composition comprising a pesticide and a certain carboxylic acid amide, i.e. isononanoic acid N,N-dimethyl amide, is described herein. Also disclosed is a method for controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesirable plant growth and/or undesirable insect or mite infestation and/or for regulating the growth of plants, wherein the composition is allowed to act on the respective pests, the habitat thereof or the plants to be protected from the respective pest, on the soil and/or on undesirable plants and/or the crop plants and/or the habitat thereof. Furthermore, use of the carboxylic acid amide as a solvent for pesticides with no or low phytotoxicity is described.