Low VOC Gibberellin Formulations Using Polyethylene Glycol
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gibberellin formulations face issues with high volatile organic chemical (VOC) emissions, low solubility, storage stability, and handling hazards, leading to environmental and health concerns, as well as reduced efficacy due to insoluble residues and uneven distribution in agricultural applications.
Innovation Solution
Development of liquid agricultural formulations comprising 1-10% gibberellin (GA3, GA4, GA4/7) with 88-98% polyethylene glycol and 0.1-5% polysorbate 20, excluding isopropyl alcohol, which are environmentally safe, non-phytotoxic, and provide consistent thinning on grape vines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional solvents (isopropyl alcohol, methyl alcohol) are used to improve gibberellin solubility, then solubility is improved, but safety and environmental compliance deteriorate due to flammability, toxicity, and high VOC emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the solvent system by using polyethylene glycol (a non-VOC, non-flammable solvent) combined with specific surfactants (polysorbate 20, Tween 80, or Triton X-100) to achieve the required gibberellin solubility while eliminating the harmful properties of conventional alcohol-based solvents
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite solvent system combining polyethylene glycol with specific surfactants (polysorbate 20, Tween 80, or Triton X-100) to achieve both high gibberellin solubility and environmental safety, replacing single-component conventional solvents with a multi-component environmentally safe system
2Quantity of substance
If tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is used to improve gibberellin solubility, then solubility is improved, but safety and environmental compliance deteriorate due to corrosiveness and high VOC emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by replacing tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol with polyethylene glycol-based solvent systems that provide equivalent or superior solubility without the corrosive properties, fundamentally altering the solvent chemistry to eliminate harm
3Quantity of substance
If powder formulations are used to improve gibberellin solubility, then solubility is improved, but handling safety deteriorates due to dust generation and wetting issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the active ingredient gibberellin from its conventional powdered or granular form and dissolves it directly into a liquid solvent system (polyethylene glycol with surfactants), transforming it into a true liquid solution that eliminates dust generation entirely while maintaining high solubility
4Productivity
If high concentration formulations are prepared to reduce packaging and storage costs, then productivity is improved, but formulation feasibility deteriorates due to low gibberellin solubility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameters by using polyethylene glycol with specific molecular weights (200, 300, or 400) combined with surfactants to achieve gibberellin solubility concentrations of 10% or higher, overcoming the natural solubility limitations and enabling high-concentration formulations
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 formulations achieve high storage stability, reduce VOC emissions, improve handling safety, and ensure consistent and effective gibberellin delivery, enhancing berry cluster quality and grape size without adverse effects.
Implementation Method 1
liquid agricultural formulations comprising from 1% ±10% to 10% ±10% of at least one gibberellin selected from the group consisting of GA 3, GA 4, and GA 4/7, from 88% to 98% polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight from 190 ±10% to 420 ±10%, and from 0.1% ±10% to 5% ±10% of a polysorbate with 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of sorbitol
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to low volatile organic chemical gibberellic acid ("GA3"), gibberellin 4 ("GA4"), gibberellin 4/7 ("GA4/7"), or combinations thereof formulations and methods of their use. Specifically, formulations of the present invention are directed toward agricultural formulations including from about 1 to about 10 % of at least one gibberellin selected from the group consisting of GA3, GA4, and GA4/7, from about 85 to about 99 % polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight from about 190 to about 420, and from about 0.1 to about 5 % of a non-ionic or anionic surfactant, wherein the formulation does not include isopropyl alcohol, and wherein the percentages are percent by weight of the formulation.