Microcapsule Formulations for Incompatible Agrochemicals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current microencapsulation techniques face challenges in producing uniform agrochemical formulations, such as capsule suspensions and water dispersable granules, for herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides, especially when dealing with incompatible molecules and mixtures, which complicates industrial production and stability.
Innovation Solution
A unified microencapsulation and spray drying process using selected coformulants and wall-forming materials, specifically anionically modified styrene acrylic polymers, allows for the encapsulation of incompatible molecules like fluroxypyr and sulfonylureas, achieving stable and dispersible microcapsule formulations with adjustable release rates and improved compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional microencapsulation techniques are used for herbicides, fungicides and insecticides, then capsule suspensions and water dispersable granules can be produced, but the process becomes complicated when dealing with incompatible molecules and mixtures of different active ingredients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a universal microencapsulation process that can handle herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and their mixtures including incompatible molecules. The process uses a common set of reagents (isocyanates, polyols, catalysts) and procedure that works across different agrochemical types, eliminating the need for separate formulation lines for each active ingredient type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts formulation parameters such as the selection of isocyanate type (aromatic vs. aliphatic), polyol chain length, catalyst type, and reaction temperature to accommodate different active ingredients. These parameter changes allow the same basic process to encapsulate incompatible molecules by optimizing the polymerization conditions for each specific case.
2Productivity
If a unified production process is implemented for different agrochemical formulations, then industrial scalability and stability are enhanced, but the selection of coformulants and wall forming materials becomes more critical to ensure compatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses polymerization catalysts and coformulants as intermediaries that facilitate the encapsulation of incompatible molecules. These intermediaries mediate between the active ingredients and the polymerizing wall materials, ensuring that incompatible molecules remain stable during the encapsulation process and in the final formulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite microcapsule formulations combining multiple active ingredients with different chemical properties (herbicides, fungicides, insecticides) within a single polymer matrix. The composite structure allows incompatible molecules to be co-encapsulated by distributing them throughout the wall material and core, preventing direct interaction while maintaining stability.
3Duration of action of moving object
If microcapsules are designed with adjustable release rates, then control over active ingredient delivery is improved, but the selection of wall materials and porosity control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls release rates by changing parameters such as wall thickness, cross-linking density, and porosity of the polymer matrix. By adjusting the isocyanate-to-polyol ratio, catalyst concentration, and reaction conditions, the wall structure can be optimized to achieve desired release profiles without requiring complex multi-layer structures.
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 process enables the production of stable and dispersible microcapsule formulations for previously incompatible agrochemicals, enhancing industrial scalability and stability, with exceptional dispersibility and suspensibility properties, and extends to various formulations like capsule suspensions, water dispersable granules, and suspension concentrates.
Implementation Method 1
A unified microencapsulation and spray drying process using selected coformulants and wall-forming materials, specifically anionically modified styrene acrylic polymers, allows for the encapsulation of incompatible molecules like fluroxypyr and sulfonylureas
Implementation Method 2
A unified microencapsulation and spray drying process using selected coformulants and wall-forming materials
Data Source
AI summary
The invention refers a new formulation of fluroxypyr or chlorpyrifos or diflufenican microencapsulated and in the form of water dispersable granules or as a part of a ZC fomulation. Further the invention refers to water dispersable granules containing microcapsules that enclose fluroxypyr and at the same time the WDG have also sulfonylureas outside of the microcapsules. Further we provide formulations in the form of SC or ZC of the aforementioned active ingredients and its combinations. Also fluroxypyr may be replaced by any agrochemical of any biological activity that is solid at room temperature and melts below 110°C. Mixtures of actives of such formulations are also contemplated.