Microencapsulated Pesticide Release Modulation via Polyvalent Metal Cations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microencapsulated pesticide formulations have fixed release rates that are not tunable, leading to crop injury and inefficiencies in pest control, particularly with acetamide herbicides, and are sensitive to additives like co-herbicides, which can increase release rates undesirably.
Innovation Solution
Development of aqueous pesticidal mixtures with microencapsulated pesticides encapsulated in a polyurea shell wall, using a polyvalent metal cation as a release modulating agent to control the release rate, and incorporating an acidic co-herbicide like dicamba, with alkali metal salts to enhance crop safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If microencapsulated pesticides use fixed release rates, then manufacturing is simpler, but crop injury occurs and pest control efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control of pesticide release by incorporating agents that modulate the release rate from microcapsules. Instead of a fixed release rate determined solely by shell properties, the system allows adjustment of release kinetics through additional chemical agents, enabling adaptation to different crop sensitivity conditions while maintaining the microencapsulation structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the release rate parameter by adding modulation agents that interact with the microcapsule shell or pesticide. This allows the same microencapsulated formulation to exhibit different release characteristics when combined with specific agents, thereby reducing crop injury without requiring complete reformulation of the microcapsules.
2Device complexity
If microencapsulated pesticides use fixed release rates, then formulation complexity is reduced, but pest control effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal microencapsulated pesticide formulation that can serve multiple pest control needs by combining it with different release modulation agents. The base microencapsulated product remains relatively simple, but gains enhanced functionality and adaptability when paired with agents that tune the release rate for specific pest pressures or environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic adjustment of release rates to match pest control requirements. By selecting appropriate modulation agents, the same microencapsulated formulation can provide slower release for residual control or faster release for immediate knockdown, thereby improving overall pest control effectiveness without complicating the core formulation.
3Productivity
If co-herbicides are added to microencapsulated herbicide formulations, then weed control efficacy is enhanced, but release rate control is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces release modulation agents as intermediaries between the microencapsulated herbicide and co-herbicides. These agents specifically target the release control mechanism, protecting it from interference by co-herbicides while still allowing the co-herbicides to provide their weed control benefits. The modulation agent acts as a buffer that maintains release stability despite the presence of multiple herbicidal components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using release modulation agents that preemptively counteract the potential destabilizing effects of co-herbicides on the microcapsule release mechanism. The modulation agents are included in the formulation to预先 prevent co-herbicides from disrupting the controlled release, thereby maintaining both enhanced weed control efficacy and stable release rates.
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 solution allows for flexible and controlled release of pesticides, reducing crop injury and maintaining efficacy against weeds, while minimizing the impact of co-herbicides on release rates, thereby providing enhanced crop safety and prolonged residual activity.
Implementation Method 1
The pesticide is released from the microcapsules at least in part by molecular diffusion through the shell wall
Implementation Method 2
aqueous pesticidal mixtures comprising a microencapsulated pesticide and an agent that modulates the release rate of the pesticide from the microcapsules
Data Source
AI summary
Aqueous pesticidal mixtures comprising a microencapsulated pesticide and an agent that modulates the release rate of the pesticide from the microcapsules are described. Also described are various methods of modulating the release rate of a microencapsulated pesticide in a pesticidal mixture. Further, various pesticidal mixtures comprising a microencapsulated pesticide and a co-pesticide that provides for enhanced crop safety are described.