Oil-Based Drift Control Composition for Agrochemical Spray Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oil-based drift control compositions for agrochemicals tend to settle on standing and are not readily emulsifiable, which reduces their effectiveness in reducing spray drift during application, and they often require complex hydration processes for solid additives like guar gum, leading to inefficiencies and stability issues.
Innovation Solution
An oil-based drift control composition comprising 40-80% oil phase, 1-15% water-soluble polymer, 5-20% ethoxylated esteramine, 3-10% alkylbenzene sulfonate, 0.5-5% alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl ether phosphate, and 0-15% water, which is designed to be stable and easily emulsifiable, reducing spray drift by improving the viscoelastic properties of the spray liquid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water-soluble polymer (e.g., guar gum) is added as solid additive to aqueous spray medium, then drift control properties are achieved, but dispersion difficulty and lump formation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the drift control agent from solid powder to liquid form, and changes the continuous phase from water to oil. This parameter change eliminates the dispersion difficulty and lump formation issues while maintaining the drift control functionality through the viscoelastic properties of the polymer in oil-based medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite system combining oil phase, water-soluble polymer, and surfactants. This composite approach allows the polymer to be delivered in an oil-based medium that prevents aggregation while maintaining effectiveness, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of manufacture.
2Reliability
If aqueous hydration of solid guar gum is performed, then drift reduction properties are realized, but agglomeration and lumps form
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the aqueous hydration step by using an oil-based medium instead. The polymer is dissolved or dispersed in oil with the help of surfactants, which prevents agglomeration and maintains homogeneous composition throughout the spray mixture while preserving drift reduction properties.
Solution Approach 2:
Surfactants act as intermediaries between the oil phase and polymer, enabling stable dispersion without agglomeration. The surfactants mediate the interaction between hydrophobic oil and hydrophilic polymer chains, preventing lump formation while maintaining homogeneous composition.
3Reliability
If oil-based drift control compositions are used, then chemical stability of water-sensitive actives is improved, but settling on standing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a stabilized composite system combining oil, polymer, and surfactants where the polymer forms a viscoelastic network that prevents settling. The surfactants ensure uniform distribution of all components, maintaining composition stability over time while preserving the chemical stability benefits of oil-based formulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the rheological parameters of the oil-based composition by adding polymer to achieve appropriate viscosity and elasticity that prevent settling. The surfactant system is optimized to ensure long-term stability against phase separation and settling while maintaining chemical stability of actives.
4Reliability
If complex hydration processes are used for solid additives, then drift control is achieved, but process complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the time-consuming hydration process by using an oil-based medium where the polymer can be mixed directly without water absorption steps. This parameter change from aqueous to oil-based system reduces preparation time significantly while maintaining drift control effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer is pre-dissolved or pre-dispersed in the oil-based medium during formulation preparation, eliminating the need for separate hydration steps. This preliminary action ensures the polymer is ready for use without additional time-consuming processing steps.
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 composition effectively reduces spray drift by maintaining the stability and efficacy of agricultural active ingredients, enhancing the chemical stability of water-sensitive actives and improving dispersibility, thus minimizing off-target application and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
The drift control agents (or anti-drift agents) change the viscoelastic properties of the spray liquid, more specifically by reducing its stretching capability (elongational viscosity) and its tendency to separate into smaller droplets.
Implementation Method 2
c) from 5 to 20 wt % of at least one ethoxylated esteramine of formula I
Data Source
AI summary
Oil-based drift control compositions for pesticide or crop protection formulations, that comprise an oil phase, a water soluble polymer, at least one ethoxylated esteramine, at least one alkylbenzene sulfonate and at least one alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl ether phosphate, are readily emulsifiable and are able to maintain the efficacy of agricultural active ingredients applied together with said composition.