Agricultural Pesticide Compositions with Low Viscosity
Solution Overview
Problem
Concentrated pesticide compositions with high concentrations of pesticide and adjuvant compounds often exhibit non-homogeneity, instability, and high viscosity, making them difficult to handle and apply effectively.
Innovation Solution
A pesticide composition comprising 15-65 parts by weight of pesticide compounds, 0-10 parts by weight of fatty acid (C1-C3) alkyl esters, and up to 20 parts by weight of surfactants such as betaine or amine oxide surfactants, which are mixed to create a stable and low-viscosity concentrate that can be easily diluted with water for application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high concentrations of pesticide and adjuvant compounds are used to create a concentrated pesticide composition, then the concentration of active ingredients is improved, but the composition becomes non-homogeneous, unstable, and difficult to handle due to high viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by introducing specific surfactant systems (anionic, cationic, nonionic, or amphoteric surfactants) and adjusting their concentrations and combinations. These parameter changes modify the interfacial properties and micellar structures of the concentrated composition, reducing viscosity and improving homogeneity while maintaining high concentrations of pesticide and adjuvant compounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite formulation system by combining multiple surfactant types (anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric) with pesticide compounds and adjuvant compounds. This composite approach leverages synergistic interactions between different surfactant classes to achieve stable, low-viscosity concentrated compositions that would be impossible with single-component systems.
2Quantity of substance
If high concentrations of pesticide and adjuvant compounds are used to create a concentrated pesticide composition, then the concentration of active ingredients is improved, but the composition becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies compositional parameters by optimizing surfactant concentrations, pH levels, and ionic strength to maintain phase stability and prevent precipitation or separation. These parameter adjustments ensure that the concentrated formulation remains stable during storage and transport while maintaining high active ingredient concentrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs surfactants as intermediary substances that mediate between hydrophobic pesticide compounds and hydrophilic adjuvant compounds. These surfactant intermediaries form micellar structures and emulsions that stabilize the concentrated composition, preventing phase separation and maintaining homogeneity even at high concentrations of all components.
3Quantity of substance
If high concentrations of pesticide and adjuvant compounds are used to create a concentrated pesticide composition, then the concentration of active ingredients is improved, but the composition becomes non-homogeneous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts physical and chemical parameters including surfactant concentration, temperature, pH, and mixing intensity to achieve and maintain homogeneity. These parameter changes optimize the solubility and dispersion of pesticide and adjuvant compounds throughout the concentrated composition, preventing stratification and ensuring uniform distribution of all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses surfactants as intermediary agents that facilitate uniform distribution of hydrophobic and hydrophilic components. These surfactant intermediaries reduce interfacial tension and promote molecular-level mixing, ensuring homogeneous composition even at high concentrations where phase separation would normally occur.
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 achieves good stability, low viscosity, and improved handling properties, allowing for effective dilution and spray application against target pests while maintaining herbicidal efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
a surfactant component comprising a betaine surfactant component and a mixture of fatty acid methyl ester and betaine surfactant
Data Source
AI summary
A pesticide composition contains, based on 100 parts by weight ("pbw") of the composition: (a) from about 15 to about 65 pbw of one or more pesticide compounds, (b) from greater than 0 to about 10 pbw of one or more fatty acid (C1 - C3) esters, and (c) optionally, up to about 20 pbw of one or more surfactants, wherein the surfactant component typically comprises: (i) one or more betaine surfactants, (ii) one or more glycoside surfactants, (iii) one or more amine oxide surfactants, (iv) one or more fatty (ether) amine alkoxylate surfactants, or (v) a surfactant mixture comprising at least one surfactant from each of at least two of the surfactant categories (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv). A method for controlling a target pest, includes the steps of diluting the above described pesticide composition with a dliuent comprising water and applying the diluted pesticide composition to the target pest and/or to the environment of the target pest.