Phosphate Ester Suspension Concentrate for Fertilizer Mix Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pesticide suspension concentrates face challenges in stability when mixed with concentrated liquid fertilizers like 10-34-0, leading to flocculation and nozzle-plugging, which hinders uniform application to plants and seeds.
Innovation Solution
A suspension concentrate comprising a phosphate ester with specific alkyl groups and alkoxy groups, a water-insoluble pesticide, and water, which forms a stable dispersion without the need for additional dispersants, allowing mixing with concentrated fertilizers without flocculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional pesticide suspension concentrates are mixed with concentrated liquid fertilizer (10-34-0), then fertilizer application efficiency is improved, but the suspension concentrate undergoes immediate flocculation causing non-uniform application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the dispersant by selecting specific phosphate esters with defined molecular structures (formula I) containing alkyl groups with 4-11 carbon atoms and controlled alkoxylation degrees (z1, z2, z3 = 1-4). These parameter changes enable the dispersant to maintain suspension stability in high electrolyte environments like 10-34-0 fertilizer without flocculation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite formulation system combining water-insoluble pesticide particles, phosphate ester dispersant, and concentrated fertilizer solution. The phosphate ester acts as a bridging component that maintains compatibility between the hydrophobic pesticide particles and the hydrophilic fertilizer solution, preventing flocculation while enabling uniform application
2Stability of the object's composition
If additional dispersants are added to maintain suspension stability, then flocculation is prevented, but formulation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The phosphate ester dispersant performs multiple functions simultaneously: it adsorbs to water-insoluble pesticide particles providing steric stabilization, compatibilizes with high electrolyte concentrated fertilizers like 10-34-0, and enables direct injection without further dilution. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional auxiliary dispersants or stabilizers
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and utilizes the dispersant functionality directly from the phosphate ester molecule itself, rather than adding separate dispersant components. The phosphate ester groups within the molecular structure provide the necessary surfactant and stabilizing properties, consolidating multiple functions into a single chemical component
3Stability of the object's composition
If suspension concentrate is diluted with water before application, then stability is improved, but application time and water consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the stability parameters of the suspension concentrate by incorporating phosphate esters with specific hydrophobic alkyl groups (4-11 carbon atoms) and controlled alkoxylation. These parameter changes enable the concentrate to maintain stability at high concentrations and in high electrolyte environments, allowing direct application without dilution
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 phosphate ester-based suspension concentrate maintains stability, enabling uniform application of pesticides and fertilizers, reducing nozzle-plugging and extending storage stability up to 24 hours at room temperature.
Implementation Method 1
a suspension concentrate comprising: a phosphate ester... water-insoluble pesticide; and water
Implementation Method 2
most commercially available suspension concentrates cause immediate flocculation after they are added into 10-34-0 fertilizer. Flocculation prevents the even and consistent application
Data Source
AI summary
A suspension concentrate includes a phosphate ester having the general formula:where X is chosen from H, a cation and R2O(AO)z2; Y is chosen from H, a cation and R3O(AO)z3; R1, R2 and R3 are linear or branched alkyl groups having from about 4 to 11 carbon atoms; AO is an alkoxy group; and z1, z2 and z3 are numbers from about 1 to 4. The suspension concentrate further includes a water-insoluble solid pesticide and water.