Polyacrylamide Chelating Agents for Crop Protection Formulation Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Crop protection formulations often flocculate or separate when mixed with liquid fertilizers, leading to application issues and commercial drawbacks due to limited versatility of existing fertilizer compatibility agents.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a chelating agent, such as aminopolycarboxylic acid chelating agents, into crop protection formulations or adding them during the tank mixing process to improve compatibility with liquid fertilizers, preventing flocculation and sedimentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fertilizer compatibility agents (phosphate esters and APGs) are used, then some compatibility is achieved, but versatility across different liquid fertilizers and crop protection formulations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by developing a single compatibility agent based on polyacrylamide chemistry that can function across multiple types of liquid fertilizers and crop protection formulations. The agent's molecular structure with adjustable parameters allows it to adapt to different ionic strengths and composition variations, providing broad-spectrum compatibility rather than requiring different agents for different applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by modifying the molecular weight, degree of hydrolysis, and ionic charge of the polyacrylamide-based compatibility agent. These parameter adjustments allow optimization of the agent's performance across different fertilizer formulations with varying ionic strengths and compositions, enabling a single agent design to handle multiple scenarios.
2Quantity of substance
If concentrated crop protection formulations are dispersed into liquid fertilizer without compatibility agents, then application concentration is maintained, but flocculation or oiling out occurs immediately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a polyacrylamide-based compatibility agent as an intermediary substance between the concentrated crop protection formulation and the liquid fertilizer. This mediator prevents direct adverse interactions (flocculation or oiling out) by forming stable associations with both components, allowing the active ingredient to remain at concentrated levels while maintaining dispersion stability in the fertilizer solution.
3Stability of the object's composition
If existing fertilizer compatibility agents are used, then some mixing stability is achieved, but equipment blockages still occur during commercial application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the molecular weight and ionic charge parameters of the polyacrylamide compatibility agent. These parameter adjustments create a formulation that maintains stable mixing characteristics while also ensuring proper flow properties through application equipment, eliminating blockages that occur with conventional agents.
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 use of chelating agents significantly enhances the compatibility of crop protection formulations with liquid fertilizers, allowing for successful commercial application without equipment blockages and improving mixing stability over time.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating a chelating agent, such as aminopolycarboxylic acid chelating agents, into crop protection formulations or adding them during the tank mixing process to improve compatibility with liquid fertilizers, preventing flocculation and sedimentation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to methods for improving the compatibility of crop protection formulations and tank mix applications with liquid fertilizers by (i) building a chelating agent into a crop protection formulation, or (ii) adding a chelating agent when mixing the crop protection formulation with the liquid fertilizer.