Polyglycerol Copolymer Drift Reduction in Pesticide Sprays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pesticide formulations face challenges in reducing drift during application, as small droplets tend to evaporate or drift away from the target area, leading to inefficiency and potential harm to adjacent areas and crops, despite the use of known drift control agents which may not be effective under practical conditions.
Innovation Solution
The use of specific polyglycerol-based copolymers in compositions with water-immiscible oils, which increase droplet size and reduce drift by forming larger particles, is proposed. These copolymers are derived from glycerol, dicarboxylic acids like oxalic acid, and monocarboxylic acids, and are used in conjunction with a water-immiscible liquid medium such as esters, vegetable oils, or aromatic hydrocarbons to enhance the stability and effectiveness of pesticide preparations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If small droplets are used in spray applications, then the spray cone can be narrower and application precision improved, but the droplets drift away more easily and evaporate faster
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical-chemical parameters of the spray droplets by incorporating copolymers and oils that alter surface tension and viscosity. This enables droplets to maintain smaller sizes for precision while resisting drift and evaporation through modified interfacial properties and enhanced cohesion.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite formulations combining copolymers (such as polyacrylamide/acrylic acid polymers), oils, and traditional drift control agents. This composite approach creates synergistic effects where the polymer provides structural integrity and the oil modifies surface properties, together preventing drift while maintaining spray cone narrowness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If drift control agents are added to increase droplet size, then drift is reduced, but the spray cone widens and placement precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simply increasing droplet size, the patent changes the rheological parameters of the spray formulation by adding copolymers and oils. This modifies droplet formation dynamics and surface properties, allowing drift reduction through enhanced cohesion and reduced evaporation rather than through size increase alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The copolymers and oils act as intermediary substances that mediate between the spray droplets and the environment. They form protective films around droplets, reducing direct interaction with air currents and evaporative forces, thereby preventing drift without requiring larger droplet sizes.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If water-soluble polymers are added to modify rheology, then drift control is improved, but compatibility with other pesticide components and storage stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite systems combining water-soluble copolymers with oils and other adjuvants in specific ratios. This composite structure allows the polymer to provide drift control while the oil and other components buffer potential incompatibilities and stabilize the formulation during storage, preventing precipitation or phase separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different functional components in localized roles within the formulation. The copolymer specifically targets rheology modification for drift control, while oils and other additives handle compatibility and stability functions. This division of functional responsibilities allows each component to optimize its specific role without compromising overall formulation reliability.
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 polyglycerol-based copolymers effectively reduce the proportion of small droplets by at least 10% compared to formulations without them, improving the precision and effectiveness of pesticide application by minimizing drift and enhancing the biological activity of the active ingredients.
Implementation Method 1
The drift of the spray cone is essentially determined by the droplet size. The smaller the droplets, the longer the residence time in the air and the greater the tendency to evaporate and/or drift horizontally
Implementation Method 2
It is known that the rheology of aqueous agents can be modified by adding water-soluble polymers, for example polyacrylamides, acrylamide/acrylic acid polymers, sodium polyacrylate, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, polysaccharides, natural and synthetic guar gum
Implementation Method 3
The smaller the droplets, the longer the residence time in the air and the greater the tendency to evaporate and/or drift horizontally
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to one or several copolymers A), wherein the copolymers contain one or several structural units, derived from a) 19.9 to 75.9 weight percent glycerin; b) 0.1 to 30 weight percent of at least one dicarboxylic acid, and c) 24 to 80 weight percent of at least one monocarboxylic acid of formula I (I) R1-COOH (I), wherein R1 is (C5-C29)-alkyl; (C7-C29)-alkenyl; phenyl, or naphthyl, and compositions containing one or several copolymers A) and B) a water-immiscible fluid medium, containing one or several members of the group consisting of esters of monocarboxylic and dicarboxylic acids, the acid and/or alcohol component of which has at least 4 C-atoms, plant-based oils, mineral oils, and aromatic hydrocarbons are suitable for reducing the drift during the application of pesticide preparations.