Decarboxylated Rosin Acid Adjuvant for Agricultural Spray Drift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drift control adjuvants for agricultural spray applications face challenges such as supply variability, inconsistent biodegradability, reduced compatibility with diverse agrochemicals, and lack of performance consistency under varying field conditions, necessitating the need for renewable and sustainable materials that effectively reduce spray drift.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural spray composition utilizing decarboxylated rosin acid as a drift control agent, combined with a surfactant system, to modify spray droplet characteristics and reduce drift, achieving droplet sizes of 215-430 μm with a fines fraction of 2-25% and a relative span of 0.9-1.5.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional drift control adjuvants containing oil components and surfactants are used, then spray drift is controlled, but supply variability and performance inconsistency occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the drift control adjuvant by using decarboxylated rosin acid instead of conventional oil components. This substitution maintains the adjuvant's drift control functionality while improving compatibility with diverse agrochemicals and ensuring more consistent performance across different field conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite adjuvant system combining decarboxylated rosin acid with surfactants. This composite material approach leverages the unique properties of both components to achieve reliable drift control while enhancing compatibility with various agrochemical formulations.
2Reliability
If conventional oil-based drift control adjuvants are used, then droplet formation is aided, but biodegradability inconsistency and environmental concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs decarboxylated rosin acid, a renewable and biodegradable material derived from natural sources. This substitution replaces persistent petroleum-based oils with a naturally degradable alternative, ensuring consistent biodegradability and reducing supply chain variability associated with petroleum products.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent fundamentally changes the material source parameter from petroleum-derived or vegetable-based oils to decarboxylated rosin acid. This parameter change improves both the consistency of biodegradability and the reliability of supply, as rosin acid is derived from renewable pine tree resins with stable production sources.
3Productivity
If spray application is used for delivering agrochemicals, then efficient delivery is achieved, but fine spray droplet generation causes drift
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface tension and rheological parameters of the spray solution by incorporating decarboxylated rosin acid as a drift control adjuvant. This parameter modification allows the spray system to maintain efficient droplet formation and delivery while reducing the generation of fine, drift-prone droplets through altered fluid properties.
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 forming larger droplets, enhancing application efficacy and minimizing off-target deposition, while being environmentally friendly and compatible with various agrochemicals.
Implementation Method 1
The decarboxylated rosin acid comprises one or more C═C groups, and 40-100 wt. % of tricyclic compounds having 18-20 carbon atoms. The spray droplets formed from the agricultural spray composition when discharged through one or more spray nozzles exhibit at least one of: a volume mean diameter (VMD) of 215-430 μm, a fines fraction of 2-25% by volume for droplets having a diameter less than 141 μm, and a relative span of 0.9-1.5.
Implementation Method 2
Conventional drift control adjuvants typically contain an oil component and a surfactant package. The oil components may be petroleum-derived, vegetable-based, or a methylated derivative thereof, and are generally included to aid droplet formation, spreading, and deposition.
Implementation Method 3
The composition effectively reduces spray drift by forming larger droplets, enhancing application efficacy and minimizing off-target deposition.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to agricultural spray compositions that reduce spray drift using a drift control adjuvant comprising decarboxylated rosin acid (DCR), a surfactant system, and optional components, in combination with an agricultural chemical component in a carrier. The drift control agent may be supplied as neat DCR or as part of the adjuvant. Methods include preparing the spray by (i) combining the adjuvant with a concentrated agricultural chemical component to form a concentrate composition and diluting with a carrier, or (ii) diluting the agricultural chemical component with a carrier and subsequently adding the adjuvant. When discharged through spray nozzles, the compositions increase droplet size and narrow the droplet-size distribution, thereby reducing fine droplets and spray drift while maintaining coverage and compatibility across a range of agricultural actives.