N-Alkyl Thiophosphoric Triamide Solvent Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing n-alkyl thiophosphoric triamide formulations for agricultural applications face challenges with cold weather stability, toxicity, fertilizer compatibility, cost, and clean-up, particularly due to the use of organic solvents like ketones, esters, and glycols, which have chemical and physical stability limitations.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating surfactants such as alcohol alkoxylates, alkylphenol alkoxylates, amine oxides, and phosphate ester surfactants into solvent systems based on aliphatic or aromatic ketones, esters, glycols, or organophosphates to enhance the chemical and physical stability of n-alkyl thiophosphoric triamide compositions, eliminating the need for carcinogenic ingredients like 2-pyrrolidone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If organic solvents (ketones, esters, glycols) are used for n-alkyl thiophosphoric triamide formulations, then the formulations can be manufactured, but they exhibit chemical and physical stability limitations and toxicity issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary substance that forms a stable aqueous formulation with n-alkyl thiophosphoric triamide. This water-based system acts as a mediator that eliminates the need for toxic organic solvents while providing superior chemical and physical stability, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the solvent system from organic-based (ketones, esters, glycols) to water-based. This parameter change transforms the formulation properties, eliminating toxicity issues and improving stability while maintaining manufacturability through simple aqueous processing methods.
2Ease of manufacture
If organic solvents are used in n-alkyl thiophosphoric triamide formulations, then the formulations can be produced, but they pose toxicity and carcinogenic risks
Solution Approach 1:
Water serves as a non-toxic intermediary that replaces harmful organic solvents in the formulation. This substitution eliminates carcinogenic and toxic effects associated with ketones, esters, and glycols, while still enabling successful formulation production through aqueous methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive, non-harmful water as a replacement for expensive and harmful organic solvents. Water provides the necessary formulation properties without the toxic side effects, making the system safer and more environmentally friendly while maintaining production feasibility.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional solvent systems are used for n-alkyl thiophosphoric triamide, then the formulations can be created, but they show limited cold weather stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameter from organic-based systems to water-based systems. This parameter change fundamentally improves cold weather stability by eliminating the freezing and phase separation issues inherent in organic solvent formulations, while still allowing easy manufacture through aqueous processing.
4Ease of manufacture
If existing solvent-based formulations are used, then n-alkyl thiophosphoric triamide can be formulated, but they require complex clean-up procedures
Solution Approach 1:
Water acts as an environmentally friendly intermediary that simplifies clean-up procedures compared to organic solvents. The aqueous formulation can be easily disposed of or degraded, eliminating the complex clean-up requirements associated with ketones, esters, and glycols, while maintaining formulation development feasibility.
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 surfactant-enhanced solvent systems provide superior stability and reduced toxicity, enabling stable liquid formulations of n-alkyl thiophosphoric triamides that maintain efficacy across a range of temperatures and improve nitrogen fertilizer application efficiency, while being safer and easier to clean up.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating surfactants such as alcohol alkoxylates, alkylphenol alkoxylates, amine oxides, and phosphate ester surfactants into solvent systems based on aliphatic or aromatic ketones, esters, glycols, or organophosphates to enhance the chemical and physical stability of n-alkyl thiophosphoric triamide compositions
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a composition containing a stabilized solvent ketone, ester, or glycol liquid concentrate of at least one N-alkyl thiophosphoric triamide and at least one surfactant. The invention also relates to methods of using the composition.