Mineral-Zeolite Copper Formulation for Longer Plant Surface Persistence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing copper-based formulations for plant protection suffer from poor persistence and frequent application requirements, leading to environmental contamination and phytotoxicity, with synthetic additives contributing to pollution and health risks.
Innovation Solution
A copper-based product using a co-formulant of natural mineral substances, including zeolites, is formulated to enhance copper dwell time on plants, reducing the need for frequent applications and minimizing environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If historical copper-salt based formulations (oxychlorides, hydroxides, Bordeaux mixture) are used to treat plant pathologies, then strong fungistatic and bactericide action is achieved, but the efficiency is greatly reduced due to loss of active principle and poor persistence requiring very frequent treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines copper salts with natural organic substances (plant extracts, humic substances, amino acids) to create composite formulations. This composite structure allows the organic components to act as carriers and protectors, reducing copper loss and extending its persistence on plant surfaces while maintaining the strong fungistatic and bactericide action.
Solution Approach 2:
The natural organic substances serve as intermediaries between the copper active principle and the plant environment. These organic carriers protect the copper ions from premature degradation and facilitate their controlled release, thereby extending the duration of action without compromising the initial efficacy.
2Reliability
If very frequent treatment is applied to maintain copper efficacy, then plant protection is maintained, but environmental and ecotoxicological risks increase due to accumulation of copper in the soil
Solution Approach 1:
The formulation enables continuous protective action through controlled release mechanisms. The organic carriers gradually release copper ions over extended periods, maintaining effective protection levels without requiring frequent reapplication, thus preventing soil accumulation while ensuring continuous plant protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the release parameters of copper by incorporating organic substances that modulate copper solubility and availability. This controlled parameter change allows maintaining effective copper concentrations at the plant surface for longer periods, reducing the frequency of applications and preventing environmental accumulation.
3Quantity of substance
If complexed copper formulations (copper tribasic sulphate, copper tallate, copper chelates) are used to reduce copper dosages, then metal content is reduced, but accentuated phytotoxicity in plants and copper residues in vegetable tissues occur with health risks for consumers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes specific natural organic components (humic substances, amino acids, plant extracts) that selectively bind copper in a manner that reduces its phytotoxicity while maintaining efficacy. These extracted organic substances act as selective protectors that allow lower copper dosages without causing harm to plants or leaving harmful residues.
Solution Approach 2:
The formulation changes the chemical parameters of copper by complexing it with natural organic substances, thereby modifying its bioavailability and toxicity profile. This parameter change allows reducing copper dosage while preventing phytotoxicity and minimizing residues in edible tissues through the protective effect of the organic carriers.
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 product achieves prolonged copper persistence on plants, reducing overall copper use by 60-80%, minimizing environmental pollution and phytotoxicity, while maintaining effective plant defense and nutrition.
Implementation Method 1
A copper-based product using a co-formulant of natural mineral substances, including zeolites, is formulated to enhance copper dwell time on plants
Implementation Method 2
The invention relates to a formulation of a copper-based product, obtainable from the method of production specified herein
Data Source
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AI summary
A product for defending and feeding plants that comprises a co-formulant and an active principle, in which the co-formulant consists of a mixture of natural mineral substances chosen from a group comprising calcite, cristobalite, muscovite/illite, magnesium pyroxene, plagioclase, quartz, sanidine, zeolite chabasite, zeolite phillipsite, zeolite clinoptilolite, and the active principle comprises copper sulphate and copper hydroxide. A method for preparing the product for defending and feeding plants comprises the following steps: - preparing a water suspension containing, the co-formulant, copper sulphate and copper hydroxide; - agitation of the water suspension and simultaneous milling of the minerals that make up the co-formulant for a time variable between 24 and 36 hours until reaching granulometry of the solid substances in the water suspension that is not greater than 30 micron; - drying and simultaneous atomising of the product; chemical/physical rebalancing of the product to environmental conditions and subsequent packaging of the product.