Croda, Inc.

Croda Americas LLC

Croda International, Inc.

Gregory James Lindner

Trevor Graham Blease

Peter J Porpiglia

Kevin Wade Penfield

Lee David Richards

Spray drift reductants for agrochemical formulations and methods for reducing spray drift in agrochemical formulations are disclosed. An agrochemical formulation may comprise at least one spray drift reductant comprising a fatty acid ester of a Cto Cpolyol, or an oligomer thereof having from 2 to 5 repeat units. The formulation also comprises at least one agrochemical active and/or nutrient, and optionally, a clathrate compound. A sprayable agrochemical formulation may comprise 0.01 wt. % to 1.0 wt. % of a spray drift reductant that is non-ionic, non-self-emulsifiable, has a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of less than 7, and is capable of reducing spray drift by at least 10%, and also comprises at least on agrochemical active and/or nutrient, and optionally, a clathrate compound.

Spray drift reduction

An agrochemical formulation comprising an agricultural active and an adjuvant is disclosed. The adjuvant comprises a residue of sorbitan or sorbitan derivative having at least one active hydrogen atom replaced to form an ethyloxylated or propoxylated ester. The adjuvant and methods of treating crops with an agrochemical formulation comprising the adjuvant are also disclosed.

Alkoxylated polysorbate ester adjuvants

Adjuvants for agrochemical active formulation and methods of providing adjuvancy in agrochemical formulations are disclosed. An agrochemical formulation may comprise a first adjuvant comprising a fatty ester of a Cto Cpolyol, or an oligomer thereof having from 2 to 5 repeat units, a co-adjuvant comprising an alkoxylated fatty alcohol having a Cto Cfatty chain and from 1 to 30 oxyalkylene groups, and at least one agrochemical active. Use of a combination of a first adjuvant comprising a fatty ester of a Cto Cpolyol, or an oligomer thereof having from 2 to 5 repeat units, and a co-adjuvant comprising an alkoxylated fatty alcohol having a Cto Cfatty chain and from 1 to 30 oxyalkylene groups and a method for treating vegetation to control pests is also disclosed.

Adjuvancy combination

A wind tunnel and method of use thereof. The wind tunnel has an airflow system which is capable of delivering air vertically down through, and optionally horizontally across, a spray chamber having transparent sidewalls, wherein spray particulates produced in the spray chamber can be analyzed through the transparent sidewalls, preferably by use of a laser. The dimensions of the spray chamber are preferably greater than that of the airflow system. The use of the wind tunnel enables a wider range and more accurate spray particle measurements, especially for an agrochemical composition, to be made in a single test environment.

Method of analyzing spray particulates through a transparent sidewall

Homogeneous stable liquid agrochemical concentrate formulations which form stable dilutions with water comprises biologically efficacious oil, water, agrochemical dissolved in the water to form concentrated aqueous electrolyte, a stabilizing surfactant, based on non-ionic or non-ionic and anionic or amphoteric surfactant, comprising oil compatible, electrolyte tolerant surfactant and water soluble, electrolyte tolerant surfactant and optionally a polyol component, are useful as tank mix adjuvants. The formulations combine biologically efficacious oil, e.g. crop oil, with an electrolyte agrochemical, particularly water soluble non-selective herbicide such as glyphosate, or electrolyte nutrients particularly water soluble inorganic fertilizers providing nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium or sulphur.

Agrochemical compositions

Ethoxylated fatty acid mono-ester(s) of sorbitan with a fatty acid chain length from 8 to 14 and an overall degree of ethoxylation from 7 to 16 are new (though related to the polysorbates). These compounds are useful as adjuvants in agrochemical formulations, particularly combination formulations of herbicides having differing weed control effects, notably of non-selective herbicide and selective herbicide; particularly selective herbicide, particularly selective broadleaf herbicide, and graminicide; and selective graminicide and non-selective herbicide, especially a combination of a glyphosate type non-selective water soluble herbicide with a clethodim type selective (graminicide) herbicide, particularly to reduce or eliminate antagonism between differing types of herbicide. Formulations including such herbicide combinations and the adjuvant compounds are particularly useful in controlling weed including volunteer glyphosate resistant maize in subsequently sown glyphosate resistant soya.

Agrochemical adjuvants and formulations

A composition contains at least one pest control active and a mixture of unsaturated C12-C26 fatty acids and/or salts thereof and saturated C6-C14 fatty acids and/or salts thereof. The pest control active is preferably at least one plant essential oil. The composition is suitably in the form of an emulsion, particularly a transparent microemulsion. The mixture of fatty acids and/or salts thereof can be used as part of, or as the sole, emulsifying system. The emulsion can exhibit improved pest control properties.

Pest control composition

Surfactant compounds which include an amine ended polyalkylene glycol hydrophile linked to Cto Cmainly hydrocarbyl, particularly composite hydrocarbyl, especially derived from a polymerised fatty acid and/or an aralkyl substituted phenol, hydrophobe, are useful in dispersing solids, particularly active agrochemicals, in aqueous media, or as adjuvants in agrochemical formulations, particularly of water soluble non-selective herbicides. In particular the hydrophobe is derived from polymerised fatty acids, such as dimer and, especially, trimer acids or from aralkyl substituted phenols. Aqueous dispersions using such surfactants can remain stable even with substantial concentrations of electrolyte e.g. in stable agrochemical dispersions including water soluble electrolyte agrochemical, such as glyphosate and/or ammonium sulphate.

Surfactants in agrochemical formulations

Oil based emulsifiable concentrates containing a liquid saccharide including a) at least one oil component; b) at least one saccharide, particularly a liquid saccharide solution (LS); c) and at least one non-ionic surfactant. The concentrate may also contain at least one of d) at least one surfactant hydrocarbyl saccharide; or e) at least one anionic surfactant; or f) at least one additional oil soluble non-ionic surfactant. The concentrates are typically homogeneous for at least 24 hours and emulsify readily on dilution into water. The concentrates may also contain an antifoaming agent especially a polysiloxane. Upon dilution in water, the emulsions formed from the concentrates are applied to substrates in combination with agrochemically active ingredients, preferably N-phosphonomethylglycine in the form of its soluble salts, to control weeds.

Growing community of inventors

Wilmington, DE, United States of America

Gregory James Lindner