Monsanto Company

Ralph E Lindemann, Jr

Thomas Day

Jane L Gillespie

Richard M Kramer

Solid N-phosphonomethylglycine or glyphosate acid is charged to a substantially closed system and then partially pre-dried as by continuously recirculating it through a hot air grinding/drying system. A cooled solution of ammonium hydroxide is then metered into and reacted with the partially dried glyphosate acid as it is being recirculated in a manner such that the moisture content of the reaction mass so formed is continuously decreased throughout the reaction. Following completion of the ammonium hydroxide addition, a powdered reaction mass/product having a moisture content of about 2 wt. % is formed. Significantly, at this stage, the ammonium glyphosate product is suitable for end use and it can be readily dissolved in water and immediately used as a herbicide or plant growth regulator. More importantly, however, this product is capable due to its highly sorptive character to be further formulated into a product exceptionally highly loaded with adjuvants and particularly surfactants.

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St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Ralph E Lindemann, Jr