Herbicide compositions comprising suspension concentrate with glyphosate acid, methods of preparation, and methods of use

• US 7,776,790 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Platte Chemical Company
• Original Assignee: Platte Chemical Company
• Inventors: Herold, Anthony E., Parrish, Scott K., Beardmore, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHONG, YONG SOO
• Application Number:
  US10/103,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20030153462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,071 Days
• Field of Search: 504/206
• US Class Current: 504/206
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 2300/00 Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/02 containing liquids as carriers, diluents or solvents
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/04 Dispersions, emulsions, suspoemulsions, suspension concentrates or gels foams A01N25/16
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/30 characterised by the surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 37/38 having at least one oxygen or sulfur atom attached to an aromatic ring system
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 37/40 having at least one carboxylic group or a thio analogue, or a derivative thereof, and one oxygen or sulfur atom attached to the same aromatic ring system
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 39/02 Aryloxy-carboxylic acids; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 39/04 Aryloxy-acetic acids; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/40 six-membered rings
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/50 1,3-Diazoles; Hydrogenated 1,3-diazoles
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/60 1,4-Diazines; Hydrogenated 1,4-diazines
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 57/20 containing acyclic or cycloaliphatic radicals
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing elements or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/02 Sulfur; Selenium; Tellurium; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/20 Copper
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/26 Phosphorus; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 61/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing substances of unknown or undetermined composition, e.g. substances characterised only by the mode of action

Abstract

Described are suspension concentrates that include glyphosate acid, herbicide compositions prepared therefrom, and methods of making and using each.

Claims

1. A herbicide application composition comprising

a suspension concentrate comprising glyphosate acid, and

acidifying agent in an amount so the pH of the herbicide application composition is below the pKa of glyphosate acid.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the pH of the herbicide application composition is below about 2.6.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the herbicide application composition does not contain sulfuric acid.

4. The composition of claim 1 comprising acidifying agent selected from the group consisting of:

hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, polyphosphoric acid, perchloric acid, and combinations thereof.

5. The composition of claim 1 comprising:

about 10 to about 100 parts by volume suspension concentrate comprising

about 20 to about 50 parts by weight glyphosate acid,

about 5 to about 30 total parts by weight of one or more of surfactant, thickener, antifreeze, and antifoam,

about 20 to about 60 parts by weight water; and

about 1 to about 4 parts by volume aqueous acidifying agent.

17. The herbicide application composition of claim 1 wherein the acidifying agent comprises a sulfuric acid adduct according to the formula:

18. The composition of claim 1 wherein the acidifying agent is an adduct of sulfuric acid and urea.

19. The composition of claim 1 wherein the acidifying agent comprises sulfuric acid.

20. The composition of claim 1 comprising

suspension concentrate comprising glyphosate acid,

acidifying agent in an amount so the pH of the herbicide application composition is below the pKa of glyphosate acid, and

water.

21. The composition of claim 20 wherein the ratio of suspension concentrate to water is in the range from 1 pint of suspension concentration:

3 gallons of water to 1 pint of suspension concentrate;

15 gallons of water.

6. A method of applying a herbicide application composition, the method comprising

preparing a herbicide application composition comprising

a suspension concentrate comprising glyphosate acid,

acidifying agent in an amount so the pH of the herbicide application composition is below the pKa of glyphosate acid, and

applying the herbicide application composition to control plant growth.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the suspension concentrate comprises from about 25 to about 50 parts by weight glyphosate acid.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the suspension concentrate comprises glyphosate acid particles suspended in water and surfactant.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the glyphosate acid particles have an average particle size below about 10 micron.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the suspension concentrate comprises cationic ethoxylated tallow amine surfactant.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the pH of the herbicide application composition is below about 2.6.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the acidifying agent is selected from the group consisting of:

hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, polyphosphoric acid, perchloric acid, and combinations thereof.

22. The method of claim 6 wherein the acidifying agent comprises sulfuric acid.

23. The method of claim 6 wherein the herbicide application composition comprises

suspension concentrate comprising glyphosate acid,

acidifying agent in an amount so the pH of the herbicide application composition is below the pKa of glyphosate acid, and

water.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the ratio of suspension concentrate to water is in the range from 1 pint of suspension concentration:

3 gallons of water to 1 pint of suspension concentrate;

15 gallons of water.

13. A method of preparing a suspension concentrate comprising glyphosate acid, the method comprising:

combining glyphosate acid particles with water, surfactant, and dispersant,

wet milling the mixture of glyphosate acid particles, water, surfactant, and dispersant to reduce the size of glyphosate acid particles to a size that can be suspended in the water, surfactant, and dispersant, and

using a high speed mixer to mix the water, glyphosate acid particles, surfactant, and dispersant, to produce a suspension concentrate comprising the glyphosate acid particles.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the glyphosate acid particles are wet milled to an average particle diameter less than 10 microns.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising adding a thickener to the suspension concentrate comprising the glyphosate acid particles, and mixing.

16. A method of preparing a herbicide application composition comprising glyphosate acid, the method comprising

preparing a suspension concentrate composition by a method comprising

combining glyphosate acid particles with water and one or more of surfactant and dispersant, and

mixing or agitating the water, glyphosate acid particles, and one or more of surfactant and dispersant, to produce a suspension concentrate containing the glyphosate acid particles, and

adding acidifying agent in an amount so the pH of the herbicide application composition is below the pKa of glyphosate acid.

25. The method of claim 16 wherein the acidifying agent comprises sulfuric acid.

26. The method of claim 16 comprising a step of diluting the suspension concentrate with water to provide the herbicide application composition.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the ratio of suspension concentrate to water is in the range from 1 pint of suspension concentration:

3 gallons of water to 1 pint of suspension concentrate;

15 gallons of water.

28. The method of claim 16 wherein the acidifying agent is added to the suspension concentrate in an amount so the pH of the herbicide application composition is below the pKa of glyphosate acid.