Surfactant blends useful in agriculture

• US 8,673,819 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2009
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Akzo Nobel Chemicals International B.V. (Nouryon Coöperatief UA)
• Original Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V. (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Sun, Jinxia Susan
• Primary Examiner(s): Pak, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schlientz, Nathan W
• Application Number:
  US13/002,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20110111961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: 424/405, 504/320, 504/323, 504/358, 504/362, 504/363, 514/546, 514/549, 514/552, 514/571, 514/718, 514/723
• US Class Current: 504/323
• 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 25/30 characterised by the surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 39/04 Aryloxy-acetic acids; Derivatives thereof

Abstract

The present invention teaches a surfactant blend composition of at least one nonionic alkoxylate and at least one sugar-based surfactant, and its use as an adjuvant for pesticides. The pesticidal composition employing the surfactant blend composition of the invention realizes an efficacy that is unexpectedly superior to similar pesticidal compositions which employ only the individual surfactant components. The composition of the present invention is useful as a tank side additive, or as a component in herbicidal formulations. In addition the compositions of the present invention are useful as adjuvants for other pesticides, such as, fungicides, insecticides, plant growth regulators, acaracides and the like.

Claims

1. An aqueous herbicidal formulation consisting essentially of at least one acid functional phenoxy herbicide and a weight concentration of from 0.01 to 5% based on a total weight of the formulation of at least one adjuvant composition, wherein the at least one adjuvant composition is a blend of:

at least one alkoxylated nonionic surfactant, and

at least one ethoxylated sorbitan,

wherein said at least one alkoxylated nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of C10-12 alcohol (10 EO) ethoxylate, tridecyl alcohol (6EO) ethoxylate, C10 alcohol (5 EO) ethoxylate, C8 alcohol (4 EO) ethoxylate, C9-11 alcohol (4 EO) ethoxylate, isodecyl alcohol (7 EO) ethoxylate and mixtures thereof; and

wherein said at least one ethoxylated sorbitan is of the formula;

2. The formulation of claim 1, wherein said adjuvant composition is present at weight concentrations from 0.025% to 0.5%.

3. The formulation of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of alkoxylated alcohol to ethoxylated sorbitan is from 1:

99 to 99;

1.

4. The formulation of claim 1 wherein the acid functional phenoxy herbicide is selected from the group consisting of phenoxy acetic acids, phenoxy propionic acids, phenoxy butyric acids and mixtures thereof.

5. The formulation of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of alkoxylated alcohol to ethoxylated sorbitan is from 25:

75 to 75;

25.

6. The formulation of claim 5 wherein the weight ratio of alkoxylated alcohol to ethoxylated sorbitan is from 45:

65 to 65;

45.

7. A method for treating plants which comprises contacting said plants with an effective amount of the formulation of claim 1.

8. A method of improving the efficacy of an aqueous herbicidal formulation of one or more acid functional phenoxy herbicidal actives, said method consisting essentially of adding to said formulation a blend of:

at least one alkoxylated nonionic surfactant, and

at least one ethoxylated sorbitan,

to a weight concentration of from 0.01 to 5% based on a total weight of the formulation,

wherein said at least one alkoxylated nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of C10-12 alcohol (10 EO) ethoxylate, tridecyl alcohol (6EO) ethoxylate, C10 alcohol (5 EO) ethoxylate, C8 alcohol (4 EO) ethoxylate, C9-11 alcohol (4 EO) ethoxylate, isodecyl alcohol (7 EO) ethoxylate and mixtures thereof; and

wherein said at least one ethoxylated sorbitan is of the formula;

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said blend is added to a weight concentration from 0.025% to 0.5%.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the weight ratio of alkoxylated alcohol to ethoxylated sorbitan is from 1:

99 to 99;

1.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the acid functional phenoxy herbicidal active is selected from the group consisting of phenoxy acetic acids, phenoxy propionic acids, phenoxy butyric acids and mixtures thereof.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the weight ratio of alkoxylated alcohol to ethoxylated sorbitan is from 25:

75 to 75;

25.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the weight ratio of alkoxylated alcohol to ethoxylated sorbitan is from 45:

65 to 65;

45.