Adjuvant composition for chemicals used in agriculture

Abstract

According to the invention an adjuvant for use with a chemical used in agriculture is provided comprising: (a) not in excess of about 75% by weight of one or more lipophilic solvents; (b) not in excess of about 50% by weight of one or more plant nutrients (e.g. ammonium salts of inorganic anions); and (c) not in excess of about 50% of a mixture of one or more cationic emulsifiers including surfactants which exhibit cationic characteristic in acidic conditions.

1 . A homogeneous liquid adjuvant for use with a chemical used in agriculture comprising: 
 (a) greater than 5% and up to 75% by weight of one or more lipophilic solvents;    (b) one or more lipophobic plant nutrients present in an amount up to about 50% by weight; and    (c) a mixture of one or more cationic emulsifiers selected from the group consisting of cationic emulsifiers, emulsifiers having cationic characteristics in acidic conditions and mixtures thereof present in an amount up to about 50% by weight;    wherein the cationic emulsifier acts as a coupling agent between the lipophilic solvent and the lipophobic plant nutrient to form a homogeneuos liquid composition.    
     
     
         2 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 1  comprising: 
 (a) from 5 to 55% by weight of one or more lipophilic solvents;    (b) from 1 to 30% by weight of one or more lipophobic plant nutrients; and    (c) from I to 15% of a mixture of one or more cationic emulsifiers.    
     
     
         3 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 2  comprising: 
 (a) from 15 to 35% by weight of one or more lipophilic solvents;    (b) from 5 to 25% by weight of one or more lipophobic plant nutrients; and    (c) from 1 to 10% of a mixture of one or more cationic emulsifiers.    
     
     
         4 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 1  wherein the lipophilic solvent is selected from the group consisting of petroleum fractions, vegetable oils, synthetic triglycerides, alkyl esters of fatty acids, fatty alcohols, guerbet alcohols or any mixture thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 4  wherein the lipophilic solvent compromises a petroleum fraction.  
     
     
         6 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 5  wherein the petroleum fraction is a mineral oil.  
     
     
         7 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 4  wherein the lipophilic solvent comprises an alkyl ester of a fatty acid.  
     
     
         8 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 7  wherein the fatty acid of the alkyl ester of a fatty acid has an alkyl moiety derived from the simple alcohols methanol, ethanol, propanol or butanol.  
     
     
         9 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 7  wherein the alkyl ester of a fatty acid is derived from natural oils and fats, specific blends produced by fatty acids manufacturers or from fatty acids produced by synthetic means.  
     
     
         10 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 9  wherein the natural oils and fats are selected from the group consisting of lard, tallow, vegetable oils and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 1  wherein the lipophobic plant nutrients comprise one or more ammonium salts of inorganic ions.  
     
     
         12 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 11  wherein the ammonium salts of inorganic ions are selected from the group consisting of ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 12  wherein the ammonium salt of inorganic ions is ammonium sulfate.  
     
     
         14 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 1  wherein the cationic emulsifiers are selected from fatty amine oxides or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 1  wherein the cationic emulsifiers are quaternary cationic emulsifiers.  
     
     
         16 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 1  wherein the cationic emulsifiers are selected from dimethylcocoamine, dimethyllaurylamine oxide, alkyltrimethylammonium chloride, alkyl dimethylbenzylammonium chloride, alkylpyridium chloride, alkylimidazolium chloride, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 16  wherein the cationic emulsifiers are selected alkyltrimethylammonium chloride, dimethyllaurylamine oxide or mixtures thereof  
     
     
         18 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 1  further comprising one or more other components to improve the form of the composition.  
     
     
         19 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 18  wherein the other component is selected from nonionic emulsifiers, co-solvents and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 18  wherein the other component is a mixture of one or more nonionic emulsifiers.  
     
     
         21 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 19  wherein the nonionic emulsifiers are selected from the group consisting of alkyl polysaccharides, sorbate emulsifiers, alcohol ethoxylates, fatty alkanolamides or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         22 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 18  wherein the other component is a co-solvent.  
     
     
         23 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 22  wherein the co-solvent is selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, hexylene glycol, polypropylene glycols, ethanol or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 6  wherein the cationic emulsifiers are quaternary cationic emulsifiers.  
     
     
         25 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 24  further compromising nonionic emulsifiers selected from the group consisting of alkylpolysaccharides, fatty alkanolamide, sorbitan monooleate, alcohol ethoxylate and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         26 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 24  further comprising co-solvents selected from the group consisting of 1,3-butanediol, ethanol and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         27 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 1  wherein a mixture of at least two cationic emulsifiers is used.  
     
     
         28 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 27  wherein the mixture of cationic emulsifiers comprises fatty quaternary ammonium chlorides and/or fatty amine oxides in conjunction with fatty alkyldimethylamine salts of simple organic acids.  
     
     
         29 . The homogeneous liquid adjuvant according to  claim 1  further comprising one or more other available adjuvant components.  
     
     
         30 . An agrochemical composition comprising a chemical used in agriculture and an activity enhancing amount of a homogeneous liquid adjuvant, said homogeneous liquid adjuvant comprising: 
 (a) greater than 5% and up to 75% by weight of one or more lipophilic solvents;    (b) one or more lipophobic plant nutrients present in an amount up to about 50% by weight; and    (c) a mixture of one or more cationic emulsifiers selected from the group consisting of cationic emulsifiers, emulsifiers having cationic characteristics in acidic conditions and mixtures thereof present in an amount up to about 50% by weight;    wherein the cationic emulsifier acts as a coupling agent between the lipophilic solvent and the lipophobic plant nutrient to form a homogeneous liquid composition.    
     
     
         31 . A method for enhancing the activity of a chemical used in agriculture comprising the step of combining the chemical with a homogeneous liquid adjuvant comprising: 
 (a) greater than 5% and up to 75% by weight of one or more lipophilic solvents;    (b) one or more lipophobic plant nutrients present in an amount up to about 50% by weight; and    (c) a mixture of one or more cationic emulsifiers selected from the group consisting of cationic emulsifiers, emulsifiers having cationic characteristics in acidic conditions and mixtures thereof present up to about 50% by weight;    wherein the cationic emulsifier acts as a coupling agent between the lipophilic solvent and the lipophobic plant nutrient to form a homogeneous liquid composition.    
     
     
         32 . A method of treating vegetation comprising the step of applying to said vegetation an agrochemical composition comprising a chemical used in agriculture and a homogeneous liquid adjuvant comprising: 
 (a) greater than 5% and up to 75% by weight of one or more lipophilic solvents;    (b) one or more lipophobic plant nutrients present in an amount up to about 50% by weight; and    (c) a mixture of one or more cationic emulsifiers selected from the group consisting of cationic emulsifiers, emulsifiers which exhibit cationic characteristics in acidic conditions and mixtures thereof, present in an amount up to about 50%;    wherein the cationic emulsifier acts as a coupling agent between the lipophilic solvent and the lipophobic plant nutrient to form a homogeneous liquid composition.    
     
     
         33 . A homogeneous liquid adjuvant for use with a chemical used in agriculture comprising: 
 (a) greater than 5% and up to 75% by weight of one or more lipophilic solvents;    (b) one or more lipophobic plant nutrients present up to about 50% by weight; and    (c) a mixture of one or more cationic emulsifiers selected from the group consisting of cationic emulsifiers, emulsifiers having cationic characteristics in acidic conditions and mixtures thereof present up to about 50% by weight; and    (d) from 1 to 30% of one or more other components to improve the form of the composition;    wherein the cationic emulsifier acts as a coupling agent between the lipophilic solvent and the lipophobic plant nutrient to form a homogeneous liquid composition.    
     
     
         34 . A homogeneous liquid adjuvant for use with a chemical used in agriculture comprising: 
 (a) greater than 5% and up to 75% by weight of one or more lipophilic solvents;    (b) one or more lipophobic plant nutrients present up to about 50% by weight; and    (c) a mixture of one or more cationic emulsifiers selected from the group consisting of cationic emulsifiers, emulsifiers having cationic characteristics in acidic conditions and mixtures thereof present up to about 50% by weight; and    (d) from 1 to 30% of one or more other components to improve the form of the composition selected from the group consisting of nonionic emulsifiers, co-solvents and mixtures thereof;    wherein the cationic emulsifier acts as a coupling agent between the lipophilic solvent and the lipophobic plant nutrient to form a homogeneous liquid composition.