Novel process to prepare aqueous formulations

Abstract

Provided is a method of formulating hydrophobic pesticides comprising emulsifying an aqueous phase and a water-immiscible phase to form a formulation; wherein the aqueous phase is comprised of water and optionally a freeze/thaw agent, one or more emulsifiers, or combinations thereof, and the water-immiscible phase comprises the hydrophobic pesticide and one or more emulsifiers.

1 . A process for preparing a stable, aqueous formulation of a hydrophobic pesticide comprising emulsifying an aqueous phase and a water-immiscible phase sufficient for the homogeneous dispersal of the pesticide throughout the formulation; 
 a) wherein the water-immiscible phase comprises the hydrophobic pesticide and one or more emulsifiers selected from the group consisting of a polyalkoxylated nonyl phenyl, an alkoxylated primary alcohol, an ethoxylated distyrylphenol, an ethoxylated distyrylphenol sulphate, an ethoxylated tristyrylphenol phosphate, a tristyrylphenol phosphate ester, a hydroxylated stearic acid polyalkylene glycol polymer, and their corresponding salts; and    b) wherein the aqueous phase comprises a polyalkylene glycol ether emulsifier.    
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the pesticide is selected from the group consisting of carfentrazone-ethyl, sulfentrazone, clomazone, permethrin, zetacypermethrin, and bifenthrin.  
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the pesticide is carfentrazone-ethyl.  
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous phase comprises a freeze/thaw agent.  
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the emulsification comprises stirring the aqueous phase and the water-immiscible phase at a temperature in the range of about 20° C. to about 80° C. for a period of about three minutes to about 24 hours.  
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the emulsification comprises stirring the aqueous phase and the water-immiscible phase at a temperature in the range of about 20° C. to about 70° C. for a period of about five minutes to about three hours.  
   
   
       7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the emulsifiers are selected from the group consisting of an ethoxylated distyrylphenol, an ethoxylated distyrylphenol sulphate, an ethoxylated tristyrylphenol phosphate, a tristyrylphenol phosphate ester, and a tristyrylphenol phosphate potassium salt.  
   
   
       10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the freeze/thaw agent is selected from the group consisting of monoethlyene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, urea, and inorganic salts.  
   
   
       12 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the water-immiscible phase further comprises a hydrocarbon solvent.  
   
   
       13 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the hydrocarbon solvent is selected from the group consisting of an alkylated naphthalene aromatic, an alkylated biphenyl, a hydrogenated aliphate, an isoparaffin, a xylene range aromatic alkyl acetate, a fatty acid, an ester, a mineral oil, a vegetable oil, and an olefin.  
   
   
       14 . A stable, aqueous pesticidal formulation comprising 
 a) a pesticidally effective amount of a hydrophobic pesticides    b) a water-immiscible phase comprising the hydrophobic pesticide and one or more emulsifiers selected from the group consisting of a polyalkoxylated nonyl phenyl, an alkoxylated primary alcohol, an ethoxylated distyrylphenol, an ethoxylated distyrylphenol sulphate, an ethoxylated tristyrylphenol phosphate, a tristyrylphenol phosphate ester, a hydroxylated stearic acid polyalkylene glycol polymer, and their corresponding salts: and    c) an aqueous phase comprising a polyalkylene glycol ether emulsifier.    
   
   
       15 . The stable, aqueous pesticidal formulation of  claim 14 , wherein the pesticide is selected from the group consisting of carfentrazone-ethyl, sulfentrazone, clomazone, permethrin, zetacypermethrin, and bifenthrin.  
   
   
       16 . The stable, aqueous pesticidal formulation of  claim 15 , wherein the pesticide is carfentrazone-ethyl.  
   
   
       17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . The stable, aqueous pesticidal formulation of  claim 14 , further comprising a pesticidally effective amount of one or more additional pesticides selected from the group consisting of glyphosate, (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid, (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid, (RS)-2-(4-chloro-o-tolyloxy)propionic acid, isoproturon, imazapyr, imazamethabenz, imazethapyr, imazaquin, acifluorfen, bifenox, fomasafen, ioxynil, bromoxynil, chlorimuron, chlorsulfuron, bensulfuron, pyrazosulfuron, thifensulfuron, triasulfuron, fenoxaprop, fluazifop, quizalofop, diclofop, bentazone, butachlor, dicamba, and fluroxypyr.  
   
   
       21 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the hydrocarbon solvent is alkylated naphthalene aromatic.  
   
   
       22 . The stable, aqueous pesticidal formulation of  claim 14 , wherein the aqueous phase further comprises a freeze/thaw agent.  
   
   
       23 . The stable, aqueous pesticidal formulation of  claim 22 , wherein the freeze/thaw agent is selected from the group consisting of monoethlyene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, urea, and inorganic salts.  
   
   
       24 . The stable, aqueous pesticidal formulation of  claim 14 , wherein the emulsifiers are selected from the group consisting of an ethoxylated distyrylphenol, an ethoxylated distyrylphenol sulphate, an ethoxylated tristyrylphenol phosphate, a tristyrylphenol phosphate ester, and a tristyrylphenol phosphate potassium salt.  
   
   
       25 . The stable, aqueous pesticidal formulation of  claim 14 , wherein the water-immiscible phase further comprises a hydrocarbon solvent.  
   
   
       26 . The stable, aqueous pesticidal formulation of  claim 25 , wherein the hydrocarbon solvent is selected from the group consisting of an alkylated naphthalene aromatic, an alkylated biphenyl, a hydrogenated aliphate, an isoparaffin, a xylene range aromatic alkyl acetate, a fatty acid, an ester, a mineral oil, a vegetable oil, and an olefin.  
   
   
       27 . The stable, aqueous pesticidal formulation of  claim 26 , wherein the hydrocarbon solvent is alkylated naphthalene aromatic.