Stable, concentrated herbicidal compositions

Abstract

A liquid herbicidal composition is provided, comprising: a. 20 to 35 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a water-soluble herbicidal ingredient; b. a C 12 -C 16 alkyl ether sulfate; c. an organic solvent; and d. an alkyl polyglucoside. The composition is stable; i.e., it occurs in a substantially continuous, singe phase at temperatures as low as −20° C. It also has a viscosity of no more than 2000 cps at temperatures as low as 0° C.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid herbicidal composition comprising:
 a. 20 to 35 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a water-soluble herbicidal ingredient;   b. a C 8 -C 16  alkyl ether sulfate;   c. an organic solvent; and   d. an alkyl polyglucoside;   
       wherein the composition is present in a substantially continuous, single phase at a temperature as low as −20° C. and has a viscosity of no more than 2000 cps at temperatures as low as 0° C. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble herbicidal ingredient comprises glufosinate-ammonium. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has a viscosity of no more than 1000 cps at temperatures as low as 0° C. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble herbicidal ingredient is present in an amount of 20 to 30 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the C 8 -C 16  alkyl ether sulfate comprises sodium lauryl ether sulfate. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the C 8 -C 16  alkyl ether sulfate is present in an amount of 3 to 35 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the C 8 -C 16  alkyl ether sulfate is present in an amount of 10 to 30 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent comprises propylene glycol monomethyl ether, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, dipropylene glycol, and/or iso-propanol. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent is present in an amount of 1 to 20 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the organic solvent is present in an amount of 3 to 10 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the alkyl polyglucoside comprises a C 6 -C 16  alkyl polyglucoside. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the alkyl polyglucoside is present in an amount of 1 to 15 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the alkyl polyglucoside is present in an amount of 6 to 12 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is aqueous. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the water-soluble herbicidal ingredient (a) to the C 8 -C 16  alkyl either sulfate (b) ranges from 1:0.2 to 1:5.0. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the weight ratio of the water-soluble herbicidal ingredient (a) to the C 8 -C 16  alkyl ether sulfate (b) ranges from 1:0.8 to 1:1.2. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the water-soluble herbicidal ingredient (a) to the organic solvent (c) ranges from 1:0.02 to 1:1. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the weight ratio of the water-soluble herbicidal ingredient (a) to the organic solvent (c) ranges from 1:0.1 to 1:0.3. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a defoaming agent.