Compositions comprising ethoxylated lecithin and methods of making and using the same

Abstract

Compositions are provided that include ethoxylated lecithin for use as an adjuvant in aqueous composition. Specifically, the compositions may be utilized primarily as drift reduction agents in agricultural compositions, as a soil or foliage penetrant, as a pesticide adjuvant, as a pesticide formulation component, and for other uses. More specifically, the compositions are useful in reducing drift in spray compositions, such as in use in agricultural applications, such as pesticide, herbicide, fungicide and insecticide formulations, in industrial vegetation management (“IVM”) and integrated pest management (“IPM”) applications, in rights-of-way applications, in forestry applications, and other like applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mixture comprising ethoxylated lecithin and at least one stabilizing component. 
     
     
         2 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing component comprises a surfactant. 
     
     
         3 . The mixture of  claim 2 , wherein the surfactant is present in an amount of about 5 weight percent to about 40 weight percent based on the total weight of the mixture. 
     
     
         4 . The mixture of  claim 2 , wherein the surfactant is present in an amount of about 10 weight percent and about 30 weight percent based on the total weight of the mixture. 
     
     
         5 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing component comprises a fatty acid. 
     
     
         6 . The mixture of  claim 5 , wherein the fatty acid comprises a tall oil fatty acid. 
     
     
         7 . The mixture of  claim 5 , wherein the fatty acid is present in an amount of about 1 weight percent to about 25 weight percent based on the total weight of the mixture. 
     
     
         8 . The mixture of  claim 5 , wherein the fatty acid is present in an amount of about 5 weight percent to about 20 weight percent based on the total weight of the mixture. 
     
     
         9 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the only surfactant in the mixture is the ethoxylated lecithin. 
     
     
         10 . A sprayable aqueous composition comprising:
 ethoxylated lecithin; and   at least one member selected from the group consisting of a pesticide, an insecticide, a herbicide, a fungicide, and a fertilizer.   
     
     
         11 . The sprayable aqueous composition of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one member is the pesticide. 
     
     
         12 . The sprayable aqueous composition of  claim 10 , further comprising a surfactant. 
     
     
         13 . The sprayable aqueous composition of  claim 10 , further comprising a fatty acid. 
     
     
         14 . The sprayable aqueous composition of  claim 13 , wherein the fatty acid comprises a tall oil fatty acid. 
     
     
         15 . The sprayable aqueous composition of  claim 10 , wherein the only surfactant in the sprayable aqueous composition is the ethoxylated lecithin. 
     
     
         16 . A method of applying an aqueous composition, comprising:
 spraying an aqueous composition comprising ethoxylated lecithin and at least one functional component on at least one agricultural crop, at least one forest area, at least one soil, at least one foliage, and/or at least one forestry.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said at least functional component is the pesticide. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the aqueous composition further comprises a surfactant. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the aqueous composition further comprises a fatty acid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the only surfactant in the aqueous composition is the ethoxylated lecithin.