Fumigant compositions and methods

Abstract

Fumigant compositions including hexafluoropropene or 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene, and methods of making such compositions, are provided herein. The fumigant compositions may be suitable for use as soil fumigant compositions and structural fumigant compositions against a variety of undesirable species such as weeds, nematodes, pathogens, animals and insects. The fumigant compositions also have low toxicity and low Global Warming Potential. In one embodiment, a fumigant composition includes hexafluoropropene, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene or a combination thereof. The fumigant composition further includes at least one component selected from methyl iodide, chloropicrin, acrolein, 1,3 dichloropropene, dimethyl disulfide, furfural, propylene oxide metham sodium and combinations thereof. The fumigant composition also includes at least one surfactant.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of eradicating undesirable species from a treatment zone, the method comprising;
 contacting the treatment zone with a fumigant composition comprising: (i) one or more active compounds and (ii) optionally carrier for said one or more active compounds, said active compounds comprising at least about 30% by weight of hexafluoropropene, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fumigant composition further comprises at least one component selected from methyl iodide, chloropicrin, acrolein, 1,3 dichloropropene, dimethyl disulfide, furfural, propylene oxide metham sodium and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the at least one component comprises chloropicrin. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the at least one component comprises acrolein. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the at least one component comprises 1,3 dichloropropene. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the at least one component comprises dimethyl disulfide. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the at least one component comprises furfural. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the at least one component comprises propylene oxide. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the at least one component comprises metham sodium. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said fumigant composition consists essentially of hexafluoropropene or 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene, methyl iodide and surfactant. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said fumigant composition further comprises at least one odorant. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said fumigant composition further comprises surfactant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the surfactant comprises a polysorbate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fumigant composition is in gaseous form. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fumigant composition is in aqueous form. 
     
     
         16 . A method of making a fumigant composition, the method comprising combining at least one component selected from methyl iodide, chloropicrin, acrolein, 1,3 dichloropropene, dimethyl disulfide, furfural, propylene oxide metham sodium and combinations thereof; a surfactant; and at least one of hexafluoropropene and 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene in water. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the at least one component is methyl iodide. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the composition is formed as a solution. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the composition is formed as a homogeneous mixture. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising mixing the components at a temperature at or below about 15.5° C. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the at least one component comprises methyl iodide.