Plant protecting and regulating compositions – Plant growth regulating compositions – Organic active compound containing
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-21
2004-10-12
Clardy, S. Mark (Department: 1616)
Plant protecting and regulating compositions
Plant growth regulating compositions
Organic active compound containing
C504S255000, C504S258000, C504S320000, C504S321000, C504S322000, C504S323000, C504S324000, C504S325000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06803345
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to herbicide compositions and their preparation and use, and in particular to methods and compositions relating to microemulsion-forming compositions that contain herbicide compound in acid form, to microemulsions and other herbicide compositions derived from the microemulsion-forming-compositions, and to the related methods of preparation and use.
BACKGROUND
Commercially available herbicide compositions include a very large variety of active herbicide compounds. Herbicide compositions can be prepared from a variety of different types of precursor compositions, and can be commercially available and used in a variety of different types of compositions, including compositions referred to as wettable powders, water dispersible granules, granules, aqueous solutions, water soluble powders, emulsifiable concentrates, oil-based flowables, concentrated emulsions, suspo-emulsions, emulsions, suspensions, suspension concentrates, mixtures, dispersions, and microemulsions, as well as others. Any of these different types of compositions may have different advantages or disadvantages depending on what type of active ingredients the herbicide includes.
Examples of just a few available active herbicide compounds include those of the general class known as phenoxy herbicides, e.g., 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (known as 2,4-D), MCPA acid, MCPP acid; those of the general class known as pyridine herbicides, (e.g., triclopyr, fluoroxypyr); those of the general class of benzoic acid herbicides, (e.g., dicamba acid); those of the general class of aryloxy phenoxy propionic acid herbicides, (e.g., fluazifop acid and quizolofop acid); water-insoluble diphenyl ether type herbicides (e.g., oxyfluorfen or acifluorfen); glyphosate compounds (e.g., in the IPA salt form); imidizole herbicide compounds (e.g., imazapyr or imazaquin); as well as others.
Active herbicide ingredients such as these and others can be prepared from and used in the form of solid and liquid compositions including, as mentioned above, different forms of emulsions, suspensions, suspension concentrates, mixtures, dispersions, and microemulsions, etc. With regard to the liquid forms, the active ingredient (herbicide compound) is generally suspended or dissolved in a liquid, with the active herbicide compound taking the chemical form of a salt or ester, depending on which form is either soluble or suspendable in such a liquid composition. Most herbicide compositions are prepared from an ester or salt form of a herbicide compound, or are prepared using a step to convert an acid form of a herbicide compound to a salt or an ester to be either miscible in water or emulsifiable in water for application, often with the assistance of organic solvent.
With microemulsion compositions in particular, earlier microemulsion work typically included the use of herbicide compounds in forms other than their acid forms, e.g., ester or salt forms, because the salt or ester forms were considered to be most easily dispersed or suspended in a microemulsion. Typical microemulsions also incorporated organic solvents to effect suspension or dissolution of the herbicide compound.
New forms of effective herbicide compositions are always desirable, especially those that show advantages in processing, application, environmental profile (e.g., volatility), or efficacy. And there is always a desire to prepare herbicide compositions that reduce or eliminate organic solvents.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the use of herbicide compounds existing in their acid forms, dissolved in one or a combination of surfactants to form what is referred to herein as a microemulsion-forming-concentrate, or “MFC.” The MFCs and their derivatives can be useful as herbicide compositions. The MFCs are preferably relatively stable compositions that at a desired time can be mixed or diluted with water to form a microemulsion or other derivative for application to control plant growth either alone or in combination with other ingredients such as other herbicides or additives, such as acidifying agents.
The MFCs can generally be prepared by mixing a selected herbicide compound in acid form into a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants, with optional heating and agitation, and with optional organic solvent. Exemplary amounts of herbicide compound and surfactant can be in the range from about 10 to about 40 parts by weight herbicide compound in acid form, and about 60 to about 90 parts by weight surfactant. The MFC may include amounts of water and organic solvents, but preferred MFCs can be made with reduced, minimal, or no organic solvent, e.g., with no added organic solvent.
The MFCs can be directly applied as herbicide compositions, or, preferably, can be combined with water and optionally other ingredients such as another herbicide or an acidifying agent, and then applied to control plant growth. For example, depending, e.g., on the herbicide compound and other factors, from about 0.05 to about 7 parts by volume MFC may be diluted with about 93 to about 99.95 parts by volume water to form a microemulsion. Other ingredients such as acidifying agent or other herbicides may also be added.
If an acidifying agent is added to the MFC or the microemulsion, the acidifying agent can preferably be added in an amount such that the pH of the microemulsion is below the pKa of the herbicide compound of the microemulsion, so that herbicide compound will be present in acid form. The use of herbicide compounds in acid form has been found to be advantageous. For example, many herbicide compositions having active herbicide compounds in their acid form can be prepared efficiently, can show particularly good efficacy, and can be unaffected or less affected by hard water.
An aspect of the invention relates to a microemulsion-forming-concentrate comprising herbicide compound in acid form and surfactant, wherein the concentrate can be combined with water to form a microemulsion. Preferred microemulsion-forming-concentrates can consist of or consist essentially of herbicide compound in acid form and surfactant, optionally including such additives as anticorrosion agents, antifoam agents, water, and organic solvent.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a microemulsion-forming-concentrate consisting of herbicide compound in acid form and surfactant, with optional acidifying agent or additives as discussed herein, and with no added organic solvent or added water, wherein the microemulsion-forming-concentrate can be combined with water to form a microemulsion.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a microemulsion comprising herbicide compound in acid form, surfactant, and water.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a microemulsion comprising a microemulsion-forming-concentrate comprising herbicide compound in acid form and surfactant, combined with water to form a microemulsion.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of applying a herbicide composition. The method comprises: preparing a herbicide composition comprising a microemulsion comprising herbicide compound in acid form and surfactant; and applying the herbicide composition comprising the herbicide compound in acid form to a plant or field to control plant growth.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of applying a herbicide. The method comprises preparing a microemulsion-forming-concentrate comprising herbicide compound in acid form and surfactant; preparing a microemulsion from the concentrate by diluting the microemulsion with an aqueous solution, the microemulsion comprising herbicide compound in acid form; and applying the herbicide composition to a plant to control plant growth while the herbicide compound is in acid form.
Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a method of preparing a microemulsion-forming-concentrate. The method comprises combining herbicide compound in acid form with surfactant, with optional heat and optional agitation, to produce a concentrate that can be combined with water to form a microemulsion.
Still another aspect
Beardmore Richard A.
Herold Anthony E.
Parrish Scott K.
Clardy S. Mark
Kagan Binder PLLC
Platte Chemical Co.
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