Plant protecting and regulating compositions – Plant growth regulating compositions – Organic active compound containing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-24
2001-07-10
Qazi, Sabiha (Department: 1616)
Plant protecting and regulating compositions
Plant growth regulating compositions
Organic active compound containing
C504S320000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06258752
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to herbicidally effective compositions, and particularly to those that include naturally occurring active ingredients.
Many herbicides are known and used in agricultural, commercial and household applications to control and/or eliminate a variety of unwanted weeds and other plants. Historically, the most effective and widely used herbicides are petrochemical-based products. Although effective herbicides, these compounds have come under close scrutiny because some can be harmful to humans and other animals.
Herbicides and other pesticides have more recently been formulated from naturally occurring active ingredients such as fatty acids or fatty acid salts. Some herbicides use fatty acids and fatty acid salts as co-active ingredients with other compounds. Examples of such compositions are disclosed in British Patent No. 2,247,621 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,774,234; 4,975,110; 5,035,741; and 5,106,410.
Herbicides are commonly applied to driveways, sidewalks, patios, walls, and similar structures to eliminate any weeds or mosses growing in joints or cracks in such structures. Certain known fatty acid and fatty acid salt herbicides can leave behind an unsightly white residue when applied to these substrates. Such known herbicides, although chemically effective, have been a major source of customer complaint because they leave behind an aesthetically unpleasing residue.
There is thus a need for herbicidal compositions that are effective to control weeds, without leaving behind unsightly residue on substrates to which the compositions are applied.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a herbicidally effective composition that utilizes naturally occurring active ingredients. The active ingredients comprise, in a herbicidally effective amount, under saponified soaps of fatty acids such as sorbic acid, caprylic acid, pelargonic acid, capric acid, undecylenic acid and mixtures thereof. The ratio of soap to free acid in the active ingredient is in the range of 3:4 to 9:1. Preferably, the active ingredients are ammonium, sodium or potassium soaps of the desired acids.
The composition, in a ready-to-use formulation, includes about 1.0 to 10.0 percent by weight of the under saponified soap having a ratio of soap to free acid in the range of about 3:4 to 9:1.
The composition of the invention provides a herbicide that is effective against a broad range of algae, liverworts, mosses and higher plants. The composition is particularly well suited for application to hard substrates, such as walks, walls, stairs, patios, and the like, upon which unwanted weeds are actively growing. A particular advantage of the composition is that the herbicidally effective composition is formed from under saponified soaps of fatty acids, and it does not leave behind any permanent residue on the substrates to which it is applied. This provides an important advantage because many naturally occurring herbicidal compositions are not acceptable for use on such substrates due to the chemical damage and residue they leave behind.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a herbicidal composition that, although relying on under saponified soaps of fatty acids, does not cause residual staining to substrates to which it is applied. The composition uses as an active ingredient one or a mixture of under saponified soaps. The herbicidal composition may also include additional components to enhance processability and shelf-life, such as emulsifiers, anti-foaming agents, gums and solvents. Such additional components are not believed to contribute any herbicidal activity to the composition.
The active ingredients for use as herbicides against higher plants preferably are under saponified soaps of fatty acids having from 6 to 11 carbon atoms. Preferred under saponified soaps are made from fatty acids including sorbic acid, caprylic acid, pelargonic acid, capric acid, undecylenic acid and mixtures thereof. These compounds are saponified with a base such as ammonium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, monethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine. Preferred active ingredients are under saponified ammonium or potassium soaps of sorbic, caprylic, pelargonic, capric, undecylenic acids and mixtures thereof. The ratio of soap to free fatty acid is preferably in the range of 3:4 to 9:1.
A ready-to-use formulation for use as a herbicide for higher plants, mosses, lichens, liverworts and algae includes under saponified fatty acid ingredients at a concentration in the range of about 1.0 to 10.0% by weight where the ratio of soap to fatty acid is in the range of about 3:4 to 9:1. A preferred composition has about 1.25 to 2.50% by weight of soap and 0.625 to 3.33% by weight free fatty acid. A preferred composition of ammonium pelargonate soap active ingredient has about 1.50 to 2.25% by weight ammonium pelargonate soap and about 0.75 to 3.0 free pelargonic acid. This composition also includes one or more anti-foaming agents, gums and a solvent. An emulsifier may be included as well.
Suitable emulsifiers, which may be present at 0 to 5 percent by weight, include Aerosol® A-196 (available from American Cyanamid) and Tween® 81 and Tween® 85 (both available from ICI). Emulsifiers can be useful to improve stability and dilution.
Antifoaming agents may be present at 0 to 1 percent by weight. Exemplary antifoaming agents include Antifoam CM Concentrate and Antifoam 8810 FG Concentrate, both of which are available from Harcos Chemical. Although this additive is not necessary, it has been found to reduce the amount of foam generated during manufacture, dilution, and spraying.
A gum component may be present at 0 to 1 percent by weight to increase the viscosity of the formulation. The gum also increases the droplet size, when the formulation is sprayed through a nozzle. Larger droplets are less likely to drift to non-target plants or to nearby people or animals. Exemplary gums include Rhodopol 23 (Rhone Poulenc), VanGel B (R.T. Vanderbilt), and Kelzan S (Merck & Co.).
The formulation may optionally include solvents at a concentration range of 0 to 5 percent by weight. Exemplary solvents include alcohols, such as isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, methanol, propylene glycol, glycerol, and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, and vegetable oils, such as canola oil. The solvents are believed to be useful to increase the antifoaming activity of any anti-foaming agent. The solvent may also contribute to improved storability of the formulation.
Examples of preferred, ready-to-use (RTU) formulations are set forth below in Table 1.
TABLE 1
Exemplary RTU Formulations
Concentration (% by wt.)
Ingredient
Form. 1
Form. 2
Distilled water
94.11
94.11
Ammonium Pelargonate (47% saponified)
3.68
3.68
Antifoam 8810FG
0.125
0.125
Kelzan S
0.080
—
Isopropyl alcohol
2.000
—
Rhodopol 23
—
0.080
Propanol
—
2.000
The RTU formulations can be prepared as follows. Most of the water is poured into a container of an appropriate size, retaining approximately 5% of the total volume of water. The ammonium hydroxide (or base) is then added. Next the acid is added gradually, while stirring the formulation. Any antifoaming agent is then mixed with the remaining water and added to the main solution. The gum component can then be dispersed in any alcohol component and gradually added to the main solution while stirring vigorously. After stirring for about 15 minutes the solution can be dispensed into appropriate containers.
An exemplary concentrated formulation is illustrated in Table 2.
TABLE 2
Exemplary Concentrate
Ingredient
% by wt.
Distilled water
61.95
Ammonium Pelargonate (47% saponified)
36.80
Antifoam 8810 FG
1.25
The concentrate is prepared by adding all but about 5% of the water to a container of an appropriate size, followed by the addition of the base. The acid is then added gradually added while stirring the solution. The antifoam component is then mixed with the remaining water and added to the main solution. After stirring for about 15 minutes the solution can be dispensed t
Sedun Frederick S.
Wilson Cameron D.
Nutter & McClennen & Fish LLP
Qazi Sabiha
W. Neudorff GmbH KG
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