Use of crosslinked polymers as anti-leaching agents

Details Use of crosslinked polymers as anti-leaching agents Use of crosslinked polymers as anti-leaching agents

2002-01-07

2004-04-27

Clardy, S. Mark (Department: 1616)

Plant protecting and regulating compositions

Plant growth regulators with soil life extenders

C504S362000, C424S484000, C424S485000, C424S488000, C514S769000, C514S781000, C514S782000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06727204

ABSTRACT:

The present invention relates to the use, in aqueous atomizing sprays comprising a phytosanitary formulation, of an anti-leaching agent which comprises at least one polyhydroxylated and/or polycarboxylated polymer or copolymer, and at least one reticulating agent comprising a metal.
The present invention relates more particularly to the sphere of phytosanitary formulations, comprising pesticides or agents controlling the growth of plants.
Moreover, the present invention concerns the sphere of phytosanitary formulations intended to be applied to the plants to be treated, in the form of a solution, dispersion or emulsion in an aqueous medium. It should be noted that for the sake of simplicity of the preamble, in the following description, reference will be made only to aqueous solutions, knowing that this term encompasses the abovementioned variants.
The phytosanitary formulations utilized in the form of an aqueous solution are conventionally sprayed onto the plant to be treated. One of the main difficulties encountered with this method of use lies in the fact that it is difficult to keep the active ingredient on the plant. This is because, with the first rain or morning dew, the film deposited on the plant swells up again in the presence of water and the active ingredient is washed away with the water, which considerably reduces its efficacy.
The present invention relates to the use of an aqueous atomizing spray comprising a phytosanitary formulation and a special anti-leaching agent. The latter is present, while the spray is being utilized, in the form of a low-viscosity solution or dispersion. Consequently, the resultant spray can easily be pumped and atomized. Moreover, the anti-leaching agent, whilst drying on the plant being treated, forms a gel, considerably limiting the leaching of the active ingredient applied. It should be noted that, completely advantageously, the gel does not form during the preparation or use of the spray, nor during preparation of the phytosanitary formulation if it contains the anti-leaching agent, but only while the spray is drying on the plant treated.
Thus, the present invention consists in the use, in an aqueous atomizing spray comprising a phytosanitary formulation, of an anti-leaching agent comprising:
at least one polyhydroxylated and/or carboxylated polymer or copolymer,
at least one reticulating agent comprising at least one metal selected throughout from Columns IVA, IB and IIIB of the periodic table of the elements, said anti-leaching agent being present, in the aqueous atomizing spray, in the form of an aqueous solution or dispersion with a polymer or copolymer concentration such that the viscosity of the anti-leaching agent is less than or equal to 10 times the viscosity of an aqueous polymer or copolymer solution free from reticulating agent having the same concentration.
The anti-leaching agent present in the atomizing spray, once applied to the plant and dried, forms a reticulated film which swells only slightly in the presence of water. The film containing the active material therefore retains better cohesion to the surface on which it is formed, thus considerably increasing the efficacy of the active ingredient.
The anti-leaching agent according to the invention, moreover, has other very important advantages, such as that of avoiding losses of active ingredients during spraying. This is because the anti-leaching agent reduces the phenomena of the atomized droplets being carried away by the wind (anti-drift), and also that of their rebounding when they come into contact with the hydrophobic surface of the plant to be treated.
It should also be noted that the anti-leaching agent may be present in different forms. Thus it can be present in solid form, or else in the form of a dispersion in a compound which is not a polymer or copolymer solvent, such as oils.
Moreover, the anti-leaching agents can be utilized as a phytosanitary formulation additive. In other words, the anti-leaching agent is mixed with the phytosanitary formulation during use of the latter; the whole producing the aqueous atomizing spray.
It is likewise possible to utilize phytosanitary formulations comprising the anti-leaching agent. In this case, the anti-leaching agent is said to be used as a constituent of the phytosanitary formulation.
It should be noted that under the conditions described, the anti-leaching agent and optionally the phyosanitary formulation containing it are stable in storage and no appearance of non-manipulable gel is observed. In addition, the aqueous spray comprising the phytosanitary formulation and the anti-leaching agent is also stable.
However other advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become clearer on reading the description which follows.
The anti-leaching agent will first be described in detail.
As indicated above, the anti-leaching agent comprises at least one polyhydroxylated or polycarboxylated polymer and/or copolymer.
The polymer or copolymer is preferably present in soluble form in aqueous media.
According to a first variant, the polyhydroxylated polymer or copolymer is selected throughout from polysaccharides of animal, plant or bacterial origin, cellulose derivatives or polyvinyl alcohol, polyphenolic alcohol or their derivatives, as well as glycol polyoxalkylene derivatives.
The polysaccharides can be used in native form or chemically modified to give them an ionic, non-ionic and/or hydrophobic character different from that of the native form.
The following may be cited as examples of polysaccharides, without this list being exhaustive: alginates, galactomannanes such as guar gum, carob gum, Tara gum, cassia gum, Karaya gum, carragheenans, chitin derivatives such as chitosan, amidones, glucomannanes, dextran, gum arabic, soluble amidone and its non-ionic (cationic) derivatives. The derivatives of these alkylated compounds are also suitable.
Of the cellulose derivatives that may be included within the present invention, mention may be made in particular of cellulose derivatives such as cellulose hydroxyethers, methyl cellulose and its derivatives, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxybutylmethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, ethylmethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, as well as other hydroxyaklylated derivatives of cellulose generally.
The following can be cited as suitable derivatives of guar: compounds resulting from an etherification and/or esterification reaction, such as hydroxyalkyl guars (with the alkyl radical comprising 2 to 4 carbon atoms, linear or branched), such as hydroxypropyl guar, hydroxybutyl guar; such as carboxymethyl guar; such as carboxymethyl hydroxalkyl guars (with the alkyl radical comprising 2 to 4 carbon atoms, linear or branched). Also suitable are cationic compounds of guar, carrying quaternary amine groups. Finally, alkylated compounds of guar and of the abovementioned derivatives can be utilized in the invention.
As biogums that can be utilized in the anti-leaching agent, mention may be made in particular of the polysaccharides obtained by fermentation by the action of bacteria or funghi belonging, for example, to the Xanthomonas, to the genus Arthrobacter, the genus Azobacter, the genus Agrobacter, the genus Alcaligenes, the genus Rhizobium, the genus Sclerotium, the genus Corticium and the genus Sclerotinia.
As examples of biogums, mention can be made more particularly of xanthan gum, the scleroglutanes, and the succinoglycanes.
As polyhydroxylated polymers or copolymers, and as indicated above, the following are suitable: polyvinylic alcohol, the polyphenolic alcohols or their derivatives.
The possible derivatives include the polyetherified (co)polymers, such as those whose ether part is an alkyl radical in C
1
-C
18
, or an aryl radical in C
6
-C
16
, or an alkylaryl or arylalkyl radical; the alkyl and aryl parts being defined above.
Further derivatives that may be suitable are (co)polymers carrying at least one ionic (anionic, cationic, zwitterionic, amphoteric) radical. The following list, which is not intended to

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Use of crosslinked polymers as anti-leaching agents does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Use of crosslinked polymers as anti-leaching agents, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Use of crosslinked polymers as anti-leaching agents will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3232489