Herbicide microemulsion-forming-concentrates, microemulsions, and methods
Described are herbicide compositions, in particular, herbicide compositions that are prepared from microemulsions containing herbicide compound in acid form, and methods of their preparation and use.
1. A microemulsion comprising herbicide compound in acid form, surfactant, acidifying agent, and water.
2. The microemulsion of claim 1 containing no added organic solvent.
3. The microemulsion of claim 2 wherein the herbicide compound in acid form is selected from the group consisting of 2,4-D, dicamba MCPA, mecoprop, triclopyr, fluazifop, fluoroxypyr, and combinations thereof.
4. The microemulsion of claim 1 comprising:
from about 0.05 to about 7 volume percent microemulsion-forming-concentrate comprising from about 10 to about 40 parts by weight herbicide compound in acid form and from about 60 to about 90 parts by weight surfactant, and
from about 93 to about 99.95 volume percent water.
5. The microemulsion of claim 1 wherein the acidifying agent is selected from the group consisting of: hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, polyphosphoric acid, perchloric acid, and combinations thereof.
6. The microemulsion of claim 1 wherein the acidifying agent is sulfuric acid.
7. A method of applying a herbicide composition, the method comprising:
preparing a herbicide composition comprising a microemulsion, the microemulsion comprising herbicide compound in acid form and acidifying agent, and
applying the herbicide composition to a plant to control plant growth.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the herbicide acid is selected from the group consisting of 2,4-D, dicamba MCPA, mecoprop, triclopyr, fluazifop, fluoroxypyr, and combinations thereof.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the acidifying agent comprises an acid selected from the group consisting of: hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, perchloric acid, polyphosphoric acid, and combinations thereof.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the herbicide composition does not include sulfuric acid.
11. The micro emulsion of claim 1 wherein the microemulsion does not contain sulfuric acid.
12. The microemulsion of claim 1 wherein the microemulsion does not contain a sulfuric acid adduct.
13. The microemulsion of claim 1 wherein the microemulsion contains a sulfuric acid adduct.
14. The microemulsion of claim 13 comprising a sulfuric acid-urea adduct.
15. The microemulsion of claim 1 wherein the pH of the microemulsion is below the pKa of the herbicide compound in acid form.
16. The method of claim 7 wherein the pH of the microemulsion is below the pKa of the herbicide compound in acid form.
17. A microemulsion comprising herbicide compound in acid form, surfactant, water, and no added organic solvent.
18. The microemulsion of claim 17 wherein the herbicide compound in acid form is selected from the group consisting of 2,4-D, dicamba MCPA, mecoprop, triclopyr, fluazifop, fluoroxypyr, and combinations thereof.
19. The microemulsion of claim 17 comprising:
from about 0.05 to about 7 volume percent microemulsion-forming-concentrate comprising from about 10 to about 40 parts by weight herbicide compound in acid form and from about 60 to about 90 parts by weight surfactant, and
from about 93 to about 99.95 volume percent water.
20. The microemulsion of claim 17 comprising acidifying agent.
21. The microemulsion of claim 20 wherein the pH of the microemulsion is below the pKa of the herbicide compound in acid form.
22. The microemulsion of claim 20 wherein the acidifying agent is selected from the group consisting of: hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, polyphosphoric acid, perchloric acid, and combinations thereof.
23. The microemulsion of claim 20 wherein the acidifying agent is sulfuric acid.
24. The microemulsion of claim 17 wherein the microemulsion does not contain sulfuric acid.
25. The microemulsion of claim 17 wherein the microemulsion does not contain a sulfuric acid adduct.
26. The microemulsion of claim 17 comprising a sulfuric acid-urea adduct.
27. A method of applying a herbicide composition, the method comprising:
preparing a herbicide composition comprising a microemulsion, the microemulsion comprising herbicide compound in acid form and no added organic solvent, and
applying the herbicide composition to a plant to control plant growth.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein the herbicide acid is selected from the group consisting of 2,4-D, dicamba, MCPA, mecoprop, triclopyr, fluazifop, fluoroxypyr, and combinations thereof.
29. The method of claim 27 wherein the herbicide composition comprises acidifying agent.
30. The method of claim 29 wherein the acidifying agent comprises an acid selected from the group consisting of: hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, perchloric acid, polyphosphoric acid, and combinations thereof.
31. The method of claim 29 wherein the pH of the microemulsion is below the pKa of the herbicide compound in acid form.
32. The method of claim 27 wherein the herbicide composition does not include sulfuric acid.
33. A method of preparing a microemulsion comprising steps of (a) obtaining a herbicide compound in acid form, and (b) combining the herbicide compound in acid form with surfactant, acidifying agent, and water, independently or in combination, to form a microemulsion.
34. The method of claim 33 , wherein a step of adding an organic solvent is not performed.
35. The method of claim 33 wherein the acidifying agent is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, polyphosphoric acid, perchloric acid, and combinations thereof.
36. The method of claim 33 wherein an amount of acidifying agent is combined with the herbicide compound in acid form to provide the microemulsion with a pH that is below the pKa of the herbicide compound in acid form.
37. The method of claim 33 comprising the steps of (a) preparing a microemulsion-forming-concentrate, the step of preparing comprising the steps of (i) obtaining a herbicide compound in acid form and (ii) combining the herbicide in acid form with surfactant, and (b) combining the microemulsion-forming-concentrate with acidifying agent and water, independently or in combination, to form a microemulsion.
38. The method of claim 33 wherein the herbicide in acid form is selected from the group consisting of 2,4-D, dicamba, MCPA, mecoprop, triclopyr, fluazifop, fluoroxypyr, and combinations thereof.