Compatibilizing surfactant useful with slurries of copper particles

1. A stable aqueous biocidal slurry comprising:

(a) a plurality of particles comprising a particle selected from the group consisting of a slightly soluble copper salt, a slightly soluble zinc salt, zinc oxide, or mixtures or combinations thereof, wherein the weight mean diameter of the particles is between about 0.05 micron and about 5 microns;

(b) a biocidally effective amount of a biocidally active quaternary ammonium salt; and

(c) an effective amount of at least one dispersant comprising a hydrophilic polyalkylene oxide portion having between 2 and 50 alkylene oxide units therein and a hydrophobic portion comprising eight or more carbon atoms , wherein the slurry when tested at its intended use concentration is stable if it exhibits suspensibility greater than 80% after thirty minutes when tested according to the Collaborative International Pesticide Analytical Committee Method MT 161.

2. The composition as recited in claim 1 , wherein said particles comprise a slightly soluble copper salt.

3. The composition as recited in claim 2 , wherein said copper salt is selected from the group consisting of tribasic copper sulfate, copper oxychloride, copper borate, basic copper borate, basic copper carbonate, copper hydroxide, basic copper phosphate, basic copper phospho-sulfate, basic copper nitrate, and mixtures thereof, and wherein the weight mean diameter of the particles is between about 0.15 microns and about 0.7 microns.

4. The composition as recited in claim 2 , wherein said copper salt is selected from the group consisting of copper hydroxide, basic copper carbonate, copper borate, basic copper borate, and mixtures thereof, and wherein the weight mean diameter of the particles is between about 0.1 and about 3 microns.

5. The composition as recited in claim 1 , wherein said zinc salt is selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfate, basic zinc sulfate, zinc chloride, basic zinc chloride, zinc bromide, zinc iodide, zinc carbonate, zinc borate, basic zinc borate, basic zinc carbonate, zinc hydroxide, basic zinc phosphate, basic zinc phospho-sulfate, basic zinc nitrate, and mixtures thereof.

6. The composition as recited in claim 1 , wherein the weight mean diameter of the particles is between about 0.1 and about 0.5 microns.

7. The composition as recited in claim 1 , wherein said quaternary ammonium compound has a general formula of N—R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 —X, wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a C 1 to C 18 alkyl, a C 1 to C 18 alkoxy, a C 1 to C 18 alkenyl, a C 1 to C 18 alkynyl, a C 5 to C 12 aryl, a C 5 to C 12 aralkyl, or a C 5 to C 12 aroyl, wherein at least two R groups are not hydrogen and at least one R group comprises six or more carbon atoms, and wherein X is selected from the group consisting of hydroxide, chloride, fluoride, bromide, carbonate, bicarbonate, sulfate, nitrate, acetate, phosphate, or any mixture thereof.

8. The composition as recited in claim 7 , wherein at least one of the R groups comprises more than 10 carbons.

9. The composition as recited in claim 2 , wherein the majority of the quaternary ammonium salt present is a quaternary ammonium bicarbonate, a quaternary ammonium carbonate, or combination thereof.

10. The composition as recited in claim 1 , wherein the slurry further comprises an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of sodium poly(meth)acrylate, napthalene sulphonate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium lignosulphonate, dodecylbenzene sulphonate, and mixtures thereof.

11. The composition as recited in claim 1 , wherein said dispersant is selected from the group consisting of

(i) a first group of non-ionic surfactants comprising a polycondensation product containing an alkylene glycol as a monomer;

(ii) a second group of non-ionic surfactants comprising etherified compound of said first group of compounds and an aliphatic alcohol;

(iii) a third group of compounds comprising an etherified compound of said first group of compounds and a higher fatty acid; and

(vi) mixtures thereof.

12. The composition as recited in claim 11 , wherein said alkylene glycol in said first group is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol and a block polymer of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, and wherein the degree of polymerization of said polycondensation product is in the range of from about 5 to about 1,000.

13. The composition as recited in claim 11 , wherein said etherified compound of said second group of non-ionic surfactants is selected from the group consisting of

(i) polyethylene glycol oleyl ether with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 4 to 50,

(ii) polyethylene glycol cetyl ether with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 4 to 50,

(iii) polyethylene glycol stearyl ether with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 4 to 30,

(iv) polyethylene glycol lauryl ether with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 4 to 30,

(v) polyethylene glycol tridecyl ether with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 4 to 30,

(vi) polyethylene glycol nonylphenyl ether with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 2 to 100,

(vii) polyethylene glycol octylphenyl ether with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 5 to 50, and

(viii) mixtures thereof.

14. The composition as recited in claim 13 , wherein said etherified compound of said second group of non-ionic surfactants is selected from the group consisting of

(i) polyethylene glycol oleyl ether with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(ii) polyethylene glycol cetyl ether with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(iii) polyethylene glycol stearyl ether with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(iv) polyethylene glycol lauryl ether with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(v) polyethylene glycol tridecyl ether with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(vi) polyethylene glycol nonylphenyl ether with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(vii) polyethylene glycol octylphenyl ether with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8, and

(viii) mixtures thereof.

15. The composition as recited in claim 11 , wherein said etherified compound of said third group of non-ionic surfactants is selected from the group consisting of

(i) polyethylene glycol monolaurate with ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 2 to 30,

(ii) polyethylene glycol monostearate with ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 2 to 50,

(iii) polyethylene glycol monooleate with ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 2 to 50, and

(iv) mixtures thereof.

16. The composition as recited in claim 11 , wherein said dispersant comprises a phosphate ester of any of groups 1, 2, or 3.

17. The composition as recited in claim 11 , wherein said dispersant comprises a phosphate ester of any of group 2.

18. The composition as recited in claim 16 , wherein said dispersant is selected from the group consisting of

(i) polyethylene glycol oleyl ether phosphate with ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 4 to 50,

(ii) polyethylene glycol cetyl ether phosphate with ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 4 to 50,

(iii) polyethylene glycol stearyl ether phosphate with ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 4 to 30,

(iv) polyethylene glycol lauryl ether phosphate with ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 4 to 30,

(v) polyethylene glycol tridecyl ether phosphate with ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 4 to 30,

(vi) polyethylene glycol nonylphenyl ether phosphate with ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 2 to 100,

(vii) polyethylene glycol octylphenyl ether phosphate with ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 4 to 50, and

(viii) mixtures thereof.

19. The composition as recited in claim 16 , wherein said dispersant is selected from the group consisting of

(i) polyethylene glycol oleyl ether phosphate with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(ii) polyethylene glycol cetyl ether phosphate with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(iii) polyethylene glycol stearyl ether phosphate with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(iv) polyethylene glycol lauryl ether phosphate with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(v) polyethylene glycol tridecyl ether phosphate with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(vi) polyethylene glycol nonylphenyl ether phosphate with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(vii) polyethylene glycol octylphenyl ether phosphate with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8, and

(viii) mixtures thereof.

20. The composition as recited in claim 1 , wherein said dispersant comprises a polyalkylene oxide block copolymer comprising at least one hydrophilic block segment comprising -(AO) x -, wherein AO represents a substituted or an unsubstituted oxyalkylene moiety, wherein x is a number of about 1 to about 100, and wherein said alkylene is in the range of C2–C4, and at least one segment that has a lower hydrophilicity than the hydrophilic block segment.

21. The composition as recited in claim 20 , wherein said AO represents oxyalkylene moiety selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, and styrene oxide.

22. The composition as recited in claim 20 , wherein said polyoxyalkylene block copolymer is a polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene block copolymer.

23. The composition as recited in claim 20 , wherein said polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene block copolymer comprises a center block of polyoxypropylene units, and a block of polyoxyethylene units to each side of said center block of polyoxypropylene units, and wherein the average molecular weight is in the range of from about 900 to about 14,000, and wherein the weight percent of ethylene oxide ranges from about 10% to about 80%.

24. The composition as recited in claim 1 , wherein said dispersant is a phosphate ester selected from the group consisting of

(i) polyethylene glycol oleyl ether phosphate with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(ii) polyethylene glycol cetyl ether phosphate with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(iii) polyethylene glycol stearyl ether phosphate with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(iv) polyethylene glycol lauryl ether phosphate with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(v) polyethylene glycol tridecyl ether phosphate with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(vi) polyethylene glycol nonylphenyl ether phosphate with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8,

(vii) polyethylene glycol octylphenyl ether phosphate with a ethyleneoxide degree of polymerization in the range of 6 to 8, and

(viii) mixtures thereof; and

wherein the weight percent of said phosphate ester is in the range of from about 0.25 parts to about 0.42 parts by weight per part of particles of slightly soluble copper and/or zinc salts.

25. The composition as recited in claim 24 wherein said particles of slightly soluble copper and/or zinc salts comprise basic copper carbonate, and said dispersant comprises polyethylene glycol monotridecyl ether phosphate, wherein the weight ratio of said copper carbonate to said polyethylene glycol monotridecyl ether phosphate is between about 1:0.8 to about 1:0.1.

26. A stable aqueous biocidal slurry comprising:

(a) a plurality of particles comprising a particle selected from the group consisting of a slightly soluble copper salt, a slightly soluble zinc salt, or

both, wherein the weight mean diameter of the particles is between about 0.05 micron and about 5 microns;

(b) a biocidally effective amount of a biocidally active quaternary ammonium salt; and

(c) an effective amount of at least one dispersant comprising a hydrophobic saturated or unsaturated alkyl or alkylaryl portion comprising between 10 and 24 carbon atoms, a hydrophilic portion comprising between 4 to 20 polymerized C2 to C8 alkoxy moieties, wherein at least half of the alkoxy moieties are ethoxy moieties, and a phosphate ester portion,

wherein the slurry when tested at its intended use concentration is stable if it exhibits suspensibility greater than 80% after thirty minutes when tested according to the Collaborative International Pesticide Analytical Committee Method MT 161, wherein said dispersant.

27. The composition as recited in claim 26 wherein the weight ratio of said particles to said dispersant is between about 1:0.8 to about 1:0.1.

28. The composition as recited in claim 26 wherein the slurry comprises between about 0.20 to about 0.5 grams of the dispersants per gram of said particles.

29. The composition as recited in claim 26 wherein the slurry comprises between about 0.0004 moles and about 0.0008 moles of the dispersants per gram of said particles.

30. The composition as recited in claim 26 wherein said particles comprise a copper salt selected from the group consisting of tribasic copper sulfate, copper oxychloride, copper borate, basic copper borate, basic copper carbonate, copper hydroxide, basic copper phosphate, basic copper phospho-sulfate, basic copper nitrate, and mixtures thereof, and the slurry comprises between about 0.00045 moles and about 0.0008 moles of the dispersants per 10 square meters of surface area of said copper salt and/or copper hydroxide particles.

31. The composition as recited in claim 26 wherein said particles comprise a copper salt selected from the group consisting of tribasic copper sulfate, copper oxychloride, copper borate, basic copper borate, basic copper carbonate, copper hydroxide, basic copper phosphate, basic copper phospho-sulfate, basic copper nitrate, and mixtures thereof, and the slurry comprises between about 0.00045 moles and about 0.0008 moles of the dispersants per 50 square meters of surface area of said particles.

32. The composition as recited in claim 26 wherein the slurry comprises between about 0.00045 moles and about 0.0008 moles of the dispersants per 100 square meters of surface area of said particles.

33. A method comprising preparing a stable aqueous slurry comprising:

1) mixing under turbulent conditions

(a) a plurality of particles comprising a particle selected from the group consisting of a slightly soluble copper salt and/or a plurality of particles comprising a slightly soluble zinc salt, wherein the weight mean diameter of the particles is between about 0.05 micron and about 5 microns;

(b) an effective amount of at least one non-ionic dispersant comprising a hydrophilic polyalkylene oxide portion having between 2 and 50 alkylene oxide units therein, wherein at least one half of the alkylene oxide units are ethylene oxide units, and a hydrophobic portion comprising between 10 and 24 carbon atoms;

(c) water; and

(d) optionally an anionic surfactant; and

(2) adding a biocidally effective amount of a quaternary ammonium compound of general formula N—R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 —X, wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 comprises more than 8 carbons, and wherein X is a cation.

34. The method as recited in claim 33 ,

(i) wherein said copper salt is selected from the group consisting of copper (II) sulfate, copper (II) chloride, copper (II) bromide, copper (II) iodide, copper (II) carbonate, copper (I) chloride, copper (I) bromide copper (I) iodide copper (II) oxychloride, tribasic copper sulfate, copper borate, basic copper borate, basic copper carbonate, copper hydroxide, basic copper phosphate, basic copper phospho-sulfate, basic copper nitrate, and mixtures thereof and; wherein said zinc salt is selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfate, basic zinc sulfate, zinc chloride, basic zinc chloride, zinc bromide, zinc iodide, zinc carbonate, zinc borate, basic zinc borate, basic zinc carbonate, zinc hydroxide, basic zinc phosphate, basic zinc phospho-sulfate, basic zinc nitrate, and mixtures thereof;

(ii) wherein said quaternary ammonium compound has a general formula of N—R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 —X, wherein at least two of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl in the range of C 1 to C 30 , alkenyl groups in the range of C 1 to C 30 , alkynyl in the range of C 1 to C 30 , aryl in the range of C 5 to C 30 , aralkyl in the range of C 5 to C 30 , and aroyl in the range of C 5 to C 30 , and wherein X is a cation; and

(iii) wherein said at least one non-ionic dispersant is selected from the group consisting of

(a) a first group of non-ionic surfactants comprising a polycondensation product containing an alkylene glycol as a monomer;

(b) a second group of non-ionic surfactants comprising etherified compound of said first group of compounds and an aliphatic alcohol;

(c) a third group of compounds comprising an etherified compound of said first group of compounds and a higher fatty acid;

(d) a fourth group of compounds comprising phosphate ester of said second group of compounds;

(e) polyalkylene oxide block copolymer; and

(f) mixtures thereof.