Bioactive acid agrichemical compositrions and use thereof

1 . A bioactive agrichemical concentrate composition comprising an intimate, substantially homogeneous, dry mix of an acid and at least one source of at least one antimicrobial metal ion, said acid being present in at least 40 weight percent and at a level that represents at least a 2 times molar excess, relative to the antimicrobial metal ions of the source, said bioactive composition, when said concentrate, when diluted to its end-use concentration, has a pH of less than 6 and the concentration of antimicrobial metal ion derived from the source is 500 ppm or less, in the case of a single antimicrobial metal ion, or 1000 ppm or less, in the case of multiple antimicrobial metal ions.

2 . The concentrate of claim 1 wherein the acid is present in an amount of from 40 to 80 weight percent.

3 . The concentrate of claim 1 further comprising one or more conventional additives in concentrated amounts, said additives selected from protective colloids, adjuvants, stabilizers, binders, thickeners, thixotropic agents, penetrating agents, antifreeze agents, defoaming agents, foaming agents, oils for spraying, corrosion inhibitors, surfactants, fillers, wetting agents, dispersing agents, emulsifiers, rain fasteners, and dyes and other known active ingredients which have pesticide or plant growth related properties or both.

4 . The concentrate of claim 1 wherein the acid is present in at least a 5 times molar excess relative to the metal ion(s) of the bioactive acid composition.

5 . The concentrate of claim 1 wherein the components of the bioactive acid composition are dry powders and the concentrate is prepared by dry blending the powders.

6 . The concentrate of claim 1 wherein the bioactive acid composition is prepared by forming a homogeneous solution of the acid and metal ion source in a volatile solvent and evaporating the solvent to leave a dry cake which is then ground before combining with the conventional bioactive agrichemical active.

7 . The concentrate claim 1 wherein the metal ion source is one or more materials that, in the presence of water, acts as a source of antimicrobial metal ions.

8 . The concentrate of claim 1 wherein the metal ion(s) are selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, zinc, mercury, tin, iron, gold, lead, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, and thallium ions and combinations of any two or more of such ions.

9 . The concentrate of claim 1 wherein the antimicrobial metal ions are selected from the group consisting of silver ions, copper ions, zinc ions, a combination of silver and copper ions, a combination of silver and zinc ions, a combination of copper and zinc ions and a combination of silver, copper and zinc ions.

10 . The concentrate of claim 1 wherein the acid is a water-soluble weak or moderate acid.

11 . The concentrate of claim 1 wherein the acid has a pKa of at least 1 in water.

12 . The concentrate of claim 1 further comprising at least one surfactant which, when the concentrate is diluted to a level where the concentration of the metal ion is 500 ppm or less, enhances the bioefficacy of the composition as compared to the solution without the surfactant.

13 . The concentrate of claim 1 wherein the pH is from 1.5 to 5 in the diluted state.

14 . A bioactive agrichemical active concentrate solution comprising a) an aqueous or aqueous-based concentrated acid solution, b) at least one antimicrobial metal ion or antimicrobial metal ion source fully or partially dissolved in said acid solution, and c) optionally, at least one surfactant, wherein the concentration of the acid is at least about 40 weight percent acid and the acid is present a level that is at least a 2 times molar excess relative to the metal ions of the acid solution, and wherein, when the concentrate is diluted to its end-use composition, the pH of that composition is less than 6 and the amount of metal ion attributed to the acid solution is 500 ppm or less, in the case of a single antimicrobial metal ion, or 1000 ppm or less, in the case of multiple antimicrobial metal ions.

15 . The concentrate of claim 14 further comprising one or more conventional additives selected from protective colloids, adjuvants, stabilizers, binders, thickeners, thixotropic agents, penetrating agents, antifreeze agents, defoaming agents, foaming agents, oils for spraying, corrosion inhibitors, surfactants, fillers, wetting agents, dispersing agents, emulsifiers, rain fasteners, and dyes and other known active ingredients which have pesticide or plant growth related properties or both.

16 . The concentrate of claim 14 wherein the acid solution has a concentration of from about 40 to about 80 weight percent.

17 . The concentrate of claim 14 wherein the acid is present in at least a 5 times molar excess relative to the metal ion(s).

18 . The concentrate of claim 14 wherein the metal ion(s) are selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, zinc, mercury, tin, iron, gold, lead, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, and thallium ions and combinations of any two or more of such ions.

19 . The concentrate of claim 14 wherein the antimicrobial metal ions are selected from the group consisting of silver ions, copper ions, zinc ions, a combination of silver and copper ions, a combination of silver and zinc ions, a combination of copper and zinc ions and a combination of silver, copper and zinc ions.

20 . The concentrate of claim 14 wherein the acid is a water-soluble or water miscible weak or moderate acid.

21 . The concentrate of claim 14 further comprising at least one surfactant which enhances the bioefficacy of the composition as compared to the solution without the surfactant.

22 . The concentrate of claim 14 wherein the pH of the end-use composition is from 1.5 to 5.