Nanoemulsions and processes for their preparation, and their use as formulations of plant protection agents and/or pesticides and/or cosmetic preparations

1. A process for preparing a nanoemulsion comprising:

providing or obtaining a microemulsion comprising:

at least one pseudo-cosmotropic substance which is sparingly soluble in water or insoluble in water, and which lowers a temperature of at least one phase boundary of the microemulsion to a lower level as compared to the microemulsion without the at least one pseudo-cosmotropic substance; and

at least one oil spreader as an adjuvant, wherein the oil spreader is an organo-modified polysiloxane of the general formula (1):

where:

z=independently of one another 0 or 1;

x=0 to 200;

y=0 to 100;

R′=R or an alkyl radical;

R=(CH 2 ) n —(O) o —(C 2 H 4 O) p (C 3 H 6 O) q (C 2 H 3 LO) r —K and/or C m H 2m+1 ;

n=0, 3, 4 or 6;

o=0 or 1;

m=1 to 40;

p=0 to 50;

q=0 to 50;

r=0 to 50;

L=ethyl or phenyl; and

K is H, an alkyl radical having 4 or fewer carbon atoms, or is an acetyl group;

with the proviso that formula (1) must comprise at least one group R; and

diluting the microemulsion with water in a ratio of 1:20 to 1:10,000, based on parts by weight, to obtain the nanoemulsion;

wherein the nanoemulsion is storage stable and has an average particle size distribution in the range of from 10-200 nm for at least 48 hours at 40° C.; and

wherein the at least one pseudo-cosmotropic substance includes at least one substance selected from the group consisting of pesticidal actives.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein the microemulsion further comprises:

at least one hydrophilic substance;

at least one emulsifier;

optionally one or more hydrophobic oils; and

optionally one or more further adjuvants or auxiliaries.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein the pseudo-cosmotropic substance comprises a physiologically active substance or composition.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein the microemulsion further comprises:

water;

at least one emulsifier; and

optionally a hydrophobic substance.

5. A nanoemulsion prepared by the process as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein the pseudo-cosmotropic substance is employed in an amount of from 0.5 to 40% by weight of the total formulation of the microemulsion.

6. A nanoemulsion prepared by the process as claimed in claim 4 ;

wherein the microemulsion includes the hydrophobic substance; and

wherein the hydrophobic substance has a flash point of at least 110° C. and comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of mineral oils, aromatic oils, vegetable oils, fatty acid esters, liquid paraffins and silicone oils, and mixtures thereof.

7. A nanoemulsion prepared by the process as claimed in claim 1 .

8. A nanoemulsion prepared by the process as claimed in claim 4 ;

where the microemulsion is stable within a temperature range of between −10° C. and +90° C.

9. The nanoemulsion prepared by a process as claimed in claim 4 ;

wherein the average particle size distribution of the nanoemulsion is in the range of from 20-200 nm.

10. A nanoemulsion prepared by the process as claimed in claim 4 ;

wherein particle sizes of the nanoemulsion are present which bring about a translucency.

11. A nanoemulsion prepared by the process as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein the pseudo-cosmotropic substance is a pesticide or pesticide mixture.

12. The nanoemulsion as claimed in claim 11 ;

wherein the pseudo-cosmotropic substance is an insecticide or insecticide mixture.

13. The nanoemulsion as claimed in claim 5 ;

wherein the pseudo-cosmotropic substance includes at least one pesticide or insecticide selected from the group consisting of pyrethroids, sulfonylureas, triazoles, morpholines, phenylpyrazoles, neonicotinoids, tetracyclines, cyclodienes, organochlorines, organophosphorus-based pesticides, carbamates and dithiocarbamates, phthalimides, strobilurins, benzimidazoles, aryloxyphenoxypropionates, triazines, and mixtures thereof.

14. The nanoemulsion as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising:

a cosmotropic substance.

15. A method of protecting a plant against pests, comprising:

administering a pesticially effective amount of the nanoemulsion of claim 5 to a plant.

16. A method of providing pesticidal effect in a veterinary, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic preparation, comprising:

adding a pesticidally effective amount of the nanoemulsion of claim 5 , which further comprises of one or more pesticides, to a veterinary, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic preparation.

17. The process as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein the microemulsion is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:20 to 1:500, based on parts by weight.

18. The process as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein the concentration of water in the microemulsion prior to dilution is from 9.25% to 11.11% by weight.

19. The process as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein the pseudo-cosmotropic substance is permethrin.

20. The process as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein the pseudo-cosmotropic substance is tebuconazole.

21. The process as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein the pesticidal actives are selected from the group consisting of herbicides, fungicides, growth regulators, molluscicides, and insecticides.