PESTICIDE COMPOSITIONS INCLUDING POLYMERIC ADJUVANTS
Pesticidal compositions of improved effectiveness are provided, including a pesticide (e.g., an insecticide or herbicide) together with a copolymer adjuvant or additive selected from the group consisting of acid or salt copolymers containing individual quantities of maleic and itaconic moieties. The compositions of the invention provide multiple-fold increases in effectiveness, as compared with an equal amount of the pesticide in the absence of the copolymer.
1 . A pesticide composition comprising respective fractions of pesticide and polymer, said polymer fraction comprising at least about 60% by weight of a partial salt of a maleic-itaconic polymer including maleic and itaconic moieties, where the total weight of the polymer fraction is taken as 100% by weight, said polymer fraction being present in said composition at a level of from about 0.05-0.2% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition taken as 100% by weight.
2 . The composition of claim 1 , said pesticide fraction including a pesticide selected from the group consisting of insecticides, herbicides, and mixtures thereof.
3 . The composition of claim 2 , said pesticide fraction including a herbicide.
4 . The composition of claim 3 , said herbicide comprising glyphosate.
5 . The composition of claim 2 , said pesticide fraction including an insecticide.
6 . The composition of claim 5 , said pesticide fraction having a pesticide selected from the group consisting of synthetic pyrethroids and organophosphates.
7 . The composition of claim 1 , including a surfactant.
8 . The composition of claim 1 , said pesticide fraction being present at a level of 0.2-2% by weight.
9 . The composition of claim 1 , said polymer fraction being present at a level of from about 0.05-10% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition taken as 100% by weight.
10 . The composition of claim 1 , said maleic-itaconic polymer containing at least about 93% by weight of itaconic and maleic moieties.
11 . The composition of claim 11 , at least about 80% of said polymer fraction being said maleic-itaconic polymer.
12 . The composition of claim 11 , at least about 90% of said polymer fraction being said maleic-itaconic polymer.
13 . The composition of claim 12 , said polymer fraction consisting essentially of said maleic-itaconic polymer.
14 . The composition of claim 10 , said polymer fraction consisting essentially of said maleic-itaconic polymer containing at least about 93% by weight of itaconic and maleic moieties.
15 . A method of pesticidal treatment comprising the step of applying a pesticide composition in accordance with claim 1 to a surface.
16 . The method of claim 15 , said pesticide fraction including a pesticide selected from the group consisting of insecticides, herbicides, and mixtures thereof.
17 . The method of claim 16 , said pesticide fraction including a herbicide.
18 . The method of claim 17 , said herbicide comprising glyphosate.
19 . The method of claim 16 , said pesticide fraction including an insecticide.
20 . The method of claim 19 , said pesticide fraction having a pesticide selected from the group consisting of synthetic pyrethroids and organophosphates.