Viscoelastic system for drift reduction
The invention relates to a viscoelastic system for drift reduction for pesticidal formulations, and the use thereof, wherein the formulation comprising at least one nitrogen-based cationic surfactant and at least one pesticide, wherein the pesticide contains at least one acid functional group associating with the cationic surfactant thereby forming a viscoelastic formulation.
1. A method of reducing spray drift of an aqueous pesticidal formulation, said method comprising
adding to said formulation an effective amount therefor of a nitrogen-based surfactant as a drift control agent, wherein said formulation comprises at least one pesticide containing an acid functional group, but the formulation does not comprise glyphosate or a salt or ester thereof, and the acid functional group of said pesticide is capable of associating with said surfactant thereby forming a viscoelastic pesticidal system having reduced drift;
spraying said formulation on a crop, wherein said sprayed formulation has a reduced spray drift;
wherein said surfactant is represented by general formula (B)
where R 1 is C12 to C22 linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain; A is C3 linear or branched saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain, B is O − , and each of R 2 and each of R 3 are independently CH 3 or CH 2 CH 2 OH; and
wherein the drift control agent is present at weight concentrations of from 0.001% to 5. 0%.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one surfactant is chosen from, N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]tallowamide N-oxide, N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]erucamide N-oxide, N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]oleoamide N-oxide and combinations and mixtures thereof.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said pesticide is chosen from a growth regulator, a photosynthesis inhibitor, a pigment inhibitor, a mitotic disrupter, a lipid biosynthesis inhibitor, a cell wall inhibitor, a cell membrane disrupter, or a mixture thereof.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pesticide is a phenoxy pesticide.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said drift control agent is present at weight concentrations of from 0.01% to 1.0%.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said phenoxy pesticide is chosen from 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, dicamba, dichlorprop, MCPA, MCPB, mecoprop, pyraflufen, quinclorac, diclofop, fenoxaprop, fluazifop, haloxyfop, quizalofop and mixtures thereof.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein said phenoxy pesticide is chosen from a phenoxy acetic acid, a phenoxy propionic acid, a phenoxy butyric acid and combinations and mixtures thereof.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one surfactant is N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]oleoamide N-oxide.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formulation comprises at least one of 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, dicamba, dichlorprop, MCPA, MCPB, mecoprop, pyraflufen, quinclorac, diclofop, fenoxaprop, fluazifop, haloxyfop, quizalofop and mixtures thereof; and the at least one surfactant is N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]oleoamide N-oxide.