Dispersants for agricultural applications

1. An agrochemical formulation comprising an agrochemical active and a water soluble dispersant polymer of structure (I)

where R 1 R 2 and R 3 are independently H, CH 3 , COOH or CH 2 COOH, a=0.1 to about 30 mole %, c=0 to 5 mole % and a+b+c=100 mole %;

where X=a linking group selected from the group consisting of:

R hy =2-ethylhexyl;

B is a moiety derived from polymerizing an olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer comprising COOH and it salts, or maleic anhydride or acrylamide; and

C is a moiety derived from polymerizing an olefinically unsaturated sulfonic acid monomer or phosphonic acid monomer and it salts, and is optional.

2. The agrochemical formulation of claim 1 wherein the formulation is in the form of a suspension concentrate (SC), suspension emulsion (SE), wettable powder (WP) or water dispersible granule (WDG).

3. The agrochemical formulation of claim 1 , wherein said agrochemical active is selected from the group consisting of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, biocides, molluscicides, algaicides, plant growth regulators, anthelmintics, rodenticides, nematocides, acaricides, amoebicides, protozoacides, crop safeners and adjuvants.

4. A method of making an agrochemical formulation comprising the step of combining an agrochemical active and a dispersant polymer of structure (I)

where R 1 R 2 and R 3 are independently H, CH 3 , COOH or CH 2 COOH, a=0.1 to about 30 mole %, c=0 to 5 mole % and a+b+c=100 mole %;

where R hy =2-ethylhexyl;

B is a moiety derived from polymerizing a carboxylated monomer comprising COOH and its salts, or maleic anhydride or acrylamide, and, optionally;

C which is a moiety derived from polymerizing a sulfonated monomer and

where X=a linking group selected from the group consisting of:

5. A method of making an agrochemical formulation according to claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:

milling the combination to a particle size range in order to obtain a stable, readily-suspendible aqueous dispersion; and

stabilizing the aqueous dispersion to obtain a suspension concentrate formulation suitable for dilution in water for agricultural use.

6. A method of making an agrochemical formulation according to claim 4 , further comprising the step of:

milling the combination to a desired particle size to obtain a homogeneous wettable powder (WP) formulation.

7. A method of making an agrochemical formulation according to claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:

agglomerating the combination to form discrete granular materials; and

drying the granular materials to obtain a water dispersible granule (WDG) formulation.

8. An agrochemical dispersant polymer comprising the polymer of structure (I)

where R 1 R 2 and R 3 are independently H, CH 3 , COOH or CH 2 COOH, a = 0 . 1 to about 30 mole %, c=0 to 5 mole % and a+b+c=100 mole %;

where X=a linking group selected from the group consisting of:

where R hy =2-ethylhexyl;

B is a moiety derived from polymerizing an olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer comprising COOH and its salts, or maleic anhydride or acrylamide; and

C is a moiety derived from polymerizing an olefinically unsaturated sulfonic acid monomer or phosphonic acid monomer and its salts.

9. An agrochemical dispersant polymer according to claim 8 , wherein the number average molecular weight of structure (I) is less than 20,000 Daltons.

10. An agrochemical formulation comprising an agrochemical active and a water-soluble dispersant polymer of structure (I):

wherein

R 1 and R 2 both represent H;

R 3 represents H or CH 3 ;

X represents —C(O)O—;

R hy represents 2-ethylhexyl;

B represents a moiety derived from polymerizing acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or a salt thereof;

C represents a moiety derived from polymerizing 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid or a salt thereof;

a represents 0.1 to about 30 mole %;

c represents 0 to 5 mole %; and

a +b +c =100 mole %.

11. A method of making the agrochemical formulation of claim 10 , said method comprising the step of combining the agrochemical active and the dispersant polymer of structure (I).