Stable high-load herbicidal compositions comprising mixed amine oxides
Herbicidal compositions comprising mixed amine oxides and aminophosphate or aminophosphonate salts, in particular, to herbicidal compositions comprising mixed amine oxides and high-load aminophosphate or aminophosphonate potassium salts, wherein the composition has low temperature stability (i.e., no or unobservable crystal formation) among other beneficial properties.
1. An aqueous herbicidal composition comprising:
equal or greater than 540 g/L acid equivalent (ae) of an aminophosphonate potassium salt or aminophosphinate potassium salt;
an alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactant mixture comprising:
(i) a first alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactant present in an amount greater than 97% by weight of total alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactant mixture, the first alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactant of the formula:
R1-N + (CH 3 ) 2 —O −
wherein R1 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 8 carbon atoms; and
(ii) a second alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactant present in an amount less than 2% by weight of total alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactant mixture, the second alkyl dimethyl amine oxide of the formula:
R2-N + (CH 3 ) 2 —O −
wherein R2 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 10 carbon atoms; and
optionally, a solvent, and
wherein the composition:
(A) is free of betaine and N-methyl pyrrolidone;
(B) has a pH between 4.5 and 5.2 at 22° C. when diluted to 7% by weight concentration with deionized water;
(C) has a viscosity of less than 300 centipoise at a temperature at or less than 20° C.; and
(D) comprises 100 g/L or more of the alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactant mixture.
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the mixture is present at equal or greater than 120 g/L.
3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the mixture is present at equal or greater than 160 g/L.
4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the solvent is present and comprises at least one of propylene glycol, glycerine or ethylene glycol.
5. The composition of claim 1 whereby the composition is stable at a temperature of equal or less than 0° C.
6. The composition of claim 1 whereby the composition is stable at a temperature of equal or less than −10° C.
7. The composition of claim 1 whereby the composition is stable at a temperature of equal or less than −15° C.
8. A method for regulating plant growth comprising contacting the aqueous herbicidal composition of claim 1 with a plant.
9. A method of imparting low temperature stability to a high load aqueous herbicidal composition of an aminophosphonate potassium salt or aminophosphinate potassium salt comprising preparing the composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition has a viscosity of less than 300 centipoise at a temperature at or less than 20° C., 15° C., 10° C., or 5° C.
10. An aqueous herbicidal composition comprising:
equal or greater than 540 g/L acid equivalent (ae) of an aminophosphonate potassium salt or aminophosphinate potassium salt;
an alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactant mixture comprising:
(i) a first alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactant present in an amount less than 2% by weight of total alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactant mixture, the first alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactant of the formula:
R1-N + (CH 3 ) 2 —O −
wherein R1 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 8 carbon atoms; and
(ii) a second alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactant present in an amount greater than 96% by weight of total alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactant mixture, the second alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactant of the formula:
R2-N + (CH 3 ) 2 —O −
wherein R2 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 10 carbon atoms; and
optionally, a solvent, and
wherein the composition:
(A) is free of betaine and N-methyl pyrrolidone;
(B) has a pH between 4.5 and 5.2 at 22° C. when diluted to 7% by weight concentration with deionized water;
(C) has a viscosity of less than 300 centipoise at a temperature at or less than 20° C.; and
(D) comprises 100 g/L or more of the alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactant mixture.