Solvent systems for dicyandiamide and/or alkyl thiophosphoric triamide and use in agricultural applications

1. A liquid agricultural composition consisting of:

a urease inhibitor comprising N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide, wherein the N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide is 30 to 60 wt %, by total weight of the composition;

an organophosphate solvent of formula (VIII):

wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , are each independently chosen from C 1 -C 4 alkyl group,

dimethylsulfoxide;

optionally, dicyandiamide;

optionally, water;

optionally, a dye; and

optionally, at least one organic co-solvent selected from:

at least one dibasic ester;

at least one compound of formula (IIa):

R 3 OOC-A-CONR 4 R 5   (IIa),

wherein R 3 comprises a C 1 -C 36 alkyl group; wherein R 4 and R 5 individually comprise a C 1 -C 36 alkyl group, wherein R 4 and R 5 can optionally together form a ring; and wherein A is a linear or a branched divalent C 2 -C 6 alkyl group;

at least one alkyldimethylamide;

ethyl levulinate;

at least one alkylene carbonate; or

any combination thereof

wherein for 100 parts by weight total N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide, organophosphate solvent, and dimethylsulfoxide there is greater than 40 up to 60 parts N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide.

2. The liquid agricultural composition of claim 1 , wherein the dicyandiamide is present.

3. The liquid agricultural composition of claim 1 , wherein the liquid inhibitor composition consists of:

the N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide;

the at least one organophosphate solvent;

the dimethylsulfoxide;

optionally, the dicyandiamide;

optionally the water; and

optionally, the dye.

4. The liquid agricultural composition of claim 1 , wherein the organophosphate solvent is of formula (VIII):

wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , are each independently chosen from C 2 -C 4 alkyl group,

wherein the dimethylsulfoxide is present in an amount of at least 39.7 wt %, by total weight of the composition, wherein the N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide is greater than 45 and up to 55 wt % by total weight of the composition.

5. The liquid agricultural composition of claim 4 , wherein the N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide is present at greater than 45 and up to 55 wt %, by total weight of the composition.

6. The liquid agricultural composition of claim 1 , wherein the liquid inhibitor composition consists of:

the N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide;

the at least one organophosphate solvent;

the dimethylsulfoxide;

optionally, the dicyandiamide;

optionally the co-solvent; and

optionally, the dye.

7. The liquid agricultural composition of claim 1 , wherein the liquid inhibitor composition consists of:

the N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide;

the at least one organophosphate solvent;

the dimethylsulfoxide;

optionally, the dicyandiamide; and

optionally, the dye.

8. A method of making a solid or concentrated liquid fertilizer composition comprising treating one or more nitrogenous fertilizer compounds with a liquid inhibitor composition consisting of:

N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide dispersed in a liquid medium,

wherein the N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide is 30 to 60 wt %, by total weight of the liquid inhibitor composition,

the liquid medium consisting of:

at least one organophosphate solvent of formula (VIII):

wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , are each independently chosen from a C 2 -C 4 alkyl group,

dimethylsulfoxide,

optionally, dicyandiamide;

optionally, water;

optionally, a dye; and

optionally a co-solvent selected from:

at least one dibasic ester selected from the group consisting of di(C 1 -C 12 )alkyl esters of saturated linear or branched (C 2 -C 8 )aliphatic dicarboxylic acids or mixtures thereof;

at least one compound of formula (IIa):

R 3 OOC-A-CONR 4 R 6   (IIa),

wherein R 3 comprises a C 1 -C 36 alkyl group; wherein R 4 and R 5 individually comprise a C 1 -C 36 alkyl group, wherein R 4 and R 5 can optionally together form a ring; and wherein A is a linear or a branched divalent C 2 -C 6 alkyl group;

at least one alkyldimethylamide;

ethyl levulinate;

at least one alkylene carbonate;

wherein for 100 parts by weight total N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide, organophosphate solvent and dimethylsulfoxide there is greater than 40 up to 60 parts N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide.

9. The method of claim 8 ,

wherein N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide is present at greater than 45 and up to 55 wt %, by total weight of the composition, wherein the dimethylsulfoxide is present in an amount of at least 39.7 wt %, by total weight of the liquid inhibitor composition.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide is present at greater than 45 and up to 55 wt %, by total weight of the composition.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the liquid inhibitor composition consists of:

the N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide;

the at least one organophosphate solvent;

the dimethylsulfoxide;

optionally, the dicyandiamide;

optionally the co-solvent; and

optionally, the dye.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the liquid inhibitor composition consists of:

the N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide;

the at least one organophosphate solvent;

the dimethylsulfoxide;

optionally, the dicyandiamide;

optionally the water; and

optionally, the dye.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the liquid inhibitor composition consists of:

the N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide;

the at least one organophosphate solvent;

the dimethylsulfoxide;

optionally, the dicyandiamide; and

optionally, the dye.

14. A concentrated liquid fertilizer composition comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of the composition:

(a) up to about 99 parts by weight of one or more nitrogenous fertilizer compounds,

(b) a liquid inhibitor composition that consists of N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide dispersed in a liquid medium,

the liquid medium consists of:

at least one organophosphate solvent of formula (VIII):

wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , are each independently chosen from a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group,

and

(d) dimethylsulfoxide, and

optionally, at least one co-solvent selected from:

at least one dibasic ester selected from the group consisting of di(C 1 -C 12 )alkyl esters of saturated linear or branched (C2-C8)aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and mixtures thereof;

at least one compound of formula (IIa):

R 3 OOC-A-CONR 4 R 6   (IIa),

wherein R 3 comprises a C 1 -C 36 alkyl group; wherein R 4 and R 5 individually comprise a C 1 -C 36 alkyl group, wherein R 4 and R 5 can optionally together form a ring; and wherein A is a linear or a branched divalent C 2 -C 6 alkyl group;

at least one alkyldimethylamide;

ethyl levulinate; or

at least one alkylene carbonate;

optionally fertilizer, wherein at least one said fertilizer is a nitrogenous fertilizer;

optionally water;

optionally at least one dye; and

wherein the alkyl thiophosphoric triamide is 30 to 60 wt %, by total weight of:

the alkyl thiophosphoric triamide or the mixture comprising the alkyl thiophosphoric triamide and the dicyandiamide,

the at least one organophosphate solvent,

the dimethylsulfoxide and, if present the co-solvent,

wherein for 100 parts by weight total N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide, organophosphate solvent, and dimethylsulfoxide there is greater than 40 up to 60 parts N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide.

15. The concentrated liquid fertilizer composition of claim 14 , wherein the organophosphate solvent is of formula (VIII):

wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , are each independently chosen from a C 2 -C 4 alkyl group, wherein N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide is present at greater than 45 and up to 55 wt %, by total weight of the composition, wherein the dimethylsulfoxide is present in an amount of at least 39.7 wt %, by total weight of the liquid inhibitor composition.

16. The concentrated liquid fertilizer composition of claim 14 , wherein the inhibitor composition consists of:

the N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide;

the at least one organophosphate solvent;

the dimethylsulfoxide;

optionally, the dicyandiamide; and

optionally, the dye.

17. The concentrated liquid fertilizer composition of claim 14 ,

wherein there is up to about 99 parts by weight of the one or more nitrogenous fertilizer compounds,

wherein the liquid inhibitor composition consists of:

the N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide,

the at least one organophosphate solvent of formula (VIII):

wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , are each independently chosen from a C 2 -C 4 alkyl group; and

the dimethylsulfoxide, wherein the dimethylsulfoxide is present in an amount of at least 39.7 wt %, by total weight of the liquid inhibitor composition,

wherein the N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide is present at greater than 45 and up to 55 wt %, by total weight of the liquid inhibitor composition.

18. A method of making an aqueous end use fertilizer composition comprising contacting one or more nitrogenous fertilizer compounds with an inhibitor composition, the inhibitor composition consisting of:

N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide dispersed in a liquid medium,

the liquid medium consisting of:

at least one organophosphate solvent of formula (VIII):

wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , are each independently chosen from a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group, and

dimethylsulfoxide;

optionally, dicyandiamide,

optionally, water;

optionally, a dye; and

optionally a co-solvent selected from the group consisting of

at least one dibasic ester selected from the group consisting of di(C1-C12)alkyl esters of saturated linear or branched (C2-C8)aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and mixtures thereof;

at least one compound of formula (IIa):

R 3 OOC-A-CONR 4 R 6   (IIa),

wherein R 3 comprises a C 1 -C 36 alkyl group; wherein R 4 and R 5 individually comprise a C 1 -C 36 alkyl group, wherein R 4 and R 5 can optionally together form a ring; and wherein A is a linear or a branched divalent C 2 -C 6 alkyl group;

at least one alkyldimethylamide;

ethyl levulinate; and

at least one alkylene carbonate;

wherein the N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide is 30 to 60 wt %, by total weight of the inhibitor composition,

wherein for 100 parts by weight total N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide, organophosphate solvent and dimethylsulfoxide there is greater than 40 up to 60 parts N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the inhibitor composition consists of:

the N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide;

the at least one organophosphate solvent;

the dimethylsulfoxide;

optionally, the dicyandiamide; and

optionally, the dye.

20. The method of claim 18 ,

wherein in the at least one solvent of formula (VIII):

R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , are each independently chosen from a C 2 -C 4 alkyl group,

wherein N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide is present at greater than 45 and up to 55 wt %, by total weight of the inhibitor composition; and

wherein the dimethylsulfoxide is present in an amount of at least 39.7 wt %, by total weight of the inhibitor composition.

21. A liquid agricultural composition consisting of

inhibitor consisting of a N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide as a urease inhibitor and optionally dicyandiamide as a nitrification inhibitor;

an organophosphate solvent of formula (VIII):

wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , are each independently chosen from a C 1 -C 2 alkyl group;

dimethylsulfoxide;

optionally, at least one co-solvent selected from:

at least one dibasic ester selected from the group consisting of di(C 1 -C 12 )alkyl esters of saturated linear or branched (C 2 -C 8 )aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and mixtures thereof;

at least one compound of formula (IIa):

R 3 OOC-A-CONR 4 R 5 (IIa),

wherein R 3 comprises a C 1 -C 36 alkyl group; wherein R 4 and R 5 individually comprise a C 1 -C 36 alkyl group, wherein R 4 and R 5 can optionally together form a ring; and wherein A is a linear or a branched divalent C 2 -C 6 alkyl group;

at least one alkyldimethylamide;

ethyl levulinate; or

at least one alkylene carbonate;

optionally fertilizer, wherein at least one said fertilizer is a nitrogenous fertilizer;

optionally water;

optionally at least one dye; and

wherein the N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide is 30 to 60 wt %, by total weight of the inhibitor, organophosphate solvent, dimethylsulfoxide, and, if present, co-solvent,

wherein for 100 parts by weight total N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide, organophosphate solvent and dimethylsulfoxide there is greater than 40 up to 60 parts N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide.

22. The composition of claim 21 , consisting of

N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide as the urease inhibitor;

the organophosphate solvent of formula (VIII):

wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , are each selected from the C 1 -C 2 alkyl group;

the dimethylsulfoxide;

optionally the fertilizer, wherein at least one said fertilizer is a nitrogenous fertilizer;

optionally the water;

optionally the at least one dye, wherein N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide is present at greater than 45 and up to 55 wt %, by total weight of the composition.

23. The composition of claim 22 , wherein the N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide is 40 to 60 wt %, by total weight of the N-butyl thiophosphoric, the organophosphate solvent, and the dimethylsulfoxide.

24. The composition of claim 22 , wherein the N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide is 40 to 60 wt %, by total weight of the N-butyl thiophosphoric triamide , organophosphate solvent, dimethylsulfoxide, and, if present, co-solvent,

wherein the fertilizer, the water, and the at least one dye are present in the composition.