Microfibrillated cellulose as rheology modifier in high ionic strength agricultural formulations
Described herein, inter alia, is a concentrate including a high ionic strength liquid and a microfibrillated cellulose, and methods of making the same.
1. A composition comprising:
a chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose;
a medium having a high ionic strength;
optionally an agriculturally active compound; and
optionally a biostimulant;
wherein the composition exhibits thixotropy, and wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is processed using high shear conditions, optionally using a wetting agent, a dispersant, or combinations thereof.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the high ionic strength of the medium is provided by one or more ions having a concentration of at least about 5% of saturation level.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the high ionic strength of the medium is provided by one or more ions having a concentration of at least about 10% of saturation level.
4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the high ionic strength of the medium is provided by one or more ions having a concentration of at least about 20% of saturation level.
5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the high ionic strength of the medium is provided by one or more ions having a concentration of at least about 50% of saturation level.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the high ionic strength of the medium is provided by one or more ions having a concentration at about 100% of saturation level.
7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the high ionic strength of the medium is provided by one or more ions having a concentration above 100% of the saturation level and undissolved material is suspended in the composition.
8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the medium having high ionic strength comprises a fertilizer.
9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the medium having a high ionic strength comprises the agriculturally active compound as an ionic salt.
10. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the ionic salt is selected from the group consisting of glufosinate, glyphosate, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and 2-methoxy-3,6-dichlorobenzoic acid.
11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the agriculturally active compound is present.
12. The composition of claim 11 , wherein the agriculturally active compound is in the form of a particulate.
13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the particulate is a solid particle of the agriculturally active compound.
14. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the particulate is a capsule suspension of the agriculturally active compound.
15. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the particulate is a suspension concentrate of the agriculturally active compound.
16. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the particulate is an emulsion concentrate of the agriculturally active compound.
17. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the particulate is a liquid particle of the agriculturally active compound.
18. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the particulate is a gel of the agriculturally active compound.
19. The composition of claim 11 , wherein the agriculturally active compound comprises at least one of a pesticide, a bactericide, an algaecide, a nematicide, a fungicide, a larvicide, an insecticide, an herbicide, an herbicide safener, a plant growth regulator, a plant activator, a synergist, an acaricide, a molluscicide, a repellant, a biostimulant, or a micronutrient.
20. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is present in a dry matter weight concentration from about 0.01% to about 5%.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is present in a concentration from about 0.01% to about 1% on a dry weight basis.
22. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the wetting agent, the dispersant, or combinations thereof is present.
23. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is processed prior to mixing with the medium having a high ionic strength.
24. A composition comprising:
a fertilizer; and
a chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose; wherein an amount of fertilizer present in the composition imparts a high ionic strength, and wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is processed using high shear conditions, optionally using a wetting agent, a dispersant, or combinations thereof.
25. The composition of claim 24 , wherein the wetting agent, the dispersant, or combinations thereof is present.
26. The composition of claim 24 , wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is present in a dry matter weight concentration from about 0.01% to about 5%.
27. The composition of claim 24 , wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is processed prior to mixing with the fertilizer or to mixing with the fertilizer.
28. A method comprising:
mixing a fertilizer with a chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose to form a mix-ready fertilizer adjuvant, wherein an amount of fertilizer present in the adjuvant imparts a high ionic strength, and wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is processed using high shear conditions, optionally using a wetting agent, a dispersant, or combinations thereof.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is present in a concentration from about 0.01% to about 5%.
30. The method of claim 28 , further comprising adding an agriculturally active ingredient to the mix-ready fertilizer adjuvant.
31. The method of claim 28 , wherein the fertilizer is a fertilizer concentrate.
32. The method of claim 28 , wherein the wetting agent, the dispersant, or combinations thereof is present.
33. The method of claim 28 , wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is processed prior to mixing with the fertilizer.