Foam formulations and apparatus for delivery
Foamable formulations of agriculturally active ingredients are provided, as well as methods for using them. The formulations allow improved delivery active ingredients by the ability to deliver high amounts of active ingredient with a low volume of formulation used.
1. A liquid agricultural formulation comprising:
an agriculturally active ingredient in a total amount of about 13% to about 40% by weight, selected from the group consisting of agricultural fungicides,
at least one foaming agent comprising an anionic surfactant, in a total concentration between about 0.1% and about 30% of the liquid agricultural formulation,
at least one foam stabilizer in a total concentration between about 0.1% and about 15% of the liquid agricultural formulation;
at least one dispersant wherein the dispersant comprises a phosphate ester; and
water;
wherein when the liquid agricultural formulation is used to form a foam, the foam generated by the formulation has a volume which is reduced by 25% after about 45 minutes or more.
2. The liquid agricultural formulation of claim 1 , wherein the total concentration of foaming agent(s) in the liquid agricultural formulation is between about 5% and about 30% of the liquid agricultural formulation.
3. The liquid agricultural formulation of claim 1 , wherein the total concentration of foam stabilizer(s) in the liquid agricultural formulation is between about 1% and about 15% of the liquid agricultural formulation.
4. The liquid agricultural formulation of claim 1 , wherein the agriculturally active ingredient is an azole fungicide selected from the group consisting of bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconaole, difenoconazole, diniconazole, enilconazole, epoxiconazole, fluquinconazole, fenbuconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, hexaconazole, imibenconazole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, penconazole, propiconazole, prothioconazole, simeconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triticonazole, prochloraz, pefurazoate, imazalil, triflumizole, cyazofamid, benomyl, carbendazim, thiabendazole, fuberidazole, ethaboxam, etridiazole and hymexazole, azaconazole, diniconazole-M, oxpoconazol, paclobutrazol, uniconazol, 1-(4-chloro-phenyl)-2-([1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-cycloheptanol and imazalilsulfphate.
5. The liquid agricultural formulation of claim 1 , wherein the agriculturally active ingredient is flutriafol.
6. The liquid agricultural formulation of claim 1 , wherein the agriculturally active ingredient is present in the liquid agricultural formulation in the form of a microemulsion, an oil-in-water concentrated emulsion, a suspension, a suspension concentrate, an emulsifiable concentrate, or a microencapsulate.
7. The liquid agricultural formulation of claim 6 , wherein the agriculturally active ingredient is present in the liquid agricultural formulation in the form of a suspension concentrate.
8. The liquid agricultural formulation of claim 1 , wherein the agriculturally active ingredient is present in a total concentration of about 17% to about 40% by weight of the liquid agricultural formulation.
9. The liquid agricultural formulation of claim 1 , wherein the one or more foam stabilizers are present in a total concentration of about 7% to about 15% by weight of the liquid agricultural formulation.
10. The liquid agricultural formulation of claim 1 , wherein the total concentration of the one or more foaming agents is about 17% to about 30% by weight of the liquid agricultural formulation.
11. A liquid agricultural formulation, comprising:
a) flutriafol;
b) sodium decyl sulfate as foaming agent;
c) glycerine as foam stabilizer;
d) 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one as preservative;
e) alkyl polyglucosides and phosphate esters as dispersants; and
f) water;
wherein when the liquid agricultural formulation is used to form a foam, the foam generated by the formulation has a volume which is reduced by 25% after 45 minutes or more.
12. The liquid agricultural formulation of claim 11 , wherein flutriafol is present in about 13% to about 40% by weight of the liquid agricultural formulation; sodium decyl sulfate is present in about 0.1% to about 30% by weight of the liquid agricultural formulation; and glycerine is present in a total of about 0.1% to about 15% by weight of the liquid agricultural formulation.
13. An agricultural foam, comprising:
1) a liquid agricultural formulation comprising:
a) flutriafol;
b) sodium decyl sulfate as foaming agent;
c) glycerine as foam stabilizer;
d) 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one as preservative;
e) alkyl polyglucosides and phosphate esters as dispersants; and
f) water; and
2) a gas.
14. The agricultural foam of claim 13 , wherein the liquid agricultural formulation contains about 13% to about 40% by weight of flutriafol; about 0.1% to about 30% by weight of sodium decyl sulfate, and about 0.1% to about 15% by weight of glycerine; and wherein the gas is air.
15. The agricultural foam of claim 14 , wherein the total concentration of foaming agent(s) in the liquid agricultural formulation is between about 5% and about 30% by weight of the liquid agricultural formulation.
16. The agricultural foam of claim 14 , wherein the total concentration of foam stabilizer(s) in the liquid agricultural formulation is between about 1% and about 15% by weight of the liquid agricultural formulation.
17. A method of creating an agricultural foam from a liquid agricultural formulation, comprising: mixing a liquid agricultural formulation and a gas under foaming conditions, wherein the liquid agricultural formulation comprises: an agriculturally active ingredient in a total amount of about 13% to about 40% by weight, selected from the group consisting of agricultural fungicides, at least one foaming agent comprising an anionic surfactant, in a total concentration between about 0.1% and about 30% by weight of the liquid agricultural formulation, at least one foam stabilizer in a total concentration between about 0.1% and about 15% by weight of the liquid agricultural formulation, at least one dispersant wherein the dispersant comprises a phosphate ester, and water; wherein the gas is air; and wherein the foam generated by the formulation has a volume which is reduced by 25% after about 45 minutes or more.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the total concentration of foaming agent(s) in the liquid agricultural formulation is between about 5% and about 30% by weight of the liquid agricultural formulation.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the total concentration of foam stabilizer(s) in the liquid agricultural formulation is between about 1% and about 15% by weight of the liquid agricultural formulation.
20. A method of applying an agricultural foam to seeds during planting in-furrow, comprising the steps of:
i) creating an agricultural foam from a liquid agricultural formulation and a gas, comprising
a) mixing a liquid agricultural formulation and a compressed gas in a mixing chamber comprising a chamber body, and a foaming medium comprising a plurality of spheres, and
b) passing the mixture through at least one conduit associated with an outlet to generate a foamed formulation;
wherein the liquid agricultural formulation comprises:
1) an agriculturally active ingredient selected from the group consisting of agricultural fungicides,
2) at least one foaming agent comprising an anionic surfactant, in a total concentration between about 0.1% and about 3 0% of the liquid agricultural formulation,
3) at least one foam stabilizer in a total concentration between about 0.1% and about 15% of the liquid agricultural formulation,
4) water,
and 5) at least one dispersant wherein the dispersant comprises a phosphate ester;
wherein the gas is air; and
wherein the foam generated by the formulation has a volume which is reduced by 25% after about 45 minutes or more, and
ii) directly applying the agricultural foam to seeds as they are being planted in a furrow.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the foam has an expansion factor between 15-80.
22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the total concentration of foaming agent(s) in the liquid agricultural formulation is between about 5% and about 30% by weight of the liquid agricultural formulation.
23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the total concentration of foam stabilizer(s) in the liquid agricultural formulation is between about 1% and about 15% by weight of the liquid agricultural formulation.
24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the concentration of the agriculturally active ingredient is between about 13% and 40% by weight of the liquid agricultural formulation.
25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the agriculturally active ingredient is an azole fungicide selected from the group consisting of bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconaole, difenoconazole, diniconazole, enilconazole, epoxiconazole, fluquinconazole, fenbuconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, hexaconazole, imibenconazole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, penconazole, propiconazole, prothioconazole, simeconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triticonazole, prochloraz, pefurazoate, imazalil, triflumizole, cyazofamid, benomyl, carbendazim, thiabendazole, fuberidazole, ethaboxam, etridiazole and hymexazole, azaconazole, diniconazole-M, oxpoconazol, paclobutrazol, uniconazol, 1-(4-chloro-phenyl)-2-([1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-cycloheptanol and imazalilsulfphate.
26. The method of claim 20 , wherein the agriculturally active ingredient is flutriafol.