CRYSTALLIZATION INHIBITORS IN AGRICULTURAL FORMULATIONS
The present disclosure describes formulations and methods for agricultural production. The formulations comprise an active agricultural compound, a polymer, a dispersant and/or a wetting agent, and water, wherein the active is selected from the group consisting of fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, herbicides, safeners, growth regulators, and combinations thereof. The polymer is a polyelectrolyte comprising hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers, such as, styrene, methacrylic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid and ethyl acrylate. The formulations described herein have reduced, inhibited and/or mitigated crystallization of the active compounds.
1 . A method of inhibiting crystallization of an active compound comprising preparing a formulation of the active compound by milling the active compound with a polymer, a dispersant and/or a wetting agent, and water,
wherein the active compound is selected from the group consisting of fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, herbicides, safeners, growth regulators, and combinations thereof.
2 . The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the active compound has a water solubility of at least about 0.5 ppm at a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius and a pH of about 7.
3 . The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the active compound has a water solubility of at least about 100 ppm at a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius and a pH of about 7.
4 . The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the active compound has a water solubility of at least about 500 ppm at a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius and a pH of about 7.
5 . The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the active compound has a water solubility of at least about 1000 ppm at a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius and a pH of about 7.
6 . The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the active compound has a water solubility of less than about 10000 ppm at a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius and a pH of about 7.
7 . The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer is a polyelectrolyte.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the polymer comprises hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the polymer consists essentially of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers.
10 . The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer comprises styrene and methacrylic acid monomers.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the polymer has a weight ratio of styrene monomers to methacrylic acid monomers of between about 1:1: and about 1:9.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the polymer has a weight ratio of styrene monomers to methacrylic acid monomers of between about 2:3 and about 1:4.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the polymer has a weight ratio of styrene monomers to methacrylic acid monomers of about 3:7.
14 . The method of any one of claims 1 - 9 , wherein the polymer comprises AMPS monomers and ethyl acrylate monomers.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the polymer has a weight ratio of AMPS monomers to ethyl acrylate monomers of between about 1:4 and about 4:1.
16 . The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the active compound is selected from the group consisting of acetamiprid, propanil, metalaxyl, and combinations thereof.
17 . The method of any one of claims 1 - 16 wherein the active compound is selected from neonicotinoid insecticides, phenylamide fungicides, anilide herbicides, amide herbicides, herbicide safeners, and combinations thereof.
18 . A formulation comprising
an active compound;
a polymer;
a dispersant and/or a wetting agent; and
water,
wherein the active compound is selected from the group consisting of fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, herbicides, safeners growth regulators, and combinations thereof.
19 . The formulation of claim 18 wherein the active compound has a water solubility of at least about 0.5 ppm at a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius and a pH of about 7.
20 . The formulation of any one of claims 18 - 19 , wherein the active compound has a water solubility of at least about 100 ppm at a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius and a pH of about 7.
21 . The formulation of any one of claims 18 - 20 , wherein the active compound has a water solubility of at least about 500 ppm at a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius and a pH of about 7.
22 . The formulation of any one of claims 18 - 21 , wherein the active compound has a water solubility of at least about 1000 ppm at a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius and a pH of about 7.
23 . The formulation of any one of claims 18 - 22 , wherein the active compound has a water solubility of less than about 10000 ppm at a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius and a pH of about 7.
24 . The formulation of any one of claims 18 - 23 , wherein the polymer comprises hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers.
25 . The formulation of any one of claims 18 - 24 , wherein the polymer consists essentially of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers.
26 . The formulation of any one of claims 18 - 25 , wherein the polymer comprises styrene and methacrylic acid monomers.
27 . The formulation of claim 26 , wherein the polymer has a weight ratio of styrene monomers to methacrylic acid monomers of between about 1:1: and about 1:9.
28 . The formulation of claim 27 wherein the polymer has a weight ratio of styrene monomers to methacrylic acid monomers of between about 2:3 and about 1:4.
29 . The formulation of claim 28 wherein the polymer has a weight ratio of styrene monomers to methacrylic acid monomers of about 3:7.
30 . The formulation of any one of claims 18 - 25 , wherein the polymer comprises AMPS monomers and ethyl acrylate monomers.
31 . The formulation of claim 30 , wherein the polymer has a weight ratio of AMPS monomers to ethyl acrylate monomers of between about 1:4 and about 4:1.