Emulsifiable concentrate formulation

1. An agrochemical emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulation comprising at least one agrochemical active ingredient, at least one surfactant emulsifier, a primary solvent system, and optionally a stabilizer wherein the primary solvent system is a mixture of benzyl acetate and a sufficient amount of at least one polar substantially water-miscible co-solvent selected from the group consisting of N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP), dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO), dimethylisosorbide (DMI), ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, dimethylcarbonate, diethylcarbonate, an alkyl glycol ether and mixtures thereof and wherein the weight ratio of benzyl acetate to the polar, substantially water-miscible co-solvent is in the range of from 90:10 to 60:40.

2. A formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the active ingredient is present in a concentration, which is partially soluble in the benzyl acetate and the water-miscible co-solvent after storage at 0° C. with crystal seeding.

3. A formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of pyridine-based herbicides, diphenylether herbicides, anilide herbicides, dinitroaniline herbicides, triazole fungicides, carbamate insecticides, oxadiazine insecticides, synthetic pyrethroid insecticides, neonicotinoid insecticides and mixtures thereof.

4. A formulation according to claim 3 , wherein the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of clopyralid, diflufenican, oxyfluorfen, propanil, triadimenol, oryzalin, propoxur, bifenthrin, indoxacarb, imidacloprid, thiacloprid and mixtures thereof.

5. A formulation according to claim 4 , wherein the active ingredient is diflufenican present at greater than 2% weight/volume.

6. A formulation according to claim 5 , further comprising a phenoxyacid ester herbicide.

7. A formulation according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more water-immiscible non-primary co-solvent(s), wherein the water-immiscible co-solvent is not required to dissolve the active ingredient.

8. A formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the surfactant emulsifier(s) is selected from the group consisting of alkoxylated alcohols, alkoxylated alkylphenols, ethoxylated fatty acids, ethoxylated vegetable oils, ethoxylated tristyrylphenol, fatty acid esters of sorbitol and ethoxylated derivatives thereof, ethoxylated amines and condensates of glycerol, sulfonated alkylbenzenes in the range C 11 -C 16 and salts thereof, alkylether sulphates, alkyletherphosphates, alkylphenoletherphosphates, a catanionic system, wherein a cationic amine is used in combination with one or more alkylsulphonate(s), ether sulphate(s) or alkyletherphosphate(s) and combinations thereof.

9. A formulation according to claim 8 , wherein the stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO).

10. A formulation according to claim 9 , wherein the stabilizer is present in a concentration of up to 3% weight/volume.

11. An emulsion-in-water (EW) formulation, wherein an EC formulation according to claim 1 is further diluted in water to form a concentrated agrochemical formulation.

12. A method of making an EW formulation according to claim 11 , wherein the method comprises the following steps:

(a) forming a mixture comprising the agrochemical active ingredient, the polar, substantially water-miscible co-solvent, and benzyl acetate;

(b) adding the surfactant emulsifier and optionally the stabilizer to form the EC formulation; and

(c) contacting said EC formulation obtained in step (b) with water to form the EW formulation.

13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein step (a) comprises:

a) forming a mixture of the agrochemical active ingredient in benzyl acetate and then adding the polar, substantially water-miscible co-solvent; or

b) forming a mixture of the agrochemical active ingredient in the polar, substantially water-miscible co-solvent and then adding benzyl acetate; or

c) forming a mixture of the agrochemical active ingredient in a combination of benzyl acetate and the polar, substantially water-miscible co-solvent; or

d) combining the agrochemical active ingredient, benzyl acetate and the polar, substantially water-miscible co-solvent.

14. A method of making an EC formulation comprising at least one agrochemical active ingredient, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

(a) forming a mixture comprising the agrochemical active ingredient, a polar, substantially water-miscible co-solvent selected from the group consisting of N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP), dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO), dimethylisosorbide (DMI), ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, dimethylcarbonate, diethylcarbonate, an alkyl glycol ether and mixtures thereof, and benzyl acetate and wherein the weight ratio of benzyl acetate to the polar, substantially water-miscible co-solvent is in the range of from 90:10 to 60:40; and

(b) adding a suitable surfactant emulsifier and optionally a stabilizer.

15. A method of making an EC formulation according to claim 14 , wherein step (a) comprises:

a) forming a mixture of the agrochemical active ingredient in benzyl acetate and then adding the polar, substantially water-miscible co-solvent; or

b) forming a mixture of the agrochemical active ingredient in the polar, substantially water-miscible co-solvent and then adding benzyl acetate; or

c) forming a mixture of the agrochemical active ingredient in a combination of benzyl acetate and the polar, substantially water-miscible co-solvent; or

d) combining the agrochemical active ingredient, benzyl acetate and the polar, substantially water-miscible co-solvent.