Dispersible adhesive granules
A process for treating foliage by retaining an active agent in contact with the foliage is provided that includes the application of a biologically active ingredient carrier granule. The granule includes a mineral component, a cellulosic component, and a binder flowing upon wetting intermixed with the mineral component and the cellulosic components. A biologically active ingredient is added to the granule to treat the foliage. The foliage in either a dry or pre-wetted state. The contact of the granule with water causes the granule to flow to form a coherent film bound by the binder on the foliage with the active agent retained in the film in contact with the foliage.
1. A process for treating foliage by retaining an active agent in contact with the foliage comprising:
applying a biologically active ingredient carrier granule comprising:
a mineral component;
a cellulosic component;
a binder flowing upon wetting intermixed with said mineral component and said cellulosic components;
a water-dispersible polymer coating said granule, said coating breaking up said granule into fine particles upon wetting; and
a biologically active ingredient;
to the foliage in a dry or pre-wetted state;
contacting said granule with water to cause said granule to flatten and flow to spread on the foliage surface to form a coherent film bound by said binder on the foliage with said active agent retained in said film in contact with the foliage.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein the foliage is pre-wetted or wetted simultaneous with said applying of said granule.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein the foliage is pre-wetted.
4. The process of claim 1 further comprising:
cutting the foliage to yield clippings; and
placing the clippings within a target area in need of said active agent.
5. The process of claim 1 wherein said granule disperses in less than 5 minutes.
6. The process of claim 1 wherein said granule disperses in less than 1 hour.
7. The process of claim 1 wherein said granule disperses upon contact with water in less than 6 hours.
8. The process of claim 1 wherein the carrier granule has a diameter from 10 to 500 microns.
9. The process of claim 1 wherein said mineral component is a material selected from tire group consisting of: limestone, dolomite, rock dust, and clay.
10. The process of claim 1 wherein said cellulosic component is selected from the group comprising corncob, cereal, hulls, plant pulp, and wood flour.
11. The process of claim 1 wherein said biologically active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of: herbicide, insecticide, fungicide, plant growth regulator, pest reproductive control agent, pesticide, and combinations thereof.
12. The process of claim 1 wherein said carrier particle further comprises a plasticizer in an amount ranging from 1 to 10 total weight percent of said granule.
13. The process of claim 12 wherein said plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of: polyols, urea, sugars, sugar alcohols, oxa diacids, diglycolic acids, linear carboxylic acids with at least one ether group, C|-C| 2 dialkyl phthalate, ethanolacetamide, ethanolformamide, tricthanolamines, thiocyanates, glycerol, rriethylene glycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, and polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight below about 600.
14. The process of claim 1 wherein said granule further comprises a water-dispersible polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, cellulose ether, and hydroxypropyl starch.
15. The process of claim 1 wherein said granule has a density of between 0.8 to 1.2 g/cm 3 and a diameter of between 0.01 and 0.5 millimeters.
16. The process of claim 1 wherein the foliage is blade grass.
17. The process of claim 1 wherein the foliage is horticultural crop.
18. The process of claim 1 wherein the foliage is an orchard crop.