Adjuvant Newsletter

Development

Editor in Chief: Hans de Ruiter Volume 7 – Issue 5 – May 2010

Contents: Polysaccharide based adjuvant controls drift(page 1) – China is a

gold mine of generic formulation research (3) – Patents in brief (3) - Literature (2) - Agenda online (3) - Patent alert service online (5) - Advertisers (5) - Item

of the month (5)

POLYSACCHARIDE BASED ADJUVANT CONTROLS SPRAY DRIFT

Lamberti SpA has developed a

polysaccharide-based adjuvant

(“Lamfix DCT/22”) which can be

used to increase deposition by

reducing spray drift in aerial,

roadside and industrial

applications. Lamfix DCT/22 works

effectively with herbicides,

fungicides, insecticides, desiccants

and defoliants. Derived from a

natural polysaccharide, Lamfix

DCT/22 modifies spray particle

distribution by reducing drastically

the amount of fine droplets (<210

m). Lamfix DCT/22, at its

recommended use rate (0.15%

w/v), is able to reduce more than

75% of drifted spray droplets. A

patent application on Lamfix

DCT/22 as a drift control agent is

pending. Contribution by Lamberti

and edited by SURfaPLUS.

Figure 1. Drop size distribution; West Central Research and Extension Center

University of Nebraska-Lincoln (March 2010) http://westcentral.unl.edu/home

Spray drift may result in contamination

of another farmer’s crops, causing

illegal residues or crop damage. In

particular, herbicide spray drift can

result in non-uniform application in a

field, with possible crop damage and/or

poor weed control. In addition,

insecticide spray drift can damage

beneficial insect populations, especially

bees and natural predators of

agricultural pests.

EFFECTS OF DRIFT

The effectiveness of Lamfix DCT/22 as

a drift control adjuvant was analyzed

with laser diffraction equipment (Figure

1). The drift control adjuvants were

tank-mixed at their recommended rates

with a fully-loaded glyphosate herbicide

formulation (RPM = Roundup

PowerMax). At an application rate of

94 L of water/ha Lamfix DCT/22 (LM22)

was shown to be highly effective in

reducing the number of small (driftable)

spray droplets when compared to a

commercial drift control adjuvant

containing 30% polyacrylamide

(PAM30).

DROP SIZE DISTRIBUTION

WIND CHAMBER TEST

An additional study was conducted by

Lamberti’s Central Research

Department using a wind chamber to

evaluate the effect of the drift control

adjuvants under simulated application

conditions. An axial fan pulls air through

the wind chamber impacting the spray

cone at velocities of approximately

4 m/s. The airflow was measured to be

approximately laminar for the central 1

meter width. A single nozzle (TeeJet

TP11003 VP) was placed at 60 cm of

height (Figure 2).

A “blank formulation” was prepared in

order to simulate a fully-loaded

Glyphosate formulation, but without the

glyphosate active ingredient. The blank

formulation contained 10% Tallow

amine ethoxylate (15EO) in water,

buffered to pH 4.7. Several spray

solutions were prepared by mixing the

blank formulation (1% v/v) with a guar-

based adjuvant (0.05-0.30%), under

mild stirring conditions in CIPAC D

water. The adjuvants included Lamfix

DCT/22 and a hydroxypropyl guar

product that is currently used in many

commercial drift control products (HP

Guar).

SOLUTIONS

Continued page 2

Adjuvant Newsletter – May 2010 - page 2

ANALYSIS OF DRIFT

A single TeeJet TP 11003 VP nozzle was

used at 2 bar pressure (VMD range

according to Teejet: 175-250 µm). The

drifted droplets were collected by a

blotting paper sheet (Figure 2). The

drift effect was measured by weighing

the blotting paper sheet before and

after 60 seconds of spraying. The

weight difference was measured within

2 minutes of the collection. All

applications were replicated 3 times.

The weight differences were reported as

percentages and then compared to the

weight difference for the blank

formulation (glyphosate blank spray

solution without drift control adjuvant),

which was assigned a relative drift

value of 100%.

Lamfix DCT/22, at a use rate of 0.10

– 0.30%, reduced more than 75% of

drifted droplets, which was an

improvement over the HP Guar product

(Figure 3)

Fig. 2. Technology to measure spray drift under laboratory conditions; Lamberti

Figure 3. Wind chamber results; Lamberti

LAMFIX DCT/22 is a non ionic

associative thickener, with typical

pseudoplastic behavior also when

used at low concentrations (0.15%),

making it an ideal product for

optimizing spray droplet deposition

in agro spray applications. At higher

concentrations (e.g. 1%) its

rheological profile shows a high yield

value and consequently good

suspending properties.

PRODUCT PROFILE

More about Lamberti S.p.A.; see http://www.lamberti.com/

Chemical name/description: Hydrophobically modified polysaccharide. Guar gum, hydroxypropyl guars modified with

groups comprising at least one C8 - C22 fatty chain.

Background: Guar gum derives from the ground endosperm of the guar plant which physically resembles the soybean

plant. Guar gum is a cold water soluble polysaccharide which can produce high viscosity solutions. First used in the food

and textile industries, today the guar gum applications include many other industries, including paper manufacturing,

personal care and agrochemicals.

Uses: Well suited for applications needing high viscosity at low shear with rapid viscosity decrease when the shear

increases. Used as a non ionic associative thickener and rheology control agent. Offers pseudoplastic behavior, high yield

value and good suspending properties.

Appearance: free flowing powder with pale cream color

pH (1% soln.): 5.5 – 8.5

Brookfield viscosity (1% soln.): 4,000 – 5000 mPa·s (20O C, 20 rpm at pH 6)

Solubility: Soluble in cold and warm water

CAS number: 39421-75-5

TSCA: Registered

EPA Approval Status: EPA 40 CFR 180.9 20 (Inert ingredients used pre-harvest)

PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Adjuvant Newsletter - May 2010 - page 3

Literature

Enhancer of increasing pesticide products efficacy (I). Agrochemicals (2010)1

Enhancer of increasement pesticide products efficacy (II). Agrochemicals (2010)2

Research progress on applications of tea saponin in pesticides. Agrochemicals (2010)2

An approach of the normal use of pesticide adjuvant. Modern agrochemicals (2010)1

Preparation and application of emulsifier DK90# in pesticide microemulsion. Modern agrochemicals (2010)1

Problems and solutions of unsafe additive in pesticide formulation. Modern agrochemicals (2009)4

Solvent oil application at pesticide field. World pesticides (2009)6

Study on the stability of liquid pesticide aqueous emulsion. World pesticides (2009)6

Application of organosilicon defoamer in pesticide formulation. Pesticide science and administration (2010)1

Continued page 4

TREND

China is a gold mine of generic formulation research

Unknown, unloved. Only few know

the way to the Chinese mine of

information on adjuvants and

generic formulations. Adjuvant

Newsletter brings you to the yield

of adjuvant and formulation related

agrochemistry research in China.

How does a methyl esterified

cottonseed oil emulsion perform as

herbicide adjuvant? Formulators from

Shandong Huayang Technology know.

They too know how to prepare this

novel adjuvant. The results of their

investigations however are only

published in a Chinese-language

journal. Who has no Chinese, has to

rely on an abstract.

This methyl esterified cottonseed oil

emulsion story is not isolated. Many

other Chinese researchers publish as

well their findings exclusively in

Chinese-language journals. In this way

the large yield of applied and basic

research on formulation of (generic)

pesticides nearly remain unnoticed by

interested parties outside China. A quick

scan conducted by Adjuvant Newsletter

demonstrates the area of adjuvant and

formulation research that has been

published the last months in Chinese-

language papers (see Literature on pp

3-4). A lot of papers deal with generic

insecticides. In the past months, papers

about adjuvants and fungicidal and

herbicidal formulations have been

published.

PATENTS IN BRIEF

Doubled pesticide effectiveness claimed

Specialty Fertilizer Products claims with

its itaconic/maleic copolymer adjuvants

a “two-fold greater pesticidal

effectiveness, as compared with an

equal amount of the pesticide without

the copolymer”. According to the

American fertiliser company, this

copolymer blend contrasts with other

“expedients” that are “known to

marginally increase pesticide

performance”. In an recently granted

US patent (US7655597) inventor John

Larry Sanders says these expedients in

general “do not provide significant,

multiple-fold increases in pesticidal

effectiveness”.

Specialty Fertilizer Products illustrates

the increased effectiveness with a fire

ant control test. In this test various

dilution levels of the insecticides

bifenthrin, permethrin or malathion are

used, whether or not supplied with the

Avail copolymer fertiliser additive. In all

cases the copolymer materially lowers

the kill time of the ants. “Although the

mechanism of this effect is not fully

understood, it is believed that the

tested insecticides, having an

amphoteric or positive charge, are

modified by the copolymer to change

the membrane potential thereof, e.g.,

the copolymer aggregates the charge,

rendering the insecticide/copolymer

mixture more effective. This is

confirmed by a series of tests with a

negatively charged insecticide

(Diazinon®) where the copolymer gave

no decrease in kill times as compared

with the insecticide itself”.

The itaconic/maleic copolymer-based

fertiliser additive Nutrisphere for liquids

(also from Specialty Fertilizer Products)

improves the efficacy of a glyphosate

composition comprising urea and

ammonium nitrate. According to a

presentation given by John Larry

Sanders, this nitrogen protecting

fertiliser additive pulls the nickel out of

the urease molecule. Specialty Fertilizer

Products doesn’t explain the mode of

action of the copolymer in the

glyphosate plus nitrogen fertiliser

composition.

Fire ant war continues; University of

Florida Pesticide Information Office

GENERAL

Adjuvant Newsletter - May 2010 - page 4

Surfactants increase uniformity of soil water content and reduce water repellency on sand-based golf putting greens. Soil

science 175(2010)3: 111-117

Aqueous solution of anionic surfactants mixed with soils show a synergistic reduction in surface tension. Water, air, & soil

pollution 209(2010)1-4: 3-13

SOIL/GROWING MEDIUM

Mechanism of PEO–PPO–PEO micellization in aqueous solutions studied by two-dimensional correlation FTIR spectroscopy J

Colloid Interface Sci 345(2010)2: 332-337

The clouding behaviour of PEO–PPO based triblock copolymers in aqueous ionic surfactant solutions: A new approach for

cloud point measurements J Colloid Interface Sci 345(2010)2: 346-350

CHEMISTRY

Aqueous coating dispersion (pseudolatex) of zein improves formulation of sustained-release tablets containing very water-

soluble drug J Colloid Interface Sci 345(2010)1: 46-53

FORMULATION

Effect of biodegradable chelating ligand on iron bioavailability and radish growth. Journal of plant nutrition 33(2010)6: 933-

942

Promoting fertilizer use via controlled release of a bacteria-encapsulated film bag J Agric Food Chem 58(2010)10: 6300–

6305

Effect of particle size on copper oxychloride transport through saturated sand columns J Agric Food Chem 58(2010)11:

6870–6875

FERTILISERS

Formulation of permethrin·a-(L)-terpineol 15% EW. Agrochemicals (2010)2

Preparation of chlorpyrifos microcapsule and its long biotoxicity. Modern agrochemicals (2009)4

Microcapsulating and control efficacy of chlorpyrifos·betacypermethrin on grubs (Anomala corpulenta). Chinese journal of

pesticide science (2009)4

Research the formulation of chlorpyrifos microemulsion. Agrochemicals (2010)2

Determined the controlled release of the encapsulated granule of the sex pheromone of Grapholitha molesta Busck by gas

chromatograph. Agrochemicals (2010)2

Application prospects of microencapsulation pesticides in management of underground pests. Modern agrochemicals

(2009)5

Preparation of abamectin microemulsion using organosilicon co-formulant. Chinese journal of pesticide science (2009)4

Preparation of emamectin-benzoate microcapsules by complex coacervation. Chinese journal of pesticide science (2009)4

Preparation of emamectin benzoate 5% WG. Pesticide science and administration (2010)3

Progress and formulation of pyrethroid pesticides. World pesticides (2009)5

INSECTICIDES

Bases for interactions between saflufenacil and glyphosate in plants J. Agric Food Chem 58(2010)12: 7335–7343

Study on enhancement of wetting property of herbicide on Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng leaves by petroleum oil.

Modern agrochemicals (2009)6

Research on the prescription of water dispersible granules of 800 g/kg tebuthiuron. Modern agrochemicals (2010)1

Formulation study of 14% bensulfuron-methyl and acetochlor effervescent granules scattered. Modern agrochemicals

(2009)5

Controlled release of herbicide from cellulose and its composite gels. Modern agrochemicals (2009)4

Performance of slow-release formulations of alachlor. Soil Science Society of America journal 74(2010)3: 898-905

HERBICIDES

Preparation of pyrimethanil·difenoconazole 40% SC. Pesticide science and administration (2010)2

Toxicity of the mixtures of octadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and isoprothiolane on Magnaporthe grisea. Pesticide

science and administration (2010)2

FUNGICIDES

Study on the formulation of pymetrozine 70% WG. Pesticide science and administration (2010)2

ANTI-FEEDENT

Adjuvant Newsletter – May 2010 - page 5

Editor in chief: Hans de Ruiter – Associate editor: Gert C. van den Berg - Publisher: SURfaPLUS

Internet Services, Costerweg 5, 6702 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands. Phone +31 317451235;website

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INTERACTIONS BETWEEN

SAFLUFENACIL AND

GLYPHOSATE

Christopher Hall and

colleagues found an

interaction between

glyphosate and saflufenacil

regarding absorption and

translocation. They used

buckwheat (Fagropyrum

esculentum Moench.),

cabbage (Brassica

oleracea L), and conventional

and glyphosate-resistant

varieties of canola (Brassica

napus L.). Increased

absorption of saflufenacil by

the addition of Transorb (i.e.,

Transorb formulation with

glyphosate) plus Merge

appears to increase its

contact activity. However,

saflufenacil activity reduced

glyphosate activity, possibly

by reducing translocation.

More online.