US 12,256,731 B2
Agricultural adjuvant compositions and methods for using such compositions
Marc Balastre, Singapore (SG); and Florent Pinot, Colombes (FR)
Assigned to SPECIALTY OPERATIONS FRANCE, Lyons (FR)
Appl. No. 15/749,659
Filed by SPECIALTY OPERATIONS FRANCE, Lyons (FR)
PCT Filed Jul. 28, 2016, PCT No. PCT/EP2016/068025
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 1, 2018,
PCT Pub. No. WO2017/021271, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 9, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 15179746 (EP), filed on Aug. 4, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2018/0220645 A1, Aug. 9, 2018
Int. Cl. A01N 25/30 (2006.01); A01N 25/02 (2006.01); C05C 1/00 (2006.01); C05C 3/00 (2006.01); C05C 9/00 (2006.01); C05D 1/00 (2006.01); C05D 9/02 (2006.01); C05G 3/00 (2020.01); C05G 3/60 (2020.01); C05G 5/23 (2020.01)
CPC A01N 25/30 (2013.01) [A01N 25/02 (2013.01); C05C 1/00 (2013.01); C05C 3/00 (2013.01); C05C 3/005 (2013.01); C05C 9/00 (2013.01); C05D 1/00 (2013.01); C05D 9/02 (2013.01); C05G 3/60 (2020.02); C05G 5/23 (2020.02)] 16 Claims
 
1. An aqueous formulation comprising: a) at least one plant nutrient selected from the group consisting of ammonium sulfate, urea, ammonium nitrate, micronutrient fertilizers, and mixtures thereof; and surfactants, wherein the surfactants consist of: b) at least one fatty acid (C1-C3) alkyl ester according to structure (I):

OG Complex Work Unit Chemistry
wherein
R11 is (C6-C24)alkyl or (C6-C24)alkenyl, and
R12 is (C1-C3)alkyl,
c) at least one betaine surfactant according to structure (II);

OG Complex Work Unit Chemistry
wherein:
R21 and R22are each independently (C1-C6)alkyl,
R23 is (C6-C30)alkyl, and
R24 is methylene, and
d) optionally, at least one co-surfactant different from the betaine surfactant selected from the group consisting of propan-1-ol, propan-2-ol, butan-1-ol, butan-2-ol, pentan-1-ol, pentan-2-ol, and pentan-3-ol,
wherein:
the betaine surfactant is present in an amount of at least 5 pbw, based on 100 pbw of the formulation,
the weight ratio between the betaine surfactant and the fatty acid (C1-C3)alkyl ester is greater than 0.9:1 and less than or equal to 3.4:1, and
the aqueous formulation is clear and homogeneous.