US 11,968,976 B2
Hydrogels as carriers of active ingredients and methods of producing the same
Danny Brown, Woodbury, MN (US); Christine Colby, Lino Lakes, MN (US); Lillian Magidow, St. Paul, MN (US); Megan Barta, River Falls, WI (US); and Dustyn Sawall, River Falls, WI (US)
Assigned to WinField Solutions, LLC, Arden Hills, MN (US)
Filed by WinField Solutions, LLC, Arden Hills, MN (US)
Filed on Nov. 4, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/673,941.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/758,049, filed on Nov. 9, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0146282 A1, May 14, 2020
Int. Cl. A01N 25/04 (2006.01); A01N 31/04 (2006.01); A01N 43/647 (2006.01); A01N 57/20 (2006.01)
CPC A01N 25/04 (2013.01) [A01N 31/04 (2013.01); A01N 43/647 (2013.01); A01N 57/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of delivering an active ingredient to an agricultural substrate, the method comprising:
combining, in a spray tank, an active ingredient with a hydrogel precursor to produce a carrier hydrogel precursor mixture;
delivering the carrier hydrogel precursor mixture from the spray tank to the agricultural substrate at an agricultural site, wherein prior to delivery, the carrier hydrogel precursor mixture is not cross-linked; and
at the agricultural site, allowing ambient light induced cross-linking, in the absence of a photoinitiator, of the carrier hydrogel precursor mixture to produce a carrier hydrogel,
wherein the carrier hydrogel is adapted to control release of the active ingredient to the agricultural substrate, control uptake of the active ingredient by the agricultural substrate, or both control release and control uptake of the active ingredient.