Emulsifier system and pesticidal formulations containing the emulsifier system

Abstract

The invention is an emulsifier adjuvant system for forming a substantially solventless or solvent free emulsifiable pesticidal composition. The emulsifier system comprises from about 25 to about 80% by weight, of surfactants in the emulsifier system, of at least one anionic surfactant having an average HLB value of from about 6 to about 11; and from about 20 to about 75% by weight of surfactants in the emulsifier system of at least one nonionic surfactant having an average HLB value of from about 11 to about 18.

Description

Claims

1. An emulsifier and adjuvant system for a pesticidal formulation which comprises: (a) from about 25% to about 80% by weight, of surfactants in the emulsifier system, of at least one hydrophobic anionic surfactant; and(b) from about 20% to about 75% by weight, of surfactants in the emulsifier system, of at least one hydrophilic nonionic surfactant.

2. The emulsifier and adjuvant system of claim 1 comprising at least one additional nonionic surfactant.

3. The emulsifier and adjuvant system of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional anionic surfactant.

4. The emulsifier and adjuvant system of claim 1 wherein the anionic surfactant comprises a salt of an alkylbenzene sulfonate containing from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms in the alkyl group.

5. The emulsifier and adjuvant system of claim 4 wherein the anionic surfactant comprises the calcium salt of dodecylbenzene sulfonate.

6. The emulsifier and adjuvant system of claim 2 wherein the additional nonionic surfactant comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of non-block capped at least at one end of ethoxylated-propoxylated surfactants, ethoxylated surfactants and propoxylated surfactants.

7. The emulsifier and adjuvant system of claim 1 wherein the at least one anionic surfactant has an average HLB value of from about 6 to about 11.

8. The emulsifier and adjuvant system of claim 1 wherein the at least one nonionic surfactant has an average HLB value of from about 11-18.

9. A pesticidal composition comprising a substantially solventless pesticide and the emulsifier and adjuvant system of claim 1.

10. The substantially solventless pesticidal composition of claim 9.

11. The solventless pesticide composition of claim 9.

12. The pesticidal composition of claim 9 containing from about 10% to about 25% by weight of the emulsifier and adjuvant system, the percent by weight based on the total weight of the pesticidal composition.

13. The solventless pesticidal composition of claim 10 containing from about 10% to about 25% by weight of the emulsifier and adjuvant system.

14. The pesticidal composition of claim 12 containing from 12% to 20% by weight of the emulsifier and adjuvant system.

15. The emulsifier and adjuvant system of claim 1 containing from 30% to 75% by weight of the anionic surfactant; and from 70% to 25% by weight of the nonionic surfactant.

16. The emulsifier and adjuvant system of claim 9 containing from 35% to 70% by weight of the anionic surfactant and from 65% to 30% by weight of the nonionic surfactant.

17. The pesticidal composition of claim 9 wherein the pesticide is a water immiscible pesticide.

18. The pesticidal composition of claim 9 wherein pesticide is a water miscible pesticide.

19. A pesticidal composition of claim 9 further comprising from 95% to 99.999% by weight of water based on the weight of the composition.