Patent ID: 6369001
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: A01N

Abstract:
A liquid concentrate herbicidal microemulsion composition having a continuous aqueous phase and a discontinuous oil phease, comprising(i) water in said aqueous phase; (ii) a water-soluble herbicide dissolved in said water in an amount which is biologically effective when the compositioin is diluted in a suitable volunme of water and applied to foliage of a susceptible plant; (iii) an oil-soluble graminicide in said oil phase having the chemical formula (I) â€ƒwhere R1 is a butyryl, (2-ethylthio)propyl or 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl group or a group â€ƒwherein X is O or S; R2 is a C1-4 alkyl group; and R3 is an ethyl, allyl or 3- haloallyl group; or the chemical formula (II) â€ƒwhere R4 is a group â€ƒwherein R6 and R7 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, methyl, trifluoromethyl and cyano groups, and Y and Z are independently selected from CH and N, at least one of Y and Z being N; and R5 is a hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl, allyl, propargyl, tetrahydrofurfuryl, 2-ethoxyethyl or 2-isopropylideneaminooxyethyl group; said graminicide being present in a weight ratio to said water-soluble herbicide of about 1:50 to about 1:1; (iv) a substantially water-immiscible organic solvent in said oil phase selected such that said graminicide has an organic solvent/water partition coefficient, expressed as a logarithm, of about 4 or greater, said organic solvent being present in a weight ratio to said graminicide of about 3:1 to about 30:1; (v) an emulsifying system comprising one or more surfactants each having a tertiary amine functional group, in an amount not exceeding about 10% by weight of the composition but sufficient to provide acceptable physical stability of the microemulsion; (vi) a stabilizing amount of one or more water-solublc chlorides selected from hydrochloric acid, alkali metal chlorides, ammonium chloride, low molecular weight organic ammonium chlorides and quaternary ammonium chloride surfactants; and (vii) a dispersing system comprising one or more nonionic surfactants, in a total amount not exceeding about 5% by weight but sufficient to provide acceptable dispersion of the microemulsion upon dilution thereof in a suitable volume of water for application to plants and not sufficient to destabilize the microemulsion.