Patent ID: 6200586
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: A01N

Abstract:
A composition comprising:(a) a substantially water insoluble or sparingly soluble biocidally or agrochemically active substance having a mean particle size in the range of 0.5 to 200 microns and being selected from the group consisting of ethofumesate, phenmedipham, dazomet, mancozeb, methylene bis thiocyanate, amitraz, triforine and atrazine;(b) an aqueous structured surfactant system, comprising water and surfactant, and having a surfactant structure in the form of multilayered spherulites or lamellae; said spherulites or lamellae being discontinuously dispersed or emulsified in said aqueous phase or forming weak reticular structures therein; said structured surfactant system having interstices between said surfactant structures;(c) an aqueous continuous phase;(d) 1-30% by weight of a surfactant desolubilising electrolyte;said surfactant being present in an amount of 3-35% by weight and being selected from the group consisting of;anionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of:(i) at least sparingly water-soluble salts of sulphonic acids;(ii) at least sparingly water-soluble salts of mono esterified sulphuric acids;(iii) at least sparingly water-soluble salts of alpha-sulpho fatty acids or esters of said acids;(iv) fatty alkyl sulpho succinates or ether sulphosuccinates;(v) fatty alkyl sulphosuccinamates or ether sulphosuccinates;(vi) acyl taurides;(vii) isethionates; and(viii) soaps;non-ionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of:(i) C.sub.10 -C.sub.22 alkanolamides of mono- or di-lower alkanolamines;(ii) ethoxylated alcohols, carboxylic acids or amines;(iii) ethoxylated alkylolamides or alkylphenols;(iv) ethoxylated glyceryl, sorbitan or phosphate esters;(v) propoxylated, butoxylated, mixed ethoxy-, propoxy- or butoxy analogues of (ii), (iii) and (iv); and(vi) amine oxides;cationic surfactants selected from the group consisting of:(i) quaternary amines;(ii) imidazolines or quaternised imidazolines;(iii) amido-amines; and(iv) quaternised amido-amines;andamphoteric surfactants selected from the group consisting of:(i) betaines;(ii) sulphobetaines; and(iii) phosphobetaines;said substantially water insoluble or sparingly soluble biocidally or agrochemically active substance being dispersed in and through said aqueous continuous phase (c) with a weight ratio of said surfactant to said active substance (a) of less than 20:1;said active substance (a) and said aqueous continuous phase (c) each occupying said interstices between said surfactant structures, whereby said active substance (a) is suspended by said structured surfactant system (b); and wherein said active substance (a) is present in said aqueous continuous phase (c), in a proportion of from 10% to 60% by weight of said composition.