Patent ID: 6419941
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: A01N

Abstract:
A method for treating plants to reduce or eliminate insect pests utilizing monoester of an organic acid with a five to twelve carbon polyol consisting essentially of high monoester concentration obtained by the process comprising:(a) selecting an organic acid with six to twelve carbons; (b) selecting a polyol with five to twelve carbons; (c) by reacting said polyol by esterification with the organic acid or transesterification with the organic acid ester, (d) by adding said polyol in a quantity that produces a monoester stoichiometrically plus approximately an additional 10%; (e) adding an esterification or transesterification catalyst; (f) maintaining said temperature and pressure in said reactor to remove water until reaction is essentially complete; (g) neutralizing solution with a base and bringing said solution to desired pH; and (h) filtering said solution to remove solid particles; wherein: the monoester is sucrose octanoate, sorbitol octanoate, sorbitol decanoate, xylitol decanoate, or xylitol laurate.