Abstract:
The present invention relates to the use of phosphated 2-propylheptanol, phosphated 2-proyplheptanol alkoxylate and/or mixtures thereof in agricultural formulations. The invention also relates to agricultural formulations comprising the aforementioned adjuvants, and to methods of treating a plant with the agricultural formulations of the invention.

Description:
The present invention relates to the use of phosphated 2-propylheptanol or a phosphated 2-propylheptanol alkoxylate as an adjuvant in agricultural formulations. More specifically, it relates to the use of phosphated hydroxyl compounds as a dispersant, emulsifier, hydrotrope, wetting agent, compatibility agent and the like in agricultural formulations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The agricultural chemical formulator has the difficult task of creating a product that balances bioefficacy, toxicity, cost, shelf life and user friendliness. Of particular importance to the activity of an agricultural formulation is the ability of an aqueous solution to spread evenly over a surface, the so-called wetting ability, and the effective uptake of the active ingredient by the plant to be treated. For example, in agricultural formulations, efficacy benefits from a good wetting of the plant surface and uptake of the active ingredient. 
     Adjuvants are added to agricultural formulations to improve activity, thereby reducing the amounts of active ingredients necessary, resulting in lower application cost. They generally take the form of surface-active or salt-like compounds and depending on their mode of action, they are classified as modifiers, activators, fertilizers and/or pH buffers. 
     Surfactants are generally regarded as modifiers and/or activators as they improve wetting properties and uptake of the active ingredients in the agricultural formulation. Additionally, some surfactants improve the solubility of active ingredients in formulations thereby eliminating serious issues such as product separation and/or crystallization. 
     Anionic, cationic, amphoteric and nonionic surfactants are all known and used in agricultural applications depending on the desired effect. For example, nonionic surfactants are known to be good wetting agents, and are often present in agricultural formulations. Many nonionic surfactants are not soluble enough in solutions with a high amount of electrolytes, such as alkali and/or alkaline complexing agents, salts, and the like and therefore need the presence of a hydrotrope to improve the solubility. A number of hydrotropes for nonionic surfactants have been described in various publications. Examples of such hydrotropes are ethanol, sodium xylene sulphonate, sodium cumene sulphonate, alkyl glycosides, and phosphated alkoxylated alcohols. 
     However, there is still a need for new efficient surfactants that can improve activity, act as effective hydrotropes, and are compatible for the achievement of stable formulations delivering optimal performance. The objective of the present invention is, therefore, to find a new hydrotrope that is efficient in formulating agricultural compositions, which compositions will remain homogeneous upon dilution, and where the performance of the compositions is good. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved agricultural adjuvant. It is also an object of the invention to provide a stable, agricultural formulation having improved activity. These and other objects are achieved by the adjuvants/formulations of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the use of phosphated 2-propylheptanol, phosphated 2-propylheptanol alkoxylate and/or mixtures thereof as agricultural adjuvants. The invention also relates to agricultural formulations comprising same, and to methods of treating a plant with the agricultural formulations of the invention. 
    
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows the Atrazine formulation performance of several samples described in Table 8. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to the use of phosphated 2-propylheptanol or phosphated 2-propylheptanol alkoxylates as a hydrotrope in agricultural formulations. More specifically, it relates to an agricultural adjuvant that comprises at least one phosphated hydroxyl compound. The adjuvant of the invention can effectively be utilized as a dispersant, emulsifier, hydrotrope, wetting agent, compatibility agent and/or the like in agricultural formulations. In this regard, the inventors have found that phosphated 2-propylheptanol or a phosphated 2-propylheptanol alkoxylate where the alkoxylate on the average comprises 1-20, preferably 1-15, more preferably 2-10, and most preferably 2-6 ethyleneoxy units and 0-3, preferably 0-2 propyleneoxy and/or butyleneoxy units, is an efficient hydrotrope and activity improver in agricultural formulations. The adjuvants of the invention improve wetting and uptake of active ingredients by a plant, resulting in a higher activity at a given application rate. 
     In another embodiment, the invention relates to aqueous agricultural formulations comprising at least one agricultural active, and 0.1-30, preferably 0.1-20, and most preferably 0.1-10% by weight of the adjuvant of the present invention. 
     The adjuvants of the invention can be used with any active ingredient in order to improve efficacy by improving the dispersion or emulsions properties in the application tank, or modifying the spreading and/or penetration properties of the spray solution on the plant. Examples of active ingredients include, but are not limited to herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, plant growth regulators and the like. 
     The following is a non-limiting list of active ingredients that can be employed: 
     Herbicides (Examples, but not Limited to): 
     
         
         
           
             amide herbicides 
             allidochlor 
             beflubutamid 
             benzadox 
             benzipram 
             bromobutide 
             cafenstrole 
             CDEA 
             cyprazole 
             dimethenamid
           dimethenamid-P   
         
             diphenamid 
             epronaz 
             etnipromid 
             fentrazamide 
             flupoxam 
             fomesafen 
             halosafen 
             isocarbamid 
             isoxaben 
             napropamide 
             naptalam 
             pethoxamid 
             propyzamide 
             quinonamid 
             tebutam
           anilide herbicides   chloranocryl   cisanilide   clomeprop   cypromid   diflufenican   etobenzanid   fenasulam   flufenacet   flufenican   mefenacet   mefluidide   metamifop   monalide   naproanilide   pentanochlor   picolinafen   propanil
               arylalanine herbicides   benzoylprop   flamprop
                   flamprop-M   
                   chloroacetanilide herbicides   acetochlor   alachlor   butachlor   butenachlor   delachlor   diethatyl   dimethachlor   metazachlor   metolachlor
                   S-metolachlor   
                   pretilachlor   propachlor   propisochlor   prynachlor   terbuchlor   thenylchlor   xylachlor   
               
         
             sulfonanilide herbicides 
             benzofluor 
             cloransulam 
             diclosulam 
             florasulam 
             flumetsulam 
             metosulam 
             perfluidone 
             pyrimisulfan 
             profluazol 
             sulfonamide herbicides 
             asulam 
             carbasulam 
             fenasulam 
             oryzalin 
             penoxsulam
           thioamide herbicides   bencarbazone   chlorthiamid   
         
             antibiotic herbicides 
             bilanafos 
             aromatic acid herbicides
           benzoic acid herbicides   chloramben   dicamba   2,3,6-TBA   tricamba
               pyrimidinyloxybenzoic acid herbicides   bispyribac   pyriminobac   pyrimidinylthiobenzoic acid herbicides   pyrithiobac   
               phthalic acid herbicides   chlorthal   picolinic acid herbicides   aminopyralid   clopyralid   picloram   quinolinecarboxylic acid herbicides   quinclorac   quinmerac   
         
             arsenical herbicides 
             cacodylic acid 
             CMA 
             DSMA 
             hexaflurate 
             MAA 
             MAMA 
             MSMA 
             potassium arsenite 
             sodium arsenite 
             benzoylcyclohexanedione herbicides 
             mesotrione 
             sulcotrione 
             benzofuranyl alkylsulfonate herbicides 
             benfuresate 
             ethofumesate 
             carbamate herbicides 
             asulam 
             carboxazole 
             chlorprocarb 
             dichlormate 
             fenasulam 
             karbutilate 
             terbucarb 
             carbanilate herbicides 
             barban 
             BCPC 
             carbasulam 
             carbetamide 
             CEPC 
             chlorbufam 
             chlorpropham 
             CPPC 
             desmedipham 
             phenisopham 
             phenmedipham 
             phenmedipham-ethyl 
             propham 
             swep 
             cyclohexene oxime herbicides 
             alloxydim 
             butroxydim 
             clethodim 
             cloproxydim 
             cycloxydim 
             profoxydim 
             sethoxydim 
             tepraloxydim 
             tralkoxydim 
             cyclopropylisoxazole herbicides 
             isoxachlortole 
             isoxaflutole 
             dicarboximide herbicides 
             benzfendizone 
             cinidon-ethyl 
             flumezin 
             flumiclorac 
             flumioxazin 
             flumipropyn 
             dinitroaniline herbicides 
             benfluralin 
             butralin 
             dinitramine 
             ethalfluralin 
             fluchloralin 
             isopropalin 
             methalpropalin 
             nitralin 
             oryzalin 
             pendimethalin 
             prodiamine 
             profluralin 
             trifluralin 
             dinitrophenol herbicides 
             dinofenate 
             dinoprop 
             dinosam 
             dinoseb 
             dinoterb 
             DNOC 
             etinofen 
             medinoterb 
             diphenyl ether herbicides 
             ethoxyfen
           nitrophenyl ether herbicides   acifluorfen   aclonifen   bifenox   chlomethoxyfen   chlornitrofen   etnipromid   fluorodifen   fluoroglycofen   fluoronitrofen   fomesafen   furyloxyfen   halosafen   lactofen   nitrofen   nitrofluorfen   oxyfluorfen   
         
             dithiocarbamate herbicides 
             dazomet 
             metam 
             halogenated aliphatic herbicides 
             alorac 
             chloropon 
             dalapon 
             flupropanate 
             hexachloroacetone 
             iodomethane 
             methyl bromide 
             monochloroacetic acid 
             SMA 
             TCA 
             imidazolinone herbicides 
             imazamethabenz 
             imazamox 
             imazapic 
             imazapyr 
             imazaquin 
             imazethapyr 
             inorganic herbicides 
             ammonium sulfamate 
             borax 
             calcium chlorate 
             copper sulfate 
             ferrous sulfate 
             potassium azide 
             potassium cyanate 
             sodium azide 
             sodium chlorate 
             sulfuric acid 
             nitrile herbicides 
             bromobonil 
             bromoxynil 
             chloroxynil 
             dichlobenil 
             iodobonil 
             ioxynil 
             pyraclonil 
             organophosphorus herbicides 
             amiprofos-methyl 
             anilofos 
             bensulide 
             bilanafos 
             butamifos 
             2,4-DEP 
             DMPA 
             EBEP 
             fosamine 
             glufosinate 
             glyphosate 
             piperophos 
             phenoxy herbicides 
             bromofenoxim 
             clomeprop 
             2,4-DEB 
             2,4-DEP 
             difenopenten 
             disul 
             erbon 
             etnipromid 
             fenteracol 
             trifopsime
           phenoxyacetic herbicides   4-CPA   2,4-D   3,4-DA   MCPA   MCPA-thioethyl   2,4,5-T   phenoxybutyric herbicides   4-CPB   2,4-DB   3,4-DB   MCPB   2,4,5-TB   phenoxypropionic herbicides   cloprop   4-CPP   dichlorprop
               dichlorprop-P   
               3,4-DP   fenoprop   mecoprop
               mecoprop-P   aryloxyphenoxypropionic herbicides   chlorazifop   clodinafop   clofop   cyhalofop   diclofop   fenoxaprop
                   fenoxaprop-P   
                   fenthiaprop   fluazifop
                   fluazifop-P   
                   haloxyfop
                   haloxyfop-P   
                   isoxapyrifop   metamifop   propaquizafop   quizalofop
                   quizalofop-P   
                   trifop   
               
         
             phenylenediamine herbicides 
             dinitramine 
             prodiamine 
             phenyl pyrazolyl ketone herbicides 
             benzofenap 
             pyrasulfotole 
             pyrazolynate 
             pyrazoxyfen 
             topramezone 
             pyrazolylphenyl herbicides 
             fluazolate 
             pyraflufen 
             pyridazine herbicides 
             credazine 
             pyridafol 
             pyridate 
             pyridazinone herbicides 
             brompyrazon 
             chloridazon 
             dimidazon 
             flufenpyr 
             metflurazon 
             norflurazon 
             oxapyrazon 
             pydanon 
             pyridine herbicides 
             aminopyralid 
             cliodinate 
             clopyralid 
             dithiopyr 
             fluroxypyr 
             haloxydine 
             picloram 
             picolinafen 
             pyriclor 
             thiazopyr 
             triclopyr 
             pyrimidinediamine herbicides 
             iprymidam 
             tioclorim 
             quaternary ammonium herbicides 
             cyperquat 
             diethamquat 
             difenzoquat 
             diquat 
             morfamquat 
             paraquat 
             thiocarbamate herbicides 
             butylate 
             cycloate 
             di-allate 
             EPTC 
             esprocarb 
             ethiolate 
             isopolinate 
             methiobencarb 
             molinate 
             orbencarb 
             pebulate 
             prosulfocarb 
             pyributicarb 
             sulfallate 
             thiobencarb 
             tiocarbazil 
             tri-allate 
             vernolate 
             thiocarbonate herbicides 
             dimexano 
             EXD 
             proxan 
             thiourea herbicides 
             methiuron 
             triazine herbicides 
             dipropetryn 
             triaziflam 
             trihydroxytriazine
           chlorotriazine herbicides   atrazine   chlorazine   cyanazine   cyprazine   eglinazine   ipazine   mesoprazine   procyazine   proglinazine   propazine   sebuthylazine   simazine   terbuthylazine   trietazine   methoxytriazine herbicides   atraton   methometon   prometon   secbumeton   simeton   terbumeton   methylthiotriazine herbicides   ametryn   aziprotryne   cyanatryn   desmetryn   dimethametryn   methoprotryne   prometryn   simetryn   terbutryn   
         
             triazinone herbicides 
             ametridione 
             amibuzin 
             hexazinone 
             isomethiozin 
             metamitron 
             metribuzin 
             triazole herbicides 
             amitrole 
             cafenstrole 
             epronaz 
             flupoxam 
             triazolone herbicides 
             amicarbazone 
             bencarbazone 
             carfentrazone 
             flucarbazone 
             propoxycarbazone 
             sulfentrazone 
             triazolopyrimidine herbicides 
             cloransulam 
             diclosulam 
             florasulam 
             flumetsulam 
             metosulam 
             penoxsulam 
             uracil herbicides 
             butafenacil 
             bromacil 
             flupropacil 
             isocil 
             lenacil 
             terbacil 
             urea herbicides 
             benzthiazuron 
             cumyluron 
             cycluron 
             dichloralurea 
             diflufenzopyr 
             isonoruron 
             isouron 
             methabenzthiazuron 
             monisouron 
             noruron
           phenylurea herbicides   anisuron   buturon   chlorbromuron   chloreturon   chlorotoluron   chloroxuron   daimuron   difenoxuron   dimefuron   diuron   fenuron   fluometuron   fluothiuron   isoproturon   linuron   methiuron   methyldymron   metobenzuron   metobromuron   metoxuron   monolinuron   monuron   neburon   parafluron   phenobenzuron   siduron   tetrafluron   thidiazuron   sulfonylurea herbicides
               pyrimidinylsulfonylurea herbicides   amidosulfuron   azimsulfuron   bensulfuron   chlorimuron   cyclosulfamuron   ethoxysulfuron   flazasulfuron   flucetosulfuron   flupyrsulfuron   foramsulfuron   halosulfuron   imazosulfuron   mesosulfuron   nicosulfuron   orthosulfamuron   oxasulfuron   primisulfuron   pyrazosulfuron   rimsulfuron   sulfometuron   sulfosulfuron   trifloxysulfuron   triazinylsulfonylurea herbicides   chlorsulfuron   cinosulfuron   ethametsulfuron   iodosulfuron   metsulfuron   prosulfuron   thifensulfuron   triasulfuron   tribenuron   triflusulfuron   tritosulfuron   
               thiadiazolylurea herbicides   buthiuron   ethidimuron   tebuthiuron   thiazafluron   thidiazuron   
         
             unclassified herbicides 
             acrolein 
             ally alcohol 
             azafenidin 
             benazolin 
             bentazone 
             benzobicyclon 
             buthidazole 
             calcium cyanamide 
             cambendichlor 
             chlorfenac 
             chlorfenprop 
             chlorflurazole 
             chlorflurenol 
             cinmethylin 
             clomazone 
             CPMF 
             cresol 
             ortho-dichlorobenzene 
             dimepiperate 
             endothal 
             fluoromidine 
             fluridone 
             flurochloridone 
             flurtamone 
             fluthiacet 
             indanofan 
             methazole 
             methyl isothiocyanate 
             nipyraclofen 
             OCH 
             oxadiargyl 
             oxadiazon 
             oxaziclomefone 
             pentachlorophenol 
             pentoxazone 
             phenylmercury acetate 
             pinoxaden 
             prosulfalin 
             pyribenzoxim 
             pyriftalid 
             quinoclamine 
             rhodethanil 
             sulglycapin 
             thidiazimin 
             tridiphane 
             trimeturon 
             tripropindan 
             tritac
 
Fungicides Include, but are not Limited to:
 
             aliphatic nitrogen fungicides 
             butylamine 
             cymoxanil 
             dodicin 
             dodine 
             guazatine 
             iminoctadine 
             amide fungicides 
             carpropamid 
             chloraniformethan 
             cyflufenamid 
             diclocymet 
             ethaboxam 
             fenoxanil 
             flumetover 
             furametpyr 
             mandipropamid 
             penthiopyrad 
             prochloraz 
             quinazamid 
             silthiofam 
             triforine
           acylamino acid fungicides   benalaxyl   benalaxyl-M   furalaxyl   metalaxyl   metalaxyl-M   pefurazoate   anilide fungicides   benalaxyl   benalaxyl-M   boscalid   carboxin   fenhexamid   metalaxyl   metalaxyl-M   metsulfovax   ofurace   oxadixyl   oxycarboxin   pyracarbolid   thifluzamide   tiadinil
               benzanilide fungicides   benodanil   flutolanil   mebenil   mepronil   salicylanilide   tecloftalam   furanilide fungicides   fenfuram   furalaxyl   furcarbanil   methfuroxam   sulfonanilide fungicides   flusulfamide   
               benzamide fungicides   benzohydroxamic acid   fluopicolide   tioxymid   trichlamide   zarilamid   zoxamide   furamide fungicides   cyclafuramid   furmecyclox   phenylsulfamide fungicides   dichlofluanid   tolylfluanid   sulfonamide fungicides   amisulbrom   cyazofamid   valinamide fungicides   benthiavalicarb   iprovalicarb   
         
             antibiotic fungicides 
             aureofungin 
             blasticidin-S 
             cycloheximide 
             griseofulvin 
             kasugamycin 
             natamycin 
             polyoxins 
             polyoxorim 
             streptomycin 
             validamycin
           strobilurin fungicides   azoxystrobin   dimoxystrobin   fluoxastrobin   kresoxim-methyl   metominostrobin   orysastrobin   picoxystrobin   pyraclostrobin   trifloxystrobin   
         
             aromatic fungicides 
             biphenyl 
             chlorodinitronaphthalene 
             chloroneb 
             chlorothalonil 
             cresol 
             dicloran 
             hexachlorobenzene 
             pentachlorophenol 
             quintozene 
             sodium pentachlorophenoxide 
             tecnazene 
             benzimidazole fungicides 
             benomyl 
             carbendazim 
             chlorfenazole 
             cypendazole 
             debacarb 
             fuberidazole 
             mecarbinzid 
             rabenzazole 
             thiabendazole 
             benzimidazole precursor fungicides 
             furophanate 
             thiophanate 
             thiophanate-methyl 
             benzothiazole fungicides 
             bentaluron 
             chlobenthiazone 
             TCMTB 
             bridged diphenyl fungicides 
             bithionol 
             dichlorophen 
             diphenylamine 
             carbamate fungicides 
             benthiavalicarb 
             furophanate 
             iprovalicarb 
             propamocarb 
             thiophanate 
             thiophanate-methyl
           benzimidazolylcarbamate fungicides   benomyl   carbendazim   cypendazole   debacarb   mecarbinzid   carbanilate fungicides   diethofencarb   
         
             conazole fungicides
           conazole fungicides (imidazoles)   climbazole   clotrimazole   imazalil   oxpoconazole   prochloraz   triflumizole   see also imidazole fungicides   conazole fungicides (triazoles)   azaconazole   bromuconazole   cyproconazole   diclobutrazol   difenoconazole   diniconazole   diniconazole-M   epoxiconazole   etaconazole   fenbuconazole   fluquinconazole   flusilazole   flutriafol   furconazole   furconazole-cis   hexaconazole   imibenconazole   ipconazole   metconazole   myclobutanil   penconazole   propiconazole   prothioconazole   quinconazole   simeconazole   tebuconazole   tetraconazole   triadimefon   triadimenol   triticonazole   uniconazole   uniconazole-P   see also triazole fungicides   
         
             copper fungicides 
             Bordeaux mixture 
             Burgundy mixture 
             Cheshunt mixture 
             copper acetate 
             copper carbonate, basic 
             copper hydroxide 
             copper naphthenate 
             copper oleate 
             copper oxychloride 
             copper sulfate 
             copper sulfate, basic 
             copper zinc chromate 
             cufraneb 
             cuprobam 
             cuprous oxide 
             mancopper 
             oxine copper 
             dicarboximide fungicides 
             famoxadone 
             fluoroimide
           dichlorophenyl dicarboximide fungicides   chlozolinate   dichlozoline   iprodione   isovaledione   myclozolin   procymidone   vinclozolin   phthalimide fungicides   captafol   captan   ditalimfos   folpet   thiochlorfenphim   
         
             dinitrophenol fungicides 
             binapacryl 
             dinobuton 
             dinocap 
             dinocap-4 
             dinocap-6 
             dinocton 
             dinopenton 
             dinosulfon 
             dinoterbon 
             DNOC 
             dithiocarbamate fungicides 
             azithiram 
             carbamorph 
             cufraneb 
             cuprobam 
             disulfiram 
             ferbam 
             metam 
             nabam 
             tecoram 
             thiram 
             ziram
           cyclic dithiocarbamate fungicides   dazomet   etem   milneb   polymeric dithiocarbamate fungicides   mancopper   mancozeb   maneb   metiram   polycarbamate   propineb   zineb   
         
             imidazole fungicides 
             cyazofamid 
             fenamidone 
             fenapanil 
             glyodin 
             iprodione 
             isovaledione 
             pefurazoate 
             triazoxide 
             see also conazole fungicides (imidazoles) 
             inorganic fungicides 
             potassium azide 
             potassium thiocyanate 
             sodium azide 
             sulfur 
             see also copper fungicides 
             see also inorganic mercury fungicides 
             mercury fungicides
           inorganic mercury fungicides   mercuric chloride   mercuric oxide   mercurous chloride   organomercury fungicides   (3-ethoxypropyl)mercury bromide   ethylmercury acetate   ethylmercury bromide   ethylmercury chloride   ethylmercury 2,3-dihydroxypropyl mercaptide   ethylmercury phosphate   N-(ethylmercury)-p-toluenesulphonanilide   hydrargaphen   2-methoxyethylmercury chloride   methylmercury benzoate   methylmercury dicyandiamide   methylmercury pentachlorophenoxide   8-phenylmercurioxyquinoline   phenylmercuriurea   phenylmercury acetate   phenylmercury chloride   phenylmercury derivative of pyrocatechol   phenylmercury nitrate   phenylmercury salicylate   thiomersal   tolylmercury acetate   
         
             morpholine fungicides 
             aldimorph 
             benzamorf 
             carbamorph 
             dimethomorph 
             dodemorph 
             fenpropimorph 
             flumorph 
             tridemorph 
             organophosphorus fungicides 
             ampropylfos 
             ditalimfos 
             edifenphos 
             fosetyl 
             hexylthiofos 
             iprobenfos 
             phosdiphen 
             pyrazophos 
             tolclofos-methyl 
             triamiphos 
             organotin fungicides 
             decafentin 
             fentin 
             tributyltin oxide 
             oxathiin fungicides 
             carboxin 
             oxycarboxin 
             oxazole fungicides 
             chlozolinate 
             dichlozoline 
             drazoxolon 
             famoxadone 
             hymexazol 
             metazoxolon 
             myclozolin 
             oxadixyl 
             vinclozolin 
             polysulfide fungicides 
             barium polysulfide 
             calcium polysulfide 
             potassium polysulfide 
             sodium polysulfide 
             pyrazole fungicides 
             furametpyr 
             penthiopyrad 
             pyridine fungicides 
             boscalid 
             buthiobate 
             dipyrithione 
             fluazinam 
             fluopicolide 
             pyridinitril 
             pyrifenox 
             pyroxychlor 
             pyroxyfur 
             pyrimidine fungicides 
             bupirimate 
             cyprodinil 
             diflumetorim 
             dimethirimol 
             ethirimol 
             fenarimol 
             ferimzone 
             mepanipyrim 
             nuarimol 
             pyrimethanil 
             triarimol 
             pyrrole fungicides 
             fenpiclonil 
             fludioxonil 
             fluoroimide 
             quinoline fungicides 
             ethoxyquin 
             halacrinate 
             8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate 
             quinacetol 
             quinoxyfen 
             quinone fungicides 
             benquinox 
             chloranil 
             dichlone 
             dithianon 
             quinoxaline fungicides 
             chinomethionat 
             chlorquinox 
             thioquinox 
             thiazole fungicides 
             ethaboxam 
             etridiazole 
             metsulfovax 
             octhilinone 
             thiabendazole 
             thiadifluor 
             thifluzamide 
             thiocarbamate fungicides 
             methasulfocarb 
             prothiocarb 
             thiophene fungicides 
             ethaboxam 
             silthiofam 
             triazine fungicides 
             anilazine 
             triazole fungicides 
             amisulbrom 
             bitertanol 
             fluotrimazole 
             triazbutil 
             see also conazole fungicides (triazoles) 
             urea fungicides 
             bentaluron 
             pencycuron 
             quinazamid 
             unclassified fungicides 
             acibenzolar 
             acypetacs 
             allyl alcohol 
             benzalkonium chloride 
             benzamacril 
             bethoxazin 
             carvone 
             chloropicrin 
             DBCP 
             dehydroacetic acid 
             diclomezine 
             diethyl pyrocarbonate 
             fenaminosulf 
             fenitropan 
             fenpropidin 
             formaldehyde 
             furfural 
             hexachlorobutadiene 
             iodomethane 
             isoprothiolane 
             methyl bromide 
             methyl isothiocyanate 
             metrafenone 
             nitrostyrene 
             nitrothal-isopropyl 
             OCH 
             2-phenylphenol 
             phthalide 
             piperalin 
             probenazole 
             proquinazid 
             pyroquilon 
             sodium orthophenylphenoxide 
             spiroxamine 
             sultropen 
             thicyofen 
             tricyclazole 
             zinc naphthenate
 
Insecticides Include, but are not Limited to:
 
             antibiotic insecticides 
             allosamidin 
             thuringiensin
           macrocyclic lactone insecticides   spinosad
               avermectin insecticides   abamectin   doramectin   emamectin   eprinomectin   ivermectin   selamectin   milbemycin insecticides   lepimectin   milbemectin   milbemycin oxime   moxidectin   
               
         
             arsenical insecticides 
             calcium arsenate 
             copper acetoarsenite 
             copper arsenate 
             lead arsenate 
             potassium arsenite 
             sodium arsenite 
             botanical insecticides 
             anabasine 
             azadirachtin 
             d-limonene 
             nicotine 
             pyrethrins
           cinerins
               cinerin I   cinerin II   
               jasmolin I   jasmolin II   pyrethrin I
               pyrethrin II   
               
         
             quassia 
             rotenone 
             ryania 
             sabadilla 
             carbamate insecticides 
             bendiocarb 
             carbaryl
           benzofuranyl methylcarbamate insecticides   benfuracarb   carbofuran   carbosulfan   decarbofuran   furathiocarb   dimethylcarbamate insecticides   dimetan   dimetilan   hyquincarb   pirimicarb   oxime carbamate insecticides   alanycarb   aldicarb   aldoxycarb   butocarboxim   butoxycarboxim   methomyl   nitrilacarb   oxamyl   tazimcarb   thiocarboxime   thiodicarb   thiofanox   phenyl methylcarbamate insecticides   allyxycarb   aminocarb   bufencarb   butacarb   carbanolate   cloethocarb   dicresyl   dioxacarb   EMPC   ethiofencarb   fenethacarb   fenobucarb   isoprocarb   methiocarb   metolcarb   mexacarbate   promacyl   promecarb   propoxur   trimethacarb   XMC   xylylcarb   
         
             dinitrophenol insecticides 
             dinex 
             dinoprop 
             dinosam 
             DNOC 
             fluorine insecticides 
             barium hexafluorosilicate 
             cryolite 
             sodium fluoride 
             sodium hexafluorosilicate 
             sulfluramid 
             formamidine insecticides 
             amitraz 
             chlordimeform 
             formetanate 
             formparanate 
             fumigant insecticides 
             acrylonitrile 
             carbon disulfide 
             carbon tetrachloride 
             chloroform 
             chloropicrin 
             para-dichlorobenzene 
             1,2-dichloropropane 
             ethyl formate 
             ethylene dibromide 
             ethylene dichloride 
             ethylene oxide 
             hydrogen cyanide 
             iodomethane 
             methyl bromide 
             methylchloroform 
             methylene chloride 
             naphthalene 
             phosphine 
             sulfuryl fluoride 
             tetrachloroethane 
             inorganic insecticides 
             borax 
             calcium polysulfide 
             copper oleate 
             mercurous chloride 
             potassium thiocyanate 
             sodium thiocyanate 
             see also arsenical insecticides 
             see also fluorine insecticides 
             insect growth regulators
           chitin synthesis inhibitors   bistrifluron   buprofezin   chlorfluazuron   cyromazine   diflubenzuron   flucycloxuron   flufenoxuron   hexaflumuron   lufenuron   novaluron   noviflumuron   penfluron   teflubenzuron   triflumuron   juvenile hormone mimics   epofenonane   fenoxycarb   hydroprene   kinoprene   methoprene   pyriproxyfen   triprene   juvenile hormones   juvenile hormone I   juvenile hormone II   juvenile hormone III   moulting hormone agonists   chromafenozide   halofenozide   methoxyfenozide   tebufenozide   moulting hormones   α-ecdysone   ecdysterone   moulting inhibitors   diofenolan   precocenes   precocene I   precocene II   precocene III   unclassified insect growth regulators   dicyclanil   
         
             nereistoxin analogue insecticides 
             bensultap 
             cartap 
             thiocyclam 
             thiosultap 
             nicotinoid insecticides 
             flonicamid
           nitroguanidine insecticides   clothianidin   dinotefuran   imidacloprid   thiamethoxam   nitromethylene insecticides   nitenpyram   nithiazine   pyridylmethylamine insecticides   acetamiprid   imidacloprid   nitenpyram   thiacloprid   
         
             organochlorine insecticides 
             bromo-DDT 
             camphechlor 
             DDT
           pp′-DDT   
         
             ethyl-DDD 
             HCH
           gamma-HCH   lindane   
         
             methoxychlor 
             pentachlorophenol 
             TDE
           cyclodiene insecticides   aldrin   bromocyclen   chlorbicyclen   chlordane   chlordecone   dieldrin   dilor   endosulfan   endrin   HEOD   heptachlor   HHDN   isobenzan   isodrin   kelevan   mirex   
         
             organophosphorus insecticides
           organophosphate insecticides   bromfenvinfos   chlorfenvinphos   crotoxyphos   dichlorvos   dicrotophos   dimethylvinphos   fospirate   heptenophos   methocrotophos   mevinphos   monocrotophos   naled   naftalofos   phosphamidon   propaphos   TEPP   tetrachlorvinphos   organothiophosphate insecticides   dioxabenzofos   fosmethilan   phenthoate
               aliphatic organothiophosphate insecticides   acethion   amiton   cadusafos   chlorethoxyfos   chlormephos   demephion
                   demephion-O   demephion-S   
                   demeton
                   demeton-O   demeton-S   
                   demeton-methyl
                   demeton-O-methyl   demeton-S-methyl   
                   demeton-S-methylsulphon   disulfoton   ethion   ethoprophos   IPSP   isothioate   malathion   methacrifos   oxydemeton-methyl   oxydeprofos   oxydisulfoton   phorate   sulfotep   terbufos   thiometon
                   aliphatic amide organothiophosphate insecticides   amidithion   cyanthoate   dimethoate   ethoate-methyl   formothion   mecarbam   omethoate   prothoate   sophamide   vamidothion   oxime organothiophosphate insecticides   chlorphoxim   phoxim   phoxim-methyl   
                   heterocyclic organothiophosphate insecticides   azamethiphos   coumaphos   coumithoate   dioxathion   endothion   menazon   morphothion   phosalone   pyraclofos   pyridaphenthion   quinothion
                   benzothiopyran organothiophosphate insecticides   dithicrofos   thicrofos   benzotriazine organothiophosphate insecticides   azinphos-ethyl   azinphos-methyl   isoindole organothiophosphate insecticides   dialifos   phosmet   isoxazole organothiophosphate insecticides   isoxathion   zolaprofos   pyrazolopyrimidine organothiophosphate insecticides   chlorprazophos   pyrazophos   pyridine organothiophosphate insecticides   chlorpyrifos   chlorpyrifos-methyl   pyrimidine organothiophosphate insecticides   butathiofos   diazinon   etrimfos   lirimfos   pirimiphos-ethyl   pirimiphos-methyl   primidophos   pyrimitate   tebupirimfos   quinoxaline organothiophosphate insecticides   quinalphos   quinalphos-methyl   thiadiazole organothiophosphate insecticides   athidathion   lythidathion   methidathion   prothidathion   triazole organothiophosphate insecticides   isazofos   triazophos   
                   phenyl organothiophosphate insecticides   azothoate   bromophos   bromophos-ethyl   carbophenothion   chlorthiophos   cyanophos   cythioate   dicapthon   dichlofenthion   etaphos   famphur   fenchlorphos   fenitrothion   fensulfothion   fenthion   fenthion-ethyl   heterophos   jodfenphos   mesulfenfos   parathion   parathion-methyl   phenkapton   phosnichlor   profenofos   prothiofos   sulprofos   temephos   trichlormetaphos-3   trifenofos   
               phosphonate insecticides   butonate   trichlorfon   phosphonothioate insecticides   mecarphon
               phenyl ethylphosphonothioate insecticides   fonofos   trichloronat   phenyl phenylphosphonothioate insecticides   cyanofenphos   EPN   leptophos   
               phosphoramidate insecticides   crufomate   fenamiphos   fosthietan   mephosfolan   phosfolan   pirimetaphos   phosphoramidothioate insecticides   acephate   isocarbophos   isofenphos   methamidophos   propetamphos   phosphorodiamide insecticides   dimefox   mazidox   mipafox   schradan   
         
             oxadiazine insecticides 
             indoxacarb 
             phthalimide insecticides 
             dialifos 
             phosmet 
             tetramethrin 
             pyrazole insecticides 
             acetoprole 
             ethiprole 
             fipronil 
             pyrafluprole 
             pyriprole 
             tebufenpyrad 
             tolfenpyrad 
             vaniliprole 
             pyrethroid insecticides
           pyrethroid ester insecticides   acrinathrin   allethrin
               bioallethrin   
               barthrin   bifenthrin   bioethanomethrin   cyclethrin   cycloprothrin   cyfluthrin
               beta-cyfluthrin   
               cyhalothrin
               gamma-cyhalothrin   lambda-cyhalothrin   
               cypermethrin
               alpha-cypermethrin   beta-cypermethrin   theta-cypermethrin   zeta-cypermethrin   
               cyphenothrin   deltamethrin   dimefluthrin   dimethrin   empenthrin   fenfluthrin   fenpirithrin   fenpropathrin   fenvalerate
               esfenvalerate   
               flucythrinate   fluvalinate
               tau-fluvalinate   
               furethrin   imiprothrin   metofluthrin   permethrin
               biopermethrin   transpermethrin   
               phenothrin   prallethrin   profluthrin   pyresmethrin   resmethrin
               bioresmethrin   cismethrin   
               tefluthrin   terallethrin   tetramethrin   tralomethrin   transfluthrin   pyrethroid ether insecticides   etofenprox   flufenprox   halfenprox   protrifenbute   silafluofen   
         
             pyrimidinamine insecticides 
             flufenerim 
             pyrimidifen 
             pyrrole insecticides 
             chlorfenapyr 
             tetronic acid insecticides 
             spiromesifen 
             spirotetramat 
             thiourea insecticides 
             diafenthiuron 
             urea insecticides 
             flucofuron 
             sulcofuron 
             see also chitin synthesis inhibitors 
             unclassified insecticides 
             closantel 
             crotamiton 
             EXD 
             fenazaflor 
             fenoxacrim 
             flubendiamide 
             hydramethylnon 
             isoprothiolane 
             malonoben 
             metaflumizone 
             metoxadiazone 
             nifluridide 
             pyridaben 
             pyridalyl 
             rafoxanide 
             triarathene 
             triazamate
 
Plant Growth Regulators Include, but are not Limited to:
 
             antiauxins 
             clofibric acid 
             2,3,5-tri-iodobenzoic acid 
             auxins 
             4-CPA 
             2,4-D 
             2,4-DB 
             2,4-DEP 
             dichlorprop 
             fenoprop 
             IAA 
             IBA 
             naphthaleneacetamide 
             α-naphthaleneacetic acid 
             1-naphthol 
             naphthoxyacetic acid 
             potassium naphthenate 
             sodium naphthenate 
             2,4,5-T 
             cytokinins 
             2iP 
             benzyladenine 
             kinetin 
             zeatin 
             defoliants 
             calcium cyanamide 
             dimethipin 
             endothal 
             ethephon 
             merphos 
             metoxuron 
             pentachlorophenol 
             thidiazuron 
             tribufos 
             ethylene inhibitors 
             aviglycine 
             1-methylcyclopropene 
             ethylene releasers 
             ACC 
             etacelasil 
             ethephon 
             glyoxime 
             gibberellins 
             gibberellins 
             gibberellic acid 
             growth inhibitors 
             abscisic acid 
             ancymidol 
             butralin 
             carbaryl 
             chlorphonium 
             chlorpropham 
             dikegulac 
             flumetralin 
             fluoridamid 
             fosamine 
             glyphosine 
             isopyrimol 
             jasmonic acid 
             maleic hydrazide 
             mepiquat 
             piproctanyl 
             prohydrojasmon 
             propham 
             2,3,5-tri-iodobenzoic acid
           morphactins   chlorfluren   chlorflurenol   dichlorflurenol   flurenol   
         
             growth retardants 
             chlormequat 
             daminozide 
             flurprimidol 
             mefluidide 
             paclobutrazol 
             tetcyclacis 
             uniconazole 
             growth stimulators 
             brassinolide 
             forchlorfenuron 
             hymexazol 
             unclassified plant growth regulators 
             benzofluor 
             buminafos 
             carvone 
             ciobutide 
             clofencet 
             cloxyfonac 
             cyclanilide 
             cycloheximide 
             epocholeone 
             ethychlozate 
             ethylene 
             fenridazon 
             heptopargil 
             holosulf 
             inabenfide 
             karetazan 
             lead arsenate 
             methasulfocarb 
             prohexadione 
             pydanon 
             sintofen 
             triapenthenol 
             trinexapac 
           
         
       
    
     The adjuvant of the invention comprises phosphated 2-propylheptanol and/or a phosphated 2-propylheptanol alkoxylate, where the alkoxylate on average comprises 1-20, in another embodiment 2-10, in still another embodiment 2-6, and in still another embodiment 2-4, and most preferably 3, ethyleneoxy units and 0-3, preferably 0-2, propyleneoxy units. In one embodiment, the adjuvant of the invention comprises at least one phosphated alkoxylate according to the formula 
                                
where M is H, a monovalent metal ion or R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 N + , where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  are H, an alkyl group with 1-4 carbon atoms or —CH 2 CH 2 OH, and c is a number 1-20, preferably 2-10, more preferably 2-6, even more preferably 2-4, and most preferably 3.
 
     Phosphated 2-propylheptanol or a phosphated 2-propylheptanol alkoxylate may be obtained by different processes, the most common being the reaction of 2-propylheptanol or alkoxylated 2-propylheptanol with polyphosphoric acid or phosphorous pentoxide (P 2 O 5 ). 
     In the process using polyphosphoric acid the resulting product mixture will predominantly contain the monoalkylphosphate ester of 2-propylheptanol or of alkoxylated 2-propylheptanol and only a small amount (&lt;10%) of the dialkylphosphate ester. Always rather large amounts of inorganic phosphate residues from the polyphosphoric acid, such as orthophosphoric acid, will be present. 
     When P 2 O 5  is used as the phosphatising reagent and the molar ratio between P 2 O 5  and alcohol or alkoxylated alcohol is 1:3, the product mixture will contain about equal amounts of monoalkylphosphate ester and dialkylphosphate ester, and only smaller amounts of inorganic phosphate residues. A larger amount of alcohol or alkoxylated alcohol will yield more diester, and a smaller amount will yield more monoester. It will be known to a person skilled in the art how to synthesise phosphate esters with certain amounts of mono- and dialkyl phosphate esters. For a general description of phosphate esters see, e.g.,  Anionic Surfactants  Vol. 7, Part II, pages 504-511 in  Surfactant Science Series , edited by Warner M. Linfield, Marcel Dekker Inc., New York and Basle 1976. The alcohol alkoxylates to be phosphated may be either of the standard type produced by using an alkaline catalyst such as KOH, or of the narrow range type produced by using a narrow range catalyst, such as an acid catalyst, Ca(OH) 2  or hydrotalcite. 
     If necessary, the reaction mixture resulting from either of the procedures can be neutralized by an organic or inorganic base before use. The base may be, e.g., an alkali hydroxide, such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide; ammonia, an alkanolamine, such as monoethanolamine, triethanolamine or methyldiethanolamine; or an alkylamine such as triethylamine. 
     The monoalkylphosphate ester of 2-propylheptanol or of ethoxylated 2-propylheptanol has the formula 
                                
where M is H, a monovalent metal ion or R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 N + , where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  are H, an alkyl group with 1-4 carbon atoms or —CH 2 CH 2 OH, and c is a number 0-20, preferably 2-10, more preferably 2-6, even more preferably 2-4, and most preferably 3. The product mixture resulting from the reaction of 2-propylheptanol or of ethoxylated 2-propylheptanol with polyphosphoric acid may also contain smaller amounts of products containing more than one phosphate unit according to the formula
 
                                
where n is 1-3 and M and c have the same meaning as above.
 
     For ethoxylates containing smaller amounts of ethyleneoxy units, also a certain amount of unethoxylated product will remain due to the distribution of ethyleneoxy units. This unethoxylated product will also be phosphatised during the reaction with the phosphatising agent, and thus the phosphate ester of 2-propylheptanol will also be present in the reaction mixture resulting from these above-mentioned ethoxylates. 
     The dialkylphosphate ester of 2-propylheptanol has the formula 
                                
where M and c have the same meaning as above. The product mixture resulting from the reaction of 2-propylheptanol or ethoxylated 2-propylheptanol with P 2 O 5  may also contain a dialkyl diphosphate ester according to the formula
 
                                
where M and c have the same meaning as above. This type of diester may be hydrolysed to yield 2 moles of monoester.
 
     2-Propylheptanol is normally made by a process resulting in small amounts of by-products such as 4-methyl-2-propylhexanol and 5-methyl-2-propylhexanol. These products or their ethoxylates will also be phosphated during the process, and the phosphated species will be comprised in the resulting product mixture. 
     The reaction mixtures obtained by the phosphatising procedures are normally used as such without any purification procedure, but both the mixtures and the purified phosphate esters function as hydrotropes. To act as a good hydrotrope, the mixture should predominantly contain the monoalkyl phosphate esters, since these are better hydrotropes than the dialkyl phosphate esters. Preferably more than 60, more preferably more than 70, and most preferably more than 80% by weight of the mixture should be monoalkyl phosphate esters. 
     The phosphated 2-propylheptanol or phosphated 2-propylheptanol alkoxylates where the alkoxylate on average comprises 1-20, preferably 2-10, more preferably 2-6, even more preferably 2-4, and most preferably 3, ethyleneoxy units and 0-3, preferably 0-2, propyleneoxy and/or butyleneoxy, preferably propyleneoxy, units described above and a process for their production are already partly disclosed in the earlier mentioned publications EP-A-256427 and CH-A-481953 for use as dispersants for pigments and as additives in an emulsion polymerisation process, respectively. However, the phosphated 2-propylheptanol alkoxylate where the alkoxylate comprises 2-4, preferably 3, ethyleneoxy units on average is especially efficient as a hydrotrope compared to the other phosphated alkoxylates of 2-propylheptanol (see Table 1 in the Examples). Therefore, the invention also relates to the phosphated 2-propylheptanol alkoxylate where the alkoxylate on average comprises 2-4, preferably 3, ethyleneoxy units per se and a process for its production. 
     The agricultural formulations of the invention may contain alkali, preferably sodium or potassium hydroxide, and an alkaline complexing agent that may be inorganic as well as organic. Typical examples of inorganic complexing agents used in the alkaline composition are alkali salts of silicates and phosphates such as sodium silicate, sodium metasilicate, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium orthophosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, and the corresponding potassium salts. Typical examples of organic complexing agents are alkaline aminopolyphosphonates, organic phosphates, polycarboxylates, such as citrates; aminocarboxylates, such as sodium nitrilotriacetate (Na 3 NTA), sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), sodium diethylenetriaminepentaacetate, sodium 1,3-propylenediaminetetraacetate, and sodium hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetate. The amount of alkali present in the composition depends on the application and on whether the composition is a concentrate or a ready-to-use solution. 
     The concentrated compositions of the present invention are stable and in many cases generally clear. The clarity interval is suitably between 0-40° C., preferably between 0-50° C., and most preferably between 0-60° C. This may be adapted by changing the ratio of hydrotrope to nonionic surfactant. The concentrate normally contains 50-95% by weight of water, suitably 70-90% by weight. 
     To obtain a ready-to-use solution the concentrates are diluted with water and/or fertilizer solutions up to 1:40. The diluted solutions are also clear and stable, but in some cases they may turn a little bit hazy although they are still stable and do not separate. The ready-to-use solutions exhibit good properties. A typical concentrate formulation contains 3-5% by weight of the adjuvant according to the present invention, while a ready-to-use formulation would normally contain 0.2-1% by weight of same. 
     Tank mixes can include multiple pesticides mixed together, targeting multiple pests, while using water as the delivery medium. In that case the adjuvant would help prevent incompatibilities that could occur when mixing different formulation types together, such as emulsifiable concentrates and suspension concentrates. 
     Tank mixes can also include pesticide(s) dispersed or emulsified in a fertilizer solution. The adjuvants of the present invention function to facilitate the dispersion or emulsification of the pesticides(s) in the salt solutions by coupling the surfactants into the electrolyte solution. 
     The present invention is further illustrated by the following Examples. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     This example relates to a comparison between phosphated 2-propylheptanol+5 EO and phosphated hexanol+5 EO as hydrotropes for 2-propylheptanol+5 EO. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Formulation B 
               
               
                   
                 Compound 
                 Formulation A 
                 (Comparison) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Phosphated 2-PH + 5EO 
                 3.5% 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Phosphated 
                   
                 4.9% 
               
               
                   
                 hexanol + 5EO 
               
               
                   
                 2-PH + 5EO 
                 5.0% 
                 5.0% 
               
               
                   
                 Sodium metasilicate 
                 4.0% 
                 4.0% 
               
               
                   
                 Tetrapotassium 
                 6.0% 
                 6.0% 
               
               
                   
                 pyrophosphate 
               
               
                   
                 Water 
                 81.5% 
                 80.1% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     A smaller amount of phosphated 2-propylheptanol+5EO, as compared to phosphated hexanol+5EO, was required to obtain a clarity interval of 0-60° C. The formulations with phosphated 2-propylheptanol+5 EO as a hydrotrope were also much more stable upon dilution. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     This example compares a number of phosphated ethoxylated alcohols with phosphated 2-propylheptanol+5 EO as a hydrotrope for 2-propylheptanol+5 EO. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 2 
                 3 
                 4 
               
               
                 Compound 
                 1 
                 (Comparison) 
                 (Comparison) 
                 (Comparison) 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 2-PH + 5EO 
                 5.0% 
                 5.0% 
                 5.0% 
                 5.0% 
               
               
                 Phosphated 2- 
                 3.5% 
               
               
                 PH + 5EO 
               
               
                 Phosphated 
                   
                 3.0% 
               
               
                 C 9 —C 11 - 
               
               
                 alcohol + 
               
               
                 5.5EO 
               
               
                 Phosphated 
                   
                   
                 3.4% 
               
               
                 C 9 —C 11 - 
               
               
                 alcohol + 4EO 
               
               
                 Phosphated 2- 
                   
                   
                   
                 3.0% 
               
               
                 ethylhexanol + 
               
               
                 4EO 
               
               
                 Sodium 
                 4.0 
                 4.0 
                 4.0 
                 4.0 
               
               
                 metasilicate 
               
               
                 Tetra- 
                 6.0 
                 6.0 
                 6.0 
                 6.0 
               
               
                 potassium 
               
               
                 pyrophosphate 
               
               
                 Water 
                 81.5 
                 82.0 
                 79.0 
                 82.0 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Clarity 
                 Appearance after 
                 Appearance after 
                 Appearance after 
                 Appearance after 
                 Soil removal 
               
               
                   
                 interval 
                 dilution 1:5 
                 dilution 1:20 
                 dilution 1:5 
                 dilution 1:20 
                 at 1:20 
               
               
                 Formulation 
                 (° C.) 
                 after 1 day 
                 after 1 day 
                 after 1 week 
                 after 1 week 
                 dilution (%) 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 1 
                 0-70 
                 Clear 
                 Clear 
                 Clear 
                 Hazy but stable 
                 60.0 
               
               
                 2 (Comp.) 
                 0-53 
                 Clear 
                 Clear 
                 Clear 
                 Clear 
                 26.0 
               
               
                 3 (Comp.) 
                 0-60 
                 Clear 
                 Clear 
                 Clear 
                 Clear 
                 44.0 
               
               
                 4 (Comp.) 
                 0-50 
                 Hazy 
                 Hazy 
                 Cloudy 
                 Hazy 
                 54.0 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The formulation according to the invention exhibited the best cleaning performance of all the investigated formulations, in combination with a good stability upon dilution. 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     In this example the wetting ability of a composition according to the invention was measured by the modified Drave&#39;s test. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 5 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Compound 
                 C 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Phosphated 2-PH + 5EO 
                   6% 
               
               
                   
                 C 9 -C 11 -alcohol + 4EO 
                 5.0% 
               
               
                   
                 Sodium nitrilotriacetate 
                 10.0%  
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     In the modified Drave&#39;s test, the sinking time in s is measured for a specified cotton yarn in approximately 0.1% surfactant solution. The formulation in the Table 5 was diluted with distilled water to 0.1% by weight with respect to the C 9 -C 11 -alcohol+4 EO, and the modified Drave&#39;s test was performed on this solution. The result is displayed in the Table 6, below. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 6 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Clarity interval 
                   
                 Sinking time 
               
               
                   
                 Formulation 
                 (° C.) 
                 pH 
                 (s) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 C 
                 0-45 
                 10.5 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The formulation containing the phosphated 2-propylheptanol+5 EO as a hydrotrope for the ethoxylate had a good wetting ability, whereas for the different components alone, the wetting time was &gt;420 s. The C 9 -C 11 -alcohol is not soluble in this alkaline medium without a hydrotrope, and the phosphated 2-propylheptanol+5 EO has no good wetting ability on its own. When the hydrotrope is added, the nonionic surfactant is solubilised, and it is then able to exert its wetting ability. 
     EXAMPLE 4 
     In the syntheses described below a 1,000 cm 3  flange flask equipped with an anchor stirrer was used. The reactor was heated by an electrical heater equipped with a thermostat. A slight flow of nitrogen was applied during the reaction. The polyphosphoric acid (PPA) used was Polyphosphoric acid 116, 84% equivalent in P 2 O 5  (Albright &amp; Wilson). 
     1) 2-propylheptanol+PPA 
     2-propylheptanol (222.47 g, 1.41 mole) was charged and heated to 45° C. PPA (254.09 g) was added from a 60 ml syringe and the exothermic reaction was kept at 55-70° C. while stirring at 240 r/min. PPA was added during a period of 1 hour. The reaction was then left for 2 h at 60° C. and with stirring at 300 r/min. After the post-reaction water (5.0 g) was added to hydrolyse the remaining PPA, after which the acid was neutralised with KOH (274.4 g) dissolved in 555.0 g water. 
     2) 2-propylheptanol+3 EO+PPA 
     2-propylheptanol+3 EO (295.63 g, 1.02 mole) was charged and heated to 45° C. PPA (184.95 g) was added from a 60 ml syringe and the exothermic reaction was kept at 55-70° C. while stirring at 240 r/min. PPA was added during a period of 1 hour. The reaction was then left for 2 h at 60° C. and with stirring at 300 r/min. After the post-reaction water (5.0 g) was added to hydrolyse the remaining PPA, after which the acid was neutralised with KOH (191 g) dissolved in 454 g water. 
     3) 2-propylheptanol+5 EO+PPA 
     2-propylheptanol+5 EO (307.71 g, 0.81 mole) was charged and heated to 45° C. PPA (148 g) was added from a 60 ml syringe and the exothermic reaction was kept at 55-70° C. while stirring at 240 r/min. PPA was added during a period of 1 hour. The reaction was then left for 2 h at 60° C. and with stirring at 300 r/min. After the post reaction water (5.0 g) was added to hydrolyse the remaining PPA, after which 374.02 g acid were neutralised with KOH (132.37 g) dissolved in 517 g water. 
     EXAMPLE 5 
     Morwet D-425 is a condensed alkyl naphthalene sulfonate dispersant commercially available from Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry LLC, Chicago, Ill., that has been used as the main dispersant in various pesticide suspension concentrate, wettable powder and water dispersible granule formulations. Frequently, a nonionic surfactant is used as a cosurfactant to increase the wetting and stability of the formulations. Since the solubility of nonionic surfactants is decreased in the salt solution, flocculation will occur when pesticide formulation is mixed with fertilizer during application. This example is aimed to compare the performance of different cosurfactant in Atrazine SC and to verify if the branched hydrophobe improves the compatibility in ammonium nitrate solution. 
     Materials 
     Atrazine Tech. 
     Morwet D-425 (condensed alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, sodium salt) 
     Ethylan 1005 phosphate ester (2-propyl heptanol+5EO) 
     Emphos PS-131 (iso-tridecanol+6EO, phosphate ester, acid form) 
     Emphos PS-236 (linear C10/12 alcohol+5EO, phosphate ester, acid form) 
     Witconol SN-70 (linear C10/12 alcohol+5EO) 
     Witconol TD-60 (iso-tridecanol+6EO) 
     Ethylan 1005 (2-propyl heptanol+5EO) 
     Urea-ammonium nitrate 
     The Atrazine suspensions were made by first dissolving the Morwet D-425 and wetting agent in the appropriate volume of water. Micronized Atrazine technical was then added to the solution and then dispersed using high shear. All of the suspensions tested were made to contain 480 grams per liter of active ingredient. 
     After preparing the Atrazine suspensions with different surfactant systems, the suspensions were diluted into UAN and evaluated based on the degree of flocculation as a function of time. 
     Formulations/Results/Observations 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 7 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Atrazine formulations with different co surfactants 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Atrazine (g) 
                 D-425 (g) 
                 Co surfactant (g) 
                 Water (g) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1996-17-1 
                 8.4 
                 1.0 
                 0.4 
                 10.2 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (1005 phosphate ester) 
               
               
                 1996-17-2 
                 8.4 
                 1.0 
                 0.4 (PS-131 
                 10.2 
               
               
                 1996-17-3 
                 8.4 
                 1.0 
                 0.4 (TD-60) 
                 10.2 
               
               
                 1996-17-4 
                 8.4 
                 1.0 
                 0.4 (Ethylan 1005) 
                 10.2 
               
               
                 1996-17-5 
                 8.4 
                 1.0 
                 0.4 (PS-236) 
                 10.2 
               
               
                 1996-17-6 
                 8.4 
                 1.0 
                 0.4 (SN-70) 
                 10.2 
               
               
                 1996-18-1 
                 8.4 
                 1.4 
                 0.0 
                 10.2 
               
               
                 1996-18-2 
                 8.4 
                 1.0 
                 0.0 
                 10.6 
               
               
                 1996-18-3 
                 8.4 
                 0.6 
                 0.0 
                 11.0 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Next, 5 mL of each sample were poured in 95 mL of UAN solutions in 100 mL tubes. The tubes were inverted 10 times and observed for flocculation. After sitting for 1, 2, 4, and 24 hours, the height of clear UAN solution from the bottom of tube was measured. The following results were found: 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 8 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Atrazine formulation performance in UAN solution 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 1 hr (cm) 
                 2 hr (cm) 
                 4 hr (cm) 
                 24 hr (cm) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1996-17-1 
                 14.0 
                 17. 
                 20.3 
                 24.2 
               
               
                 1996-17-2 
                 22.5 
                 23.3 
                 24.4 
                 25.7 
               
               
                 1996-17-3 
                 20.5 
                 22.0 
                 23.1 
                 24.9 
               
               
                 1996-17-4 
                 19.0 
                 20.0 
                 21.1 
                 22.7 
               
               
                 1996-17-5 
                 22.5 
                 23.7 
                 24.6 
                 26.1 
               
               
                 1996-17-6 
                 20.0 
                 21.0 
                 22.1 
                 24.4 
               
               
                 1996-18-1 
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 3.5 
               
               
                 1996-18-2 
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.4 
                 3.2 
               
               
                 1996-18-3 
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.2 
                 13.4 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     As seen above, all the cosurfactants decreased the SC compatibility in UAN solution because the salt precipitated the cosurfactant from the system. However, Ethylan 1005 phosphate ester (contained in sample 1996-17-1) did perform much better compared to other cosurfactants in the relatively short time period (up to 4 hr). 
     The difference in the results among formulations was significant enough to indicate that different hydrophobe lengths and branches can play an important role for compatibility issue. 
     Based on the data generated in this study, Ethylan 1005 phosphate ester showed the potential to improve the SC compatibility with UAN solution.