Non-aqueous suspension concentrates of highly water-soluble solids

Stable, concentrated non-aqueous suspensions of water-soluble solids are prepared by using a water soluble active compound comprising water hydratable polysaccharides, biocides, fertilizers and mixtures thereof dispersed in water-miscible organic liquid carriers, preferably lower alkadiols in conjunction with a specific three component surfactant system, i.e., a system comprising a nonionic polymeric viscosity modifier surfactant; an anionic surfactant; and a nonionic surfactant having a bulky hydrophobic substituent group.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a method for preparing concentrated 
suspensions of water-soluble solids with excellent storage stability and 
the concentrates thus formed. The method comprises suspending the solids 
in a water-soluble organic liquid such as a low molar mass glycol in the 
presence of a three component surfactant system. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Many handling problems may arise when one is forced to prepare aqueous 
end-use formulations and/or slurries from solids, especially active 
solids, e.g. wettable bioactive powders as is often the situation in the 
agricultural industry. Farmers preparing tank mixes of herbicides, 
insecticides and/or other bioactives from solids for applications to crop 
and soil are exposed to certain safety hazards and inconveniences due to 
the generation of noxious dusts which may be irritable to the skin and 
hazardous to breathe. 
Additionally, finely ground powders, even so-called powders, of many 
water-soluble bioactives when prepared as tank mixes do not disperse well, 
they have poor spontaneity or "bloom" and have low suspendability, they 
have poor re-dispersibility and are incompatible with other bioactives as 
compared to liquid bioactive concentrates. Thus, final formulators, such 
as farmers, when preparing diluted aqueous active compositions find that 
the handling and application of solids materials such as fertilizers, are 
much facilitated if the material can be supplied in a fluid rather than 
solid form. Economics then dictates that the active material be supplied 
in a highly concentrated fluid to the final formulator. 
Saturation solubility in water of many water-soluble active constituents, 
such as ammonium nitrate, is too low to make it economical to supply it to 
the end-user simply in the form of a solution. Alternatively, highly 
concentrated suspensions of water soluble compounds, both in water and in 
organic liquids, have very poor storage, freeze/thaw, and heat/cool 
stability. 
As a result of the spontaneous crystal dissolution-recrystallization 
process, there occurs a progressive increase in the size of the 
particulate active material. This increase in particle size results in 
settling, bleed and changes in visco-elastic properties and thus severely 
limits concentrate loading levels. 
The instant invention concerns a unique formulation which, to a great 
extent, addresses and overcomes the above problems. 
Particle size stability of water-soluble particulate solids is obtained in 
a twofold manner. First, by appropriate selection of the organic carrier 
used as the continuous phase, the temperature coefficient of solubility 
can be controlled, thus stabilizing the particle size of the solids 
throughout usual commercial storage times and temperature cycles. The 
major component of the carrier liquid is non-aqueous, although small 
amounts of water may be used to modify the performance. Secondly, 
recognizing that a small number of large particles has a smaller total 
surface area than a large number of small particles regardless of 
morphology, the surface-free energy of the active solid material is 
lowered via surfactant adsorption onto the particle surface, thus reducing 
the necessity to obtain a minimization of the surface area which promotes 
growth of the particles. 
The particle size stability and other desirable characteristics of the 
concentrate such as low viscosity, minimum syneresis and high bloom are 
primarily controlled through the use of a three component surfactant 
system. 
The first component, a nonionic viscosity-improver material, preferably a 
polymeric material and most preferably an ethylene oxide-propylene oxide 
block copolymer, is primarily used, through rheology control, to create a 
stable dispersion and secondarily to mollify crystal growth. 
The second component, an anionic surfactant, preferably a sulfonate, albeit 
having a syneresis-increasing influence, is utilized primarily to 
synergistically reduce the viscosity enhancing effect of the polymeric 
first component and secondarily, as a result of its affinity for the 
surface of the solids, to aid in the dispersibility of the solid 
particles. 
The third component, which is a bulky nonionic surfactant containing a 
large hydrophobic group, preferably an ethoxylated tristyryl phenol such 
as Soprophor BSU.RTM. (Rhone-Poulenc Inc., Cranbury, N.J.), is primarily 
used to reduce the packing of the particles, i.e., it reduces syneresis or 
settling and serendipitiously enhances the bloom or dispersibility that 
occurs when the concentrated composition is diluted by pouring it into an 
aqueous medium to achieve the final concentration of the end-use 
formulation. 
This third component also has a tendency to increase the viscosity of the 
concentrate. 
Optionally, a minor amount of water may be added to the concentrate 
primarily to assist in adjusting the temperature coefficient of solubility 
which ultimately minimizes changes in particle size. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,591 to Marchetto, et al. discloses emulsifiable 
concentrated solutions of herbicides, pesticides, and other active 
agricultural compounds comprising a 
polyoxyethyleneated/polyoxypropylenated (1-phenylethyl) phenol as the 
surfactant. The compositions also contain a wetting agent, a stabilizing 
agent and a second nonionic, cationic, or amphoteric surfactant. The 
compounds enable agricultural actives to have improved shelf life 
stability, are stable in water and enable the production of highly 
concentrated solutions for ease of handling and transport. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,151 to Dowans, et al. teaches stabilized suspensions of 
water soluble polymers in a liquid hydrocarbon medium including a 
thickening agent consisting of the alkaline earth metal salts of fatty 
acids having from 6-33 carbon atoms. The suspensions dissolve readily in 
water and actively disperse. They are allegedly useful in enhanced oil 
field recovery. U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,742 to Leonard discloses corrosion 
inhibitor compositions comprised of a ethylene glycol monoalkyl ether 
solvent, inorganic alkaline solids dispersed therein and small amounts of 
two or more surfactants as suspension agents. The compositions are highly 
concentrated yet shelf stable and very effective in the removal of grease, 
oil, tar, asphalt, etc. from all surfaces. The concentrate is also 
non-flammable, ecologically benign and relatively non-toxic. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,406 to Palgrave, et al. discloses the use of an 
additive such as a polysaccharide to at least partially inhibit regrowth 
at crystal surfaces when comminuting concentrated solid materials such as 
water soluble explosives or fertilizer salts in saturated solutions. 
Through use of the organic carrier and surfactant systems of this 
invention, exceptionally high loadings, i.e., from about 40 to 85% by 
weight of the total weight of the composition, of suspensions of 
water-soluble solids are prepared which exhibit minimal changes in 
particle size and are characterized by settling and visco-elastic 
properties that produce suspensions which are extremely stable even under 
long term storage conditions. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Stable, concentrated non-aqueous suspensions of water-soluble solids are 
prepared by using a water soluble active compound comprising water 
hydratable polysaccharides, biocides, fertilizers and mixtures thereof 
dispersed in water-miscible organic liquid carriers, preferably lower 
alkadiols in conjunction with a specific three component surfactant 
system, i.e., a system comprising a nonionic polymeric viscosity modifier 
surfactant; an anionic surfactant; and a nonionic surfactant having a 
bulky hydrophobic substituent group. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The formulations of the instant invention are eminently suitable for 
suspending solids of any water-soluble material that exist as a separate 
solid phase in the fully formulated concentrate. Many such materials find 
application in the explosive and agricultural areas, especially in the 
fertilizer and pesticide formulations. Examples of such water-soluble 
materials include salts such as potassium nitrate, ammonium dihydrogen 
phosphate, ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, calcium nitrate, potassium 
chloride, sodium chloride, ammonium phosphate, ammonium polyphosphate, 
potassium hydrogen phosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate and the like, 
and non-salt-like compounds such as urea. Pesticides, adjuvants and other 
agricultural use materials such as boric acid, butocarboxime, acephate, 
dimethoate, dimehypo, vamidothion, and methomyl; herbicides such as 
dalapon (2,2 dichloropropirionic acid, sodium salt) ammonium sulfamate, 
dicamba, cacodylic acid, foamesafen, and glyphosate; and fungicides such 
as copper sulfate, fosetyl-Al (aluminum tris (O-ethyl phosphonate), 
benalaxyl, guazatine, and kasugamycin and water hydratable gums such as 
xanthan, guar, acacia, whelan and gum derivatives, are also useful as 
active water soluble compounds in the practice of the present invention. 
The term "water-soluble" is used herein as meaning any material having a 
solubility in water of greater than one (1) weight percent (wt. %) based 
on the total weight of the material and water at 24.degree. C. 
The concentration or loading of the solid material in the formulations of 
this invention can be from 5.0 to 85 wt. % preferably from 15-80 wt. %; 
and most preferably from 20-60 wt. % based on the total weight of the 
concentrate. 
The average diameter particle size of the water-soluble solid material can 
be from 0.5 to 500 microns; preferably from 30 to 200 microns; most 
preferably from about 80 to about 120 microns. 
The superior stability and visco-elastic properties of the non-aqueous 
suspension concentrates of the present invention are derived from the 
particle/particle and particle/carrier phase interactions dictated by the 
selection of the carrier phase. 
Water hydratable compounds are those particles defined as having the 
ability to absorb water and swell in a generally aqueous medium. 
Preferably, the water hydratable compounds are polysaccharides and more 
specifically, the polygalactomannans such as guar gum, xanthan gum, acacia 
gum, whelan gum, gum arabic, and the derivatives thereof. Suitable 
derivatives of the gums include hydroxypropyl ethers, methyl ethers, 
carboxymethyl ethers and the like. These polygalactomannan derivatives are 
the preferred water hydratable compounds useful in the practice of the 
present invention, the most preferred being hydroxypropyl guar, 
hydroxypropyl xanthan gum, and hydroxypropyl whelan gum. 
The water hydratable compound comprises from about 5.0 wt. % to about 50 
wt. % of the suspension concentrate. Preferably, the polysaccharide is 
incorporated in amounts of from about 10 wt. % to about 45 wt. % and most 
preferably in an amount of from about 15 wt. % to about 30 wt. %. The use 
of these compounds results in a water soluble, non-aqueous suspension 
comprised of both a continuous and discontinuous phase. 
The carrier can be any water-miscible low molecular weight organic fluid 
which is liquid at room temperature. The term "water-miscible" means that 
the organic liquids are miscible with water in all proportions, i.e., they 
will form a single phase with the water. 
Where the water-soluble solids are bioactive, it is preferred that the 
carrier be inert or at least acceptable for the intended end-use of the 
diluted concentrate. For example, if the solids are pesticidally active, 
the carrier should be agronomically acceptable. 
All water-miscible organic liquid carriers do not work with equal 
effectiveness and it is generally preferred that the organic liquid has an 
hydroxide functionality and relatively low molecular weight; thus mono- or 
poly-functional lower alcohols are particularly effective as well as their 
ethers or esters. Among these are the lower alkanols and alkadiols. 
Maximum water miscibility is obtained with C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alcohols 
(methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, etc.). Of the glycols (alkadiols, 
alkatriols, etc., e.g., ethylene glycol and propylene glycol) diethylene 
glycol is particularly preferred. 
The carriers of this invention also include water-miscible ketones, such as 
acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclohexanone, and 
ethers. Water-soluble or strongly polar solvents such as formamide, 
dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, or N-methyl pyrrolidone and the 
like are acceptable. Partially miscible liquids such as furfuryl, furfuryl 
alcohol and alkoxylates are also useful as carriers in this invention. 
Mixtures of different liquids are often suitable. 
Most preferably, the carrier is a low molecular weight glycol with a 
molecular weight.ltoreq.5000 dal., i.e. a molar mass.ltoreq.5000. The 
compounds that exhibit the best results include triethylene glycol, 
polyethylene glycol, liquid tall oil fatty acid (TOFA) and liquid tall oil 
fatty acid ethoxylate, all of which may further include an excipient such 
as citric acid to promote hydration with those compounds capable of being 
hydrated. 
The carrier concentration in the suspension concentrate should be from 
about 10 to 90 wt. % based on the total weight of the concentrate; 
preferably from about 40 to 80 wt. % and most preferably from about 45 to 
70 wt. %. 
The stabilizing properties of the concentrated water-soluble solids/carrier 
compositions are achieved primarily through the use of a multi-component 
surfactant system which is from 4 to 15 wt. % of the total weight of the 
concentrate. 
The first component, which is a nonionic viscosity-modifier, preferably a 
polymeric material with a molar mass of less than 15,000, is used to 
control the rheology of the concentrate and thereby primarily creates a 
stable dispersion and secondarily mollifies the crystal growth of the 
solids particles. 
Examples of acceptable nonionic viscosity improvers are the polyacrylic 
acids and their sodium salts; the polyglycol ethers of fatty alcohols and 
polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide condensation products and 
mixtures thereof and include ethoxylated alkyl phenols (also designated in 
the art as alkylaryl polyether alcohols); ethoxylated aliphatic alcohols 
(or alkyl polyether alcohols); ethoxylated fatty acids (or polyoxyethylene 
fatty acid esters); ethoxylated anhydrosorbitol esters (or polyethylene 
sorbitan fatty acid esters), long chain amine and cyclic amine oxides 
which are nonionic in basic solutions; long chain tertiary phosphine 
oxides; and long chain dialkyl sulfoxides. 
Preferably the nonionic viscosity improvers are polymeric such as 
ethoxylated polyoxypropylene glycols (polyalkylene oxide block 
copolymers): ethoxylated polyoxypropylene monohydric alcohols 
(polyalkylene oxide blocks copolymers of monohydric alcohols); and 
ethoxylated polyoxypropylene alkyl phenols (polyalkylene oxide block 
copolymers of alkyl phenols). 
Most preferably the viscosity improvers are ethylene oxide-propylene oxide 
block copolymers of the formula: 
##STR1## 
wherein o and p denotes the number of moles of ethylene oxide; i. e., in 
the range wherein o is a whole number from about 2 to 128 and p is from 
about 2 to 128 and m is moles of propylene oxide in the range of from 
about 16 to 67. 
The viscosity modifier is present in the concentrate in an amount of from 
about 2 to 20 wt. %; preferably from about 2 to 7 wt. %; and most 
preferably from about 2 to 6 wt. %; said percentage based on the total 
weight of the concentrate. 
The second component of the surfactant stabilizer system is an anionic 
surfactant whose primary function is to synergistically control the 
viscosity increase caused by the crystal growth inhibiting first 
component. Secondarily, its affinity for adhesion to the surface of the 
particulate solids aids in the dispersibility of the particles about the 
target substrate. 
Anionic surfactants useful herein include alkyl and alkyl ether sulfates. 
These materials have the respective formulae ROSO.sub.3 M and RO(C.sub.2 
H.sub.4 O).sub.x SO.sub.3 M wherein R is an alkyl, alkenyl or alkylaryl 
group of about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, x is 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 
4, and M is a water-soluble cation such as ammonium, sodium, potassium, 
magnesium, triethanolamine (TEA), etc. The alkyl ether sulfates useful in 
the present invention are condensation products of ethylene oxide and 
monohydric alcohols having from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. Specific 
examples of the above sulfates include ammonium lauryl sulfate, magnesium 
lauryl sulfate, sodium 2-ethyl-hexyl sulfate, sodium octyl sulfate, sodium 
oleyl sulfate, sodium tridecyl sulfate, triethanolamine lauryl sulfate, 
ammonium linear alcohol, ether sulfate, ammonium nonylphenol ether 
sulfate, and ammonium nonoxynol-4-sulfate. 
Another suitable class of anionic surfactants are the water-soluble salts 
of the general formula: 
EQU R.sub.1 --SO.sub.3 --M 
wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of: 
i) a straight or branched chain, saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical 
having from about 8 to 24, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms; 
ii) a mono-, di-, or tri- C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl substituted aryl wherein 
the aryl is preferably a phenyl or naphthyl group; 
iii) alpha-olefins having from about 12 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably 14 
to 16 straight chain carbon atoms, most preferably 1-dodecene, 
1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-octadecene, 1-eicosene, and 1-tetracosene; 
and 
iv) naphthalene-formaldehyde condensation products. 
Additional examples of anionic synthetic surfactants which are useful in 
the practice of the present invention are: i) the isethionates, i.e. the 
reaction products of fatty acids esterified with isethionic acid and 
neutralized with sodium hydroxide where, for example, the fatty acids are 
derived from coconut oil; and ii) the n-methyl taurates, i.e., the sodium 
or potassium salts of fatty acid amides of methyl tauride in which the 
fatty acids, for example, are derived from coconut oil. Other anionic 
synthetic surfactants of this variety are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 
2,486,921; 2,486,922; and 2,396,278 which are hereby incorporated by 
reference. 
Still other anionic synthetic surfactants include the classes designated as 
the sulfosuccinates and sulfosuccinamates. These are of the general 
formulae: 
##STR2## 
respectively, wherein R.sub.2 is a C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkyl or alkylamide. 
These classes include such surface active agents as disodium 
N-octadecylsulfo-succinamate; tetrasodium 
N-(1,2-dicarboxyethyl)-N-octadecylsulfo-succinamate; diamyl ester of 
sodium sulfosuccinic acid; dihexyl ester of sodium sulfosuccinic acid; and 
dioctyl esters of sodium sulfosuccinic acid. 
Another class of anionic organic surfactants are the .beta.-alkyloxy alkane 
sulfonates. These compounds have the following formula: 
##STR3## 
where R.sub.3 is a straight chain alkyl group having from about 6 to 20 
carbon atoms, R.sub.4 is a lower alkyl group having from about 1 to 3 
carbon atoms, and M is a water-soluble cation as hereinbefore described. 
Specific examples of .beta.-alkyloxy-alkane-1-sulfonates, or alternatively 
2-alkyloxy-alkane-1-sulfonates include: 
potassium-.beta.-methoxydecanesulfonate, sodium 
2-methoxytridecanesulfonate, potassium 2-ethoxytetradecylsulfonate, sodium 
2-isopropoxyhexadecylsulfonate, lithium 2-t-butoxytetradecylsulfonate, 
sodium .beta.-methoxyoctadecylsulfonate, and ammonium 
.beta.-n-propoxydodecylsulfonate. 
Also to be included in the anionic class of surfactants useful in the 
practice of the present application are the disulfonates of the general 
formula: 
##STR4## 
wherein R.sub.5 is a C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 alkyl group and M is a 
water-soluble cation as hereinabove described. The preferred anionics of 
the disulfonate class are disodium dodecyl diphenyloxide disulfonate and 
ethoxylated nonylphenyl ammonium disulfonate. All of the above-described 
anionic surfactants and mixtures thereof may or may not be ethoxylated 
with from about 1 to about 10 ethylene oxide (EO) units per "R" unit. 
The anionic surfactant is present in the concentrate in an amount of from 
about 1.0 to 20 wt. %; preferably from about 1.0 to 7.0 wt. %; and most 
preferably from about 1.0 to 5.0 wt. %; said percentage based on the total 
weight of the concentrate. 
The third component of the surfactant stabilizer system is a bulky nonionic 
surfactant containing a large hydrophobic group. These third components 
are of the formula R.sub.6 O(C.sub.n H.sub.2n O).sub.x R.sub.7 wherein 
R.sub.6 is selected from the group consisting of a phenyl; a mono-, di- or 
tri-substituted phenyl; a phenyl C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl; and a mono-, di-, 
or tri-substituted phenyl C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl wherein the phenyl 
substituent group(s) each have a total of about 1 to 30 carbon atoms, and 
wherein each substitution can be a saturated or unsaturated straight or 
branched carbon chain, a phenyl, an alkyl phenyl, a phenyl alkyl, or an 
alkyl phenyl alkyl group; wherein n is from 2 to 4 and may be the same or 
different for each alkylene oxide unit; wherein R.sub.7 is a hydrogen, 
phosphate or sulfate entity; and wherein x is a whole number of from about 
2 to 100. Preferably this component is a dinonyl phenol or a 
tristyrylphenol, most preferably an ethoxylated dinonyl phenol or 
tristyrylphenol and/or any esters thereof. These ethoxylated 
tristyrylphenols and their derivatives can be described as comprising at 
least one poly-oxyethyleneated and/or oxypropyleneated poly (1-phenyethyl) 
phenol or phenyl ester of the formula: 
##STR5## 
wherein m is 2 or 3; (OX) is a recurring oxyethyleneated and/or 
oxy-propyleneated unit; 
n is a whole number of from about 8 to 35; preferably from about 16 to 30; 
and R.sub.7 is a hydrogen, phosphate or sulfate entity. 
The bulky nonionic surfactant is present in the concentrate in an amount of 
from 1.0 to 20 wt. %; preferably from about 1.0 to 7.0 wt. %; and most 
preferably from about 1.0 to 5.0 wt. %; said percentage based on the total 
weight of the concentrate. 
Water can optionally be added to the concentrate in an amount of from 0 to 
30 wt. %. The water acts primarily to control the temperature coefficient 
of solubility and thus helps to minimize particle size changes. 
Preferably, the is water is added in an amount from about 0 to 20 wt. %; 
and most preferably, in an amount from about 0 to 8.0 wt. %; said water 
percentages being based on the total weight of the concentrate. 
Although the method of preparing the concentrates of this invention is not 
critical, a preferred approach is to first prepare a mixture of the 
nonionic surfactant with the bulky hydrophobic group, then add the anionic 
surfactant, the organic liquid carrier, and the water (if any) and load 
this mixture into a mill. The nonionic polymeric viscosity improver is 
then milled into the mixture. The solid water-soluble material that is to 
be concentrated in suspension is added last and, if necessary, milled 
until the desired particle size and distribution is obtained. The particle 
size should not be so fine that the initial (24 hour) viscosity exceeds 
30,000 cps at room temperature. Although the average diameter particle 
size of the water-soluble solid material can be from about 0.5 microns to 
about 500 microns, the particle diameter will preferably be from about 30 
to about 200 microns, and most preferably from about 80 microns to about 
120 microns. 
To determine the stability of the concentrates of this invention, a storage 
stability program was conducted on numerous suspension concentrate samples 
over time. The samples were initially measured for viscosity and percent 
syneresis after 24 hours. 
The viscosity measurements were made using a Brookfield Rheometer (Model DV 
III) and a Brookfield SC4-25 spindle set. The viscometer was run for 30 
seconds at each selected speed, the readings were recorded for each, and 
the twelve digital readings averaged. Initial viscosities were measured 
after 24 hours. An acceptable initial viscosity range at room temperature 
was from about 100 to 30,000 cps. 
After the viscosity profile was complete, a small glass rod was carefully 
submerged to the bottom center of the jar. The resistance of the glass rod 
in penetrating through the sample was subjectively evaluated for the 
degree of compacting. Any caking or claying was detected by simply 
inverting the sample container and noting the presence of material which 
does not come off the bottom of the container within thirty (30) seconds. 
The processes of the present invention were demonstrated in detail in the 
following non-limiting working examples wherein all parts and percentages 
are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLE I 
Diethylene glycol (255.0 gms) was mixed in a beaker (600 ml) together with 
a trystyryl phenol ethoxylate (13.8 gms); a surfactant such as disodium 
dodecyl diphenyl oxide disulfonate (7.2 gms) and an ethylene 
oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer (9.0 gms) at 25.degree. C. using an 
Arde Barinco CJ-4 homogenizer at approximately 40% of the maximum power 
setting in the downward flow mode. The temperature of the mixture was 
raised due to the blending alone. When the temperature of the mixture 
reached 45-50.degree. C., a hydroxypropyl ether guar gum derivative (15 
gms) was added slowly in equal portions to the vortex of the mixture. 
Blending continued until the temperature of the mixture reached 
approximately 60-65.degree. C. at which time the mixing direction of the 
homogenizer was reversed and the mixture circulated at 15-20% maximum 
power in the upward flow mode. At this point, the temperature of the 
mixture declined and when it reached approximately 55.degree. C. the 
mixture was transferred to a low speed over-head mixer with a propeller 
blade. Low speed mixing continued until the mixture temperature dropped to 
about 25.degree. C. at which point the mixture was placed in a HDPE jar 
for storage. 
EXAMPLE 2 
The procedure of example 1 was repeated and a non-aqueous suspension 
concentrate was prepared using the following ingredients in their 
respective amounts: 
a) Polyethylene glycol (225 gms). 
b) Tristyrylphenol ethoxylate (14.1 gms). 
c) Disodium dodecyl diphenyl oxide disulfonate (9.9 gms). 
d) Ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer (6.0 gms) 
e) Hydroxypropyl ether guar gum (45 gms). 
EXAMPLE 3 
The procedure of example 1 was repeated and a non-aqueous suspension 
concentrate was prepared using the following ingredients in their 
respective amounts: 
a) Diethylene glycol (225 gms). 
b) Tristyrylphenol ethoxylate (13.8 gms). 
c) Disodium dodecyl diphenyl oxide disulfonate (9.0 gms). 
d) Ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block co-polymer (7.2 gms). 
e) Hydroxypropyl ether guar gum (45 gms). 
EXAMPLE 4 
The procedure of example 1 was repeated and a non-aqueous suspension 
concentrate was prepared using the following ingredients in their 
respective amounts: 
a) Triethylene glycol (210 gms). 
b) Tristyrylphenol ethoxylate (13.8 gms). 
c) Disodium dodecyl diphenyl oxide disulfonate (9.6 gms). 
d) Ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block co-polymer (6.6 gms). 
e) Hydroxypropyl ether guar gum (60 gms). 
EXAMPLE 5 
The procedure of example 1 was repeated and a non-aqueous suspension 
concentrate was prepared using the following ingredients in their 
respective amounts: 
a) Diethylene glycol (225 gms). 
b) Tristyrylphenol ethoxylate (13.8 gms). 
c) Disodium dodecyl diphenyl oxide disulfonate (9.0 gms) 
d) Ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block co-polymer (7.2 gms). 
e) Xanthan gum (45 gms). 
EXAMPLE 6 
The procedure of example 1 was repeated and a non-aqueous suspension 
concentrate was prepared using the following ingredients in their 
respective amounts: 
a) Polyethylene glycol (255 gms). 
b) Tristyrylphenol ethoxylate (13.8 gms). 
c) Disodium dodecyl diphenyl oxide disulfonate (6.0 gms) 
d) Ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block co-polymer (10.2 gms). 
e) Hydroxypropyl ether guar gum (15.0 gms). 
EXAMPLE 7 
The non-aqueous suspension concentrates prepared in examples 1-6 were then 
tested as to their syneresis and viscosity characteristics. Syneresis 
measurements were made using sealed, de-aerated samples that have been 
stored for 24 hours at room temperature (23-30.degree. C.) and the value 
derived was expressed as a percentage defined by the ratio of the amount 
of bleed layer depth/total depth. An acceptable result is realized if the 
percent syneresis is equal to or less than thirty (30) percent after 
twenty-four (24) hours storage at 24.degree. C. and thereafter less than 
five percent is visible after thirty (30) complete inversions of the 
storage jar. 
Viscosity measurements were made using a Brookfield DV-III Rheometer 
equipped with a small sample adapter. The viscosity of the sample 
formulations (1-6) was measured at room temperature (23-30.degree. C.) 
using a SC4-25 spindle running a geometric program cycle of 50 rpm to 100 
rpm to 50 rpm with 5 rpm spindle speed increments at 30 second intervals 
throughout the cycle. The values reported below were obtained the midpoint 
of the geometric program cycle (100 rpm). 
______________________________________ 
Example Syneresis Viscosity 
______________________________________ 
1 18.0% 110 cPs 
2 &lt;5.0% 993 cPs 
3 16.0% 269 cPs 
4 13.0% 499 cPs 
5 18.0% 240 cPs 
6 &lt;5.0% 370 cPs 
______________________________________ 
As expected, the syneresis and viscosity values show that the non-aqueous, 
water soluble suspension concentrates provide a storage and delivery 
medium for bioactive compounds that is viscous, yet does not readily 
separate into its separate continuous and discontinuous phases. This 
enables for the preparation of concentrated fertilizer, pesticide, 
herbicide and other agricultural or bioactive compositions that are highly 
concentrated, stable and thereby convenient to store and transport. The 
non-aqueous bioactive concentrates are also readily dispersible for easy 
mixing and dissolution in water at the users site.