HERBICIDAL COMPOSITION

Abstract: A herbicidal composition, which can be formulated for selective or total kill of vegetation, comprises a synergistic combination of acetic acid and another organic acid, notably citric acid.

Description: HERBICIDAL COMPOSITION FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to herbicidal compositions. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Many herbicidal compositions exist which are effective to kill all vegetation or selective vegetation. Many are based on sophisticated chemicals, some of which are toxic to other life forms. SUMMARY OF INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a novel herbicidal composition which is composed of edible material and hence can be safely applied to vegetation without risk of harm to animals, including humans. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION The composition of the invention can be formulated to effectively kill all vegetative growth, including normally hard-to-kill weeds as well as grasses, in a rapid period of time. Alternatively, the composition may be formulated as a selective herbicide, for example, to kill common lawn weeds, while leaving the grass unaffected. The composition of the invention also is useful as a defoliant. The composition of the invention comprises a synergistic combination of acetic acid and another organic acid, preferably citric acid. The acetic acid component conveniently is provided by domestic white vinegar while the citric acid is conveniently provided by lemon juice or the juice of another citrus fruit. Industrial sources of these components also may be used. The composition of the invention may be formulated as a concentrate comprising glacial acetic acid and citric acid or other organic acid, such as ascorbic acid, dissolved in water, which then may be diluted for use. Although acetic acid alone exhibits some effect as a herbicide, the presence of small quantities of citric acid considerably enhances the effect. Citric acid at high concentrations exhibits some effect as a herbicide. The weight ratio of acetic acid to citric acid in the composition may vary from about 10:1 to about 1:1, preferably about 4:1 to about 2:1. In general, with the presence of an increasing quantity of citric acid for the same quantity of acetic acid, there is an increasing activity to a maximum, at which addition of further quantities of citric acid produces no further effect. The composition in use may contain up to about 10 wt% of acetic acid, preferably about 1 to about 5 wt.%. The composition in use may contain about 0.25 to about 2.5 wt% citric acid. The activity of the combination of acetic acid and citric acid may be enhanced further by the presence of small quantities of wetting agents, which preferably are edible emulsifiers. A particularly-useful composition according to the invention comprises about 2 parts vinegar and about 1 part of lemon juice or other citrus fruit juice. This composition is diluted with water to provide the composition ready for use. The degree of dilution of the composition determines whether the herbicidal composition will kill all vegetation and whether it is selective. One composition which has been found useful as a total vegetation kill composition comprises: 500 mis of vinegar 250 is of lemon juice 750 to 1250 mis of water If the dilution is increased to about 2300 mis of water, the composition becomes a selective herbicide. Too much dilution results in no herbicidal properties. For example, dilution by 5000 mis of water produces no herbicidal response. Another useful composition comprises: 10 wt.% glacial acetic acid 5 wt.% citric acid 85 wt.% water One useful formulation of concentrate comprises: 160 g acetic acid 40 g citric acid 800 ml water This concentrate then is diluted for use to the desired strength. By experimentation, it is possible to determine the degree of dilution required for specific properties of the composition for varying proportions of acetic acid and citric acid. The composition of the invention is composed of natural and edible components, namely acetic acid and citric acid or other organic acid, and hence, not only is efficacious as a herbicide, either for total or selective kill of vegetation, but is safe to use. In contrast, most herbicides require chemical synthesis and exhibit toxic side effects on animals. SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE In summary of this disclosure, the present invention relates to a novel herbicidal composition comprising synergistic combinations of acetic acid and citric acid, most conveniently provided by vinegar and lemon juice, which are diluted with water to provide the desired herbicidal properties. Modifications are possible within the scope of this invention.

Claims: CLAIMS What we claim is: 1. A herbicidal composition, comprising acetic acid and another organic acid. 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said other organic acid is citric acid. 3. The composition of claim 2 containing a weight ratio of acetic acid to citric acid of about 10:1 to about 1:1. 4. The composition of claim 3 wherein said weight ratio is about 4:1 to about 2:1. 5. The composition of claim 1 which, in use, contains up to about 10 wt% acetic acid. 6. The composition of claim 5 wherein said acetic acid is present in an amount of from about 1 to about 5 wt%. 7. The composition of claim 6 wherein said citric acid is present in an amount of about 0.25 to about 2.5 wt%. 8. The composition of claim 1 formulated as a concentrate for dilution for use. 9. The composition of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 wherein a wetting agent also is present in the composition.

Inventors: LOJEK JOHN STANLEY, LOJEK, JOHN, STANLEY
Applicants: TERRA CARE INTERNATIONAL CORP, TERRA CARE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A01N37
IPC codes: A01N37