Pesticidal formulation

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a pesticidal composition of a water-soluble pesticide and processes for its manufacture. More specifically, the invention relates to a soluble granule (SG) pesticidal formulation comprising a water-soluble pesticide and a water-soluble filler. The present invention provides a pesticidal formulation with efficacy equal to the corresponding liquid formulation, yet with improved handler safety, such as lower eye irritation.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pesticidal composition comprising: a water-soluble pesticide; and a water-soluble filler.  
     
     
         2 . The pesticidal composition of  claim 1  in the form of a soluble granule.  
     
     
         3 . The pesticidal composition of  claim 1  embedded in a water-soluble matrix or monolith.  
     
     
         4 . The pesticidal composition of  claim 1  wherein the water-soluble pesticide is selected from: 
 emamectin or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof, acephate, blasticidin-S, kasugamycin, hymexanol, acifluorfen, glyphosate, glufosinate, gibberellic acid, and maleic hydrazide dikegulac.  
 
     
     
         5 . The pesticidal composition of  claim 4  wherein the water-soluble pesticide is emamectin benzoate.  
     
     
         6 . The pesticidal composition of  claim 4  wherein the water-soluble filler is lactose.  
     
     
         7 . The pesticidal composition of  claim 6  additionally comprising a wetting surfactant.  
     
     
         8 . The pesticidal composition of  claim 7  additionally comprising a dispersing surfactant.  
     
     
         9 . The pesticidal composition of  claim 8  additionally comprising a defoaming agent.  
     
     
         10 . An pesticidal composition comprising: 
 emamectin, or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof;    lactose;    sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate; and    sodium N-methyl N-oleyl taurate.    
     
     
         11 . The pesticidal composition of  claim 10  additionally comprising polyorganosiloxane.  
     
     
         12 . The pesticidal composition of  claim 10  wherein the salt is emamectin benzoate.  
     
     
         13 . The pesticidal composition of  claim 12  in the form of a water-soluble granule.  
     
     
         14 . The pesticidal composition of  claim 12  embedded in a water-soluble matrix or monolith.  
     
     
         15 . A pesticidal composition comprising: 
 0.1 to 60% by weight of emamectin benzoate;    40 to 99.9% by weight of lactose;    0 to 25% by weight of sodium N-methyl N-oleyl taurate;    0 to 10% by weight of sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate;    and 0 to 3% by weight of polyorganosiloxane, wherein the sum of the proportions of emamectin benzoate, lactose, sodium N-methyl N-oleyl taurate, sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate and polyorganosiloxane is not greater than 100% by weight.    
     
     
         16 . The pesticidal composition of  claim 15  comprising: 
 1 to 50% by weight of emamectin benzoate;  
 40 to 99% by weight of lactose;  
 0 to 10% by weight of sodium N-methyl N-oleyl taurate;  
 0 to 2% by weight of sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate;  
 and 0 to 1% by weight of polyorganosiloxane, wherein the sum of the proportions of emamectin benzoate, lactose, sodium N-methyl N-oleyl taurate, sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate and polyorganosiloxane is not greater than 100% by weight.  
 
     
     
         17 . The pesticidal composition of  claim 16  in the form of a water-soluble granule.  
     
     
         18 . A pesticidal composition comprising: 
 about 5.3% by weight of emamectin benzoate;    about 86% by weight of lactose;    about 7.5% by weight of sodium N-methyl N-oleyl taurate;    about 1% by weight of sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate;    and about 0.1% by weight of polyorganosiloxane.    
     
     
         19 . The pesticidal composition of  claim 18  in the form of a water-soluble granule.  
     
     
         20 . The pesticidal composition of  claim 18  embedded in a water-soluble matrix or monolith.  
     
     
         21 . A method for the control of agricultural insects, which comprises applying to an area infested with such agricultural insects an effective amount of the pesticidal composition of  claim 15 .  
     
     
         22 . A method for the prevention or treatment of insect infestations of plants or plant products which comprises applying to the plant or plant product an effective amount of the pesticidal composition of  claim 15 .  
     
     
         23 . A process for the preparation of a soluble granule pesticidal formulation which process comprises: 
 (1) forming a powder blend of a water-soluble pesticide, a water-soluble filler, a wetting surfactant and a dispersing surfactant;    (2) adding water to the blend;    (3) extruding the wet blend through a die to form granules; and    (4) drying the granules to remove the water.    
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 23  wherein a defoaming agent is added to the powder blend.  
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 24  which comprises: 
 (1) forming a powder blend of a emamectin benzoate, lactose, sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, sodium N-methyl N-oleyl taurate, and polyorganosiloxane;  
 (2) adding water to the blend;  
 (3) extruding the wet blend through a die to form granules; and  
 (4) drying the granules to remove the water.  
 
     
     
         26 . A soluble granule pesticidal formulation comprising emamectin benzoate, wherein the formulation is prepared by the process of claim  25 .