Surfactant/solvent systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to surfactant/solvent systems for liquid formulations comprising α) one or more nonaromatic-based surfactants, β) as solvent, one or more triester(s) of phosphoric acid with alcohols, preferably from the group consisting of 1) monohydric alkanols having 5 to 22 carbon atoms, for example with n-, i- or neo-pentanol, n-hexanol, n-octanol, 2-ethylhexanol, 2) diols or polyols, such as, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or glycerol, 3) aryl, alkylaryl, poly(alkyl)aryl and poly(arylalkyl)aryl alcohols, for example with phenol and/or cresol, octylphenol, nonylphenol, triisobutylphenol, tristyrylphenol, 4) alkoxylated alcohols obtained by reacting the alcohols mentioned above under 1), 2) or 3) with alkylene oxides, preferably (C 1 -C 4 )alkylene oxides, and 5) alkoxylated alcohols obtained by reacting monohydric alkanols having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and alkylene oxides. The surfactant/solvent system according to the invention is suitable for the preparation of liquid active substance formulations.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A surfactant/solvent system for liquid formulations comprising 
 α) one or more nonaromatic-based surfactants,    β) as solvent, one or more triester(s) of phosphoric acid with alcohols, preferably from the group consisting of 
 1) monohydric alkanols having 5 to 22 carbon atoms,  
 2) diols or polyols,  
 3) aryl, alkylaryl, poly(alkyl)aryl and poly(arylalkyl)aryl alcohols,  
 4) alkoxylated alcohols: obtained by reacting the alcohols mentioned above under 1), 2) or 3) with alkylene oxides, and  
 5) alkoxylated alcohols obtained by reacting monohydric alkanols having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and alkylene oxides.  
   
     
     
         2 . A surfactant/solvent system as claimed in  claim 1  which comprises, as component β), one or more compounds from the group of 
 alkoxylated short-chain alcohols having 1-22 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 1 to 30 alkyleneoxy units in the polyalkyleneoxy moiety which have been reacted completely with ortho-phosphoric acid,  
 alkyl alcohols having 5-22 carbon atoms which have been re acted completely with ortho-phosphoric acid,  
 optionally alkoxylated alcohols having 1-22 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and phenol derivatives, which have been partially reacted with ortho-phosphoric acid, in each case with 0 to 30 alkyleneoxy units in the polyalkyleneoxy moiety, the remaining OH valencies of the ortho-phosphoric acid subsequently having been alkoxylated, and esters of n-octylphosphonic acid which has formally been reacted twice with alcohols.  
 
     
     
         3 . A liquid active substance formulation which comprises 
 (a) one or more active substances which are insoluble in water or soluble up to a concentration of 10 g/l,    (b) the surfactant/solvent system as claimed in  claim 1 ,    (c) if appropriate further organic solvents,    (d) if appropriate further adjuvants and additives such as further surfactants and/or polymers, and    (e) if appropriate water.    
     
     
         4 . A liquid active substance formulation as claimed in  claim 3 , which comprises 
 a) 1 to 50% by weight of agrochemical active substances,    b) 5 to 80% by weight of the surfactant/solvent system according to  claim 1 ,    c) 0 to 40% by weight of further organic solvents,    g) 0 to 20% by weight of customary adjuvants and additives other than (f), such as formulation auxiliaries,    h) 0 to 96% by weight of water and    i) 0 to 30% by weight of further surfactants.    
     
     
         5 . A liquid active substance formulation as claimed in  claim 3  in the form of an emulsifiable concentrate.  
     
     
         6 . An emulsifiable concentrate as claimed in  claim 5  which comprises 
 a) 10 to 40% by weight of agrochemical active substances,  
 b) 10 to 60% by weight of the surfactant/solvent system according to  claim 1 ,  
 c) 5 to 35% by weight of further organic solvents,  
 d) 0 to 10% by weight of customary adjuvants and additives other than (e), such as formulation auxiliaries and  
 e) 10 to 25% by weight of further surfactants.  
 
     
     
         7 . A liquid active substance formulation as claimed in  claim 3 , which comprises one or more active substances from the group of the herbicides desmedipham, phenmedipham and ethofumesate.  
     
     
         8 . A process for the preparation of an active substance formulation as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the components are mixed with each other.  
     
     
         9 . The use of the surfactant/solvent system as claimed in  claim 1  in liquid active substance formulations.  
     
     
         10 . The use as claimed in  claim 1  in emulsifiable concentrates.  
     
     
         11 . A method of controlling undesired vegetation, wherein an effective amount of a liquid active substance formulation as claimed in  claim 3  is applied to the plants, plant parts or area on which the plants grow.  
     
     
         12 . The use of a liquid active substance formulation as claimed in  claim 3  for controlling undesired vegetation.