Controlling spray drift of pesticides with self-emulsifiable esters

Abstract

Spray drift during the application of agricultural chemicals is reduced by incorporating a self-emulsifiable ester into the liquid to be sprayed.

1 . A method to reduce spray drift during the application of a pesticide which comprises incorporating into the pesticidal spray from about 0.01 to about 5 percent vol/vol of a self-emulsifiable ester or mixture thereof. 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  in which the pesticide is an herbicide. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  in which the herbicide is 2,4-D, glyphosate, triclopyr, aminopyralid, dicamba or mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  in which the pesticide is an insecticide. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  in which the pesticide is a fungicide. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  in which the self-emulsifiable ester is (1) trimer acid based self-emulsifiable esters produced by the polymerization of oleic and linoleic acids having a C 54  lipophilic backbone and an ester portion of the molecule containing both nonionic and anionic surfactant functionality; (2) esters prepared by esterification of ethoxylated trimethylolpropane by fatty acids and dicarboxylic acid anhydrides; (3) esters derived from high molecular weight dibasic acids, polyoxyalkylene glycols and monofunctional aliphatic alcohols; (4) self emulsifying ester compounds prepared by reacting an ethoxylated trimethylol propane with a carboxylic acid or a reactive derivative thereof; (5) succinate triglyceride oil derived from maleating triglyceride oil from a plant or land animal; (6) ethoxylated fatty acid esters; (7) alkoxylate esters prepared by reacting an alcohol with ethylene oxide and propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide and capping the resulting alkoxylate with an alkanoic or aromatic acid; and (8) alkoxylated triglycerides. 
   
   
       7 . A premix formulation which comprises from about 1 to about 90 weight percent of a pesticide and from about 0.05 to about 30 weight percent of a self-emulsifiable ester. 
   
   
       8 . The premix formulation of  claim 6  which comprises from about 20 to about 60 weight percent of a pesticide and from about 1.0 to about 10 weight percent of a self-emulsifiable ester.