Adjuvants and methods of using them

Abstract

Described herein are compositions comprising an acidifier intermixed with an emulsifier and a co-surfactant that form stable microemulsions in water. Also described are methods of dispersing a compound in an aqueous solution using the compositions of the present invention.

1 . A method of dispersing a compound in an aqueous solution, comprising:
 mixing the compound and a microemulsion comprising an acidifier, an emulsifier, a co-surfactant, and water in the aqueous solution, thus dispersing the compound in the aqueous solution.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound is dispersed in the aqueous solution at a concentration of between 0.1 percent to 20 percent by weight. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying the compound dispersed in an aqueous solution to soil, a plant or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound is dispersed at a level of between 0.1 gallons to 10.0 gallons per acre of land. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein applying the compound comprises spraying the compound dispersed in the aqueous solution. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises hard water. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of a biocide, pesticide, herbicide, fungicide, and miticide. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acidifier is selected from the group consisting of propionic acid, methyl acetic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, fumaric acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid, and combinations of any thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of fluidized lecithins, deoiled lecithins, crude lecithins, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound is a fertilizer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 mixing the emulsifier with the co-surfactant, thus forming a blend; and   mixing the acidifier and the water with the blend, thus forming the microemulsion.   
     
     
         12 . A method of dispersing a compound in an aqueous solution, the method comprising:
 mixing the compound and a microemulsion in the aqueous solution, thus dispersing the compound in the aqueous solution;   wherein the microemulsion comprises:
 propionic acid; 
 an emulsifier; 
 vegetable fatty acids; 
 water; and 
 a co-surfactant selected from the group consisting of sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene ester of rosin, polyoxyethylene dodecyl mono ether, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer, polyoxyethylene monolaurate, polyoxyethylene monohexadecyl ether, polyoxyethylene monooleate, polyoxyethylene mono(cis-9-octadecenyl)ether, polyoxyethylene monostearate, polyoxyethylene monooctadecyl ether, polyoxyethylene dioleate, polyoxyethylene distearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate, polyglycerol ester of oleic acid, polyoxyethylene sorbitol hexastearate, polyoxyethylene monotetradecyl ether, polyoxyethylene sorbitol hexaoleate, fatty acids, tall-oil, hexaester with sorbitol, ethoxylated castor oil, ethoxylated soybean oil, ethoxylated polyoxyethylene sorbitol tetraoleate, fatty acids, mixed esters with glycerol and polyethylene glycol, alcohols, C9-C16 ethoxylated derivatives of any thereof, and combinations of any thereof. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the emulsifier is lecithin. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of a biocide, pesticide, herbicide, fungicide, and miticide. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the compound is a fertilizer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the compound is glyphosate. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising applying the compound dispersed in the aqueous solution to soil, a plant or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein applying the compound comprises spraying the compound dispersed in the aqueous solution. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 mixing the emulsifier with the co-surfactant, thus forming a blend; and   mixing the propionic acid and the water with the blend, thus forming the microemulsion.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the acts of mixing are performed at a temperature of at least 25° C. for a time period of at least 30 minutes.