Homogeneous gas-evolving composition

Abstract

A homogeneous gas-evolving composition is provided that includes an acid, a gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent, and at least one of an inorganic carbonate, inorganic bicarbonate, alkaline peroxide, or alkaline azide. A water-soluble desiccant is homogeneously intermixed with the acid and the gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent. The desiccant is present in an amount able to absorb ambient moisture equivalent to at least 0.01 total weight percent of the composition before gas evolution of more than 50% of the theoretical gas evolution available from the composition. To confer storage stability, the acid, the gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent, and water-soluble desiccant cumulatively have a water content of less than 1 total weight percent water. Through appropriate selection of a desiccant or inclusion of a surfactant foaming agent, the composition foams upon drenching with water. The composition is particularly well suited for consistent usage of glyphosate herbicide. Plant growth inhibition is provided by wetting a plant with water and then applying the composition onto the plant. After allowing sufficient time, the composition absorbs the water and evolves gas, thereby spreading herbicide on the plant preferential to surrounding soil.

1 . A homogeneous gas-evolving composition comprising:
 an acid;   a gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent of at least one of an inorganic carbonate, inorganic bicarbonate, alkaline peroxide, or alkaline azide; and   a water-soluble desiccant homogeneously intermixed with said acid and said gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent;   said water-soluble desiccant present in an amount able to absorb an ambient moisture equivalent to at least 0.01 total weight percent of the composition as formed before gas evolution of more than 50% of the theoretical composition;   said acid, said gas-evolving neutralizing agent, and said water-soluble desiccant cumulatively having less than 1 total weight percent water.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said acid is citric acid. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said neutralizing agent is a carbonate. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a surfactant foaming agent, wherein said acid is tartaric acid. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein said surfactant foaming agent is a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said desiccant is a protein. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a biologically active ingredient. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein said desiccant is lignin, a lignin salt, or albumen. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein said biologically active ingredient is an acid that is converted to a salt upon composition drenching. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein said acid is at least one of glyphosate, glufosinate, clopyralid, bentazon, picloram, and triclopyr. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein said acid is at least one of gibberellic acid, GABA, atrimmec, trinexepac-ethyl, I-naphthalenacetic acid, phthalmic acid, 3-CPA, indolebutyric acid, 4-chlorphenoxyacetic acid, CHPA, deltrol, clofencoet, and 1-lactic acid. 
     
     
         12 . A foaming granule comprising:
 an acid;   at least one of: an inorganic carbonate, inorganic bicarbonate, alkaline peroxide, or alkaline azide;   a desiccant of albumen, lignin, a lignin salt, or a combination thereof; and   a glyphosate herbicide.   
     
     
         13 . The granule of  claim 12 , wherein said glyphosate herbicide comprises glyphosate in acid form. 
     
     
         14 . The granule of  claim 12  further comprising a nonionic surfactant foaming agent. 
     
     
         15 . The granule of  claim 12  further comprising moisture present at less than 1 total weight percent of said acid, said gas-evolving neutralizing agent, said desiccant, and said glyphosate herbicide. 
     
     
         16 . A process for inhibiting growth of a plant comprising:
 forming a homogeneous gas-evolving composition comprising:
 an herbicide; 
 an acid; 
 a gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent of at least one of an inorganic carbonate, inorganic bicarbonate, alkaline peroxide, or alkaline azide; and 
 a water-soluble desiccant homogeneously intermixed with said acid and said gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent; 
   said water-soluble desiccant present in an amount able to absorb an ambient moisture equivalent to at least 0.01 total weight percent of the composition as formed before gas evolution of more than 50% of the theoretical composition;   said acid, said gas-evolving neutralizing agent, and said water-soluble desiccant cumulatively having less than 1 total weight percent water;   wetting the plant with water;   spreading said composition onto the plant; and   allowing sufficient time for said composition to absorb the water and evolve gas thereby spreading said herbicide on the plant.   
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16  wherein said herbicide is glyphosate. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 16  wherein said composition is formed as a plurality of −10 mesh granules.