Decreasing or preventing sub-surface geological matter contamination by agrochemicals

Abstract

Method of exposing agricultural substrates (plant matter 10 , animal matter 12 ) to agrochemicals (A); method of decreasing or preventing sub-surface geological matter ( 20, 22 ) contamination resulting from exposing agricultural substrates to agrochemicals; composition [(A)/(T)] 30 used therein; article-of-manufacture including the composition. Includes exposing agricultural substrates to composition including combination (mixture) of an agrochemical and at least one transforming agent capable of decreasing or eliminating concentration of the agrochemical which contacts sub-surface geological matter (at temporally varying times, and at spatially varying depths). Before entering sub-surface geological matter, transforming agent exhibits inactivity for decreasing agrochemical concentration, and inactivity for affecting or/and interfering with agrochemical functionality with respect to agricultural substrates. Transforming agent co-migrates and is co-distributed with agrochemical within and throughout sub-surface geological matter, and exhibits activity for decreasing or eliminating agrochemical concentration therein. Transforming agent activity is exhibited at spatially varying depths, at temporally varying times, within sub-surface geological matter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of exposing an agricultural substrate to an agrochemical, the method comprising:
 exposing the agricultural substrate to a composition which comprises the agrochemical and at least one transforming agent capable of decreasing or eliminating concentration of the agrochemical which contacts a sub-surface geological matter, such that contamination of said sub-surface geological matter by the agrochemical is decreased or prevented,   wherein said transforming agent is a porphyrinogenic organometallic complex,   and wherein prior to entering said sub-surface geological matter, said at least one transforming agent exhibits no activity for decreasing or eliminating concentration of said at least one agrochemical, and within said sub-surface geological matter, said at least one transforming agent exhibits activity for said decreasing or eliminating concentration of said at least one agrochemical which contacts said sub-surface geological matter.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said exposing is performed via an exposing medium within and through which said composition is applied or dispensed to, or/and upon, the agricultural substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said composition includes a plurality of agrochemicals. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agrochemical is selected from the group consisting of pesticides. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said pesticide is selected from the group consisting of acaricides, miticides, algicides, antifeedants, avicides, bactericides, bird repellants, chemosterilants, fungicides, herbicide safeners, herbicides, insect attractants, insect repellants, insecticides, mammal repellants, mating disrupters, molluscicides, nematicides, plant activators, plant growth regulators, rodenticides, synergists, and virucides, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one transforming agent co-migrates and becomes co-distributed with the agrochemical within and throughout said sub-surface geological matter. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one transforming agent and the agrochemical have a distribution or partition coefficient, K d , of a same value. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said porphyrinogenic organometallic complex is selected from the group consisting of a metalloporphyrin complex, a metallocorrin complex, a metallochlorin complex, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said metalloporphyrin complex is composed of a transition metal complexed to a (initially free base) porphyrin selected from the group consisting of:
 tetramethylpyridilporphyrin [5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridinio)-porphine] [TMPyP];   tetrahydroxyphenylporphyrine [5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-21H,23H-porphine] [TP(OH)P];   tetraphenylporphyrin [5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphine] [TPP];   4,4′,4″,4′″-(porphine-5,10,15,20-tetrayl)tetrakis(benzenesulfonic acid) [TBSP];   hematoporphyrin; and   protoporphyrin IX.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said metalloporphyrin complex is selected from the group consisting of:
 tetramethylpyridilporphyrin-Nickel [5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridinio)-porphine-Nickel] [TMPyP—Ni];   tetramethylpyridilporphyrin-Cobalt [5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridinio)-porphine-Cobalt] [TMPyP—Co];   tetramethylpyridilporphyrin-Iron [5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridinio)-porphine-Iron] [TMPyP—Fe];   tetrahydroxyphenylporphyrine-Nickel [5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-21H,23H-porphine-Nickel] [TP(OH)P—Ni];   tetrahydroxyphenylporphyrine-Cobalt [5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-21H,23H-porphine-Cobalt] [TP(OH)P—Co];   4,4′,4″,4′″-(porphine-5,10,15,20-tetrayl)tetrakis(benzenesulfonic acid)-Nickel [TBSP—Ni];   4,4′,4″,4′″-(porphine-5,10,15,20-tetrayl)tetrakis(benzenesulfonic acid)-Cobalt [TBSP—Co];   hematoporphyrin-Cobalt;   protoporphyrin IX-Cobalt; and a combination thereof.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said metalloporphyrin complex is selected from the group consisting of a chlorophyll and a heme. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said metallocorrin complex is vitamin B 12  [corrin ligand (porphyrin analog) complexed to a cobalt (III) ion].