Pesticide compositions including polymeric adjuvants

Abstract

Pesticidal compositions of improved effectiveness are provided, including a pesticide (e.g., an insecticide or herbicide) together with a copolymer adjuvant or additive selected from the group consisting of acid or salt copolymers containing individual quantities of maleic and itaconic moieties. The compositions of the invention provide multiple-fold increases in effectiveness, as compared with an equal amount of the pesticide in the absence of the copolymer.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A pesticide composition comprising respective fractions of pesticide and polymer, said polymer fraction comprising at least about 60% by weight of a partial salt of a maleic-itaconic polymer including maleic and itaconic moieties, where the total weight of the polymer fraction is taken as 100% by weight, said polymer fraction being present in said composition at a level of from about 0.05-0.2% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition taken as 100% by weight. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , said pesticide fraction including a pesticide selected from the group consisting of insecticides, herbicides, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , said pesticide fraction including a herbicide. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , said herbicide comprising glyphosate. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 2 , said pesticide fraction including an insecticide. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , said pesticide fraction having a pesticide selected from the group consisting of synthetic pyrethroids and organophosphates. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , including a surfactant. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , said pesticide fraction being present at a level of 0.2-2% by weight. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , said polymer fraction being present at a level of from about 0.05-10% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition taken as 100% by weight. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , said maleic-itaconic polymer containing at least about 93% by weight of itaconic and maleic moieties. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 11 , at least about 80% of said polymer fraction being said maleic-itaconic polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 , at least about 90% of said polymer fraction being said maleic-itaconic polymer. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , said polymer fraction consisting essentially of said maleic-itaconic polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 10 , said polymer fraction consisting essentially of said maleic-itaconic polymer containing at least about 93% by weight of itaconic and maleic moieties. 
     
     
         15 . A method of pesticidal treatment comprising the step of applying a pesticide composition in accordance with  claim 1  to a surface. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , said pesticide fraction including a pesticide selected from the group consisting of insecticides, herbicides, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , said pesticide fraction including a herbicide. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , said herbicide comprising glyphosate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , said pesticide fraction including an insecticide. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , said pesticide fraction having a pesticide selected from the group consisting of synthetic pyrethroids and organophosphates.