Liquid compositions containing urease inhibitors and aryl alkyl alcohols and methods of making and use thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides improved solvent systems for the preparation of liquid formulations of urease inhibitors, specifically NEWT, comprising aryl alkyl alcohols. The solvent systems provided good solubility of the urease inhibitor as well as at least one of improved stability, lower flammability, lower toxicity, improved cold temperature storage, improved handling, improved adsorption onto and/or solubility with solid media such as urea. Methods of making and using the compositions are also provided.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A solid urea-based fertilizer composition comprising:
 a. urea;   b. from about 0.02 wt. % to about 0.12 wt. % NBPT based on the total weight of the fertilizer composition; and   c. from about 0.03 wt. % to about 0.35 wt. % aryl alkyl alcohol based on the total weight of the fertilizer composition, wherein said aryl alkyl alcohol has the general formula (II)   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and further wherein each of R 1 -R 5  can be hydrogen, deuterium, fluorine, bromine, iodine, chlorine, or an alkyl group. 
     
     
         2 . A solid urea-based fertilizer composition comprising:
 a. urea;   b. from about 0.02 wt. % to about 0.12 wt. % NBPT based on the total weight of the fertilizer composition;   c. from about 0.03 wt. % to about 0.35 wt. % aryl alkyl alcohol based on the total weight of the fertilizer composition, wherein said aryl alkyl alcohol has the general formula (II)   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         and further wherein each of R 1 -R 5  can be hydrogen, deuterium, fluorine, bromine, iodine, chlorine, or an alkyl group; and 
         d. about 0.005 wt. % to about 0.25 wt. % glycol based on the total weight of the fertilizer composition. 
       
     
     
         3 . The urea-based fertilizer composition of  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the aryl alkyl alcohol is benzyl alcohol. 
     
     
         4 . The urea-based fertilizer composition of  claim 2 , wherein the glycol is propylene glycol. 
     
     
         5 . The urea-based fertilizer composition of  claim 1  or  claim 2 , further comprising a dye. 
     
     
         6 . The urea-based fertilizer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the NBPT is present from about 0.05 wt. % to about 0.1 wt. % based on the total weight of the fertilizer composition, and the aryl alkyl alcohol is present from about 0.07 wt. % to about 0.3 wt. % based on the total weight percent of the fertilizer composition. 
     
     
         7 . The urea-based fertilizer composition of  claim 2 , wherein the NBPT is present from about 0.05 wt. % to about 0.1 wt. % based on the total weight of the fertilizer composition;
 the aryl alkyl alcohol is present from about 0.07 wt. % to about 0.3 wt. % based on the total weight percent of the fertilizer composition; and the glycol is present from about 0.01 wt. % to about 0.2 wt. % based on the total weight percent of the fertilizer composition.   
     
     
         8 . The urea-based fertilizer composition of  claim 6  or  claim 7 , further comprising a dye. 
     
     
         9 . A solid urea-based fertilizer granule composition comprising:
 a. a urea fertilizer granule; and   b. an additive composition substantially coated on the surface of said fertilizer granule, wherein said additive composition comprises:
 i. from about 0.02 wt. % to about 0.12 wt. % NBPT based on the total weight of the fertilizer composition; and 
   ii. from about 0.03 wt. % to about 0.35 wt. % aryl alkyl alcohol based on the total weight of the fertilizer composition, wherein said aryl alkyl alcohol has the general formula (II)   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         and further wherein each of R 1 -R 5  can be hydrogen, deuterium, fluorine, bromine, iodine, chlorine, or an alkyl group. 
       
     
     
         10 . The solid urea-based fertilizer granule composition of  claim 9  wherein the additive composition further comprises from about 0.005 wt. % to about 0.25 wt. % glycol based on the total weight of the fertilizer composition. 
     
     
         11 . The Solid urea-based fertilizer granule composition of  claim 9  or  claim 10 , wherein the aryl alcohol is benzyl alcohol. 
     
     
         12 . The solid urea-based fertilizer granule composition of  claim 10 , wherein the glycol is propylene glycol. 
     
     
         13 . The solid urea-based fertilizer granule composition of  claim 9  wherein the additive composition comprises NBPT present from about 0.05 wt. % to about 0.1 wt. % based on the total weight of the fertilizer composition, and aryl alkyl alcohol present from about 0.07 wt. % to about 0.3 wt. % based on the total weight percent of the fertilizer composition. 
     
     
         14 . The solid urea-based fertilizer granule composition of  claim 10 , wherein the additive composition comprises NBPT present from about 0,05 wt. % to about 0.1 wt. % based on the total weight of the fertilizer composition; aryl alkyl alcohol present from about 0.07 wt. % to about 0.3 wt. % based on the total weight percent of the fertilizer composition; and glycol present from about 0.01 wt. % to about 0.2 wt. % based on the total weight percent of the fertilizer composition. 
     
     
         15 . The solid urea-based fertilizer granule composition of  claim 9  or  claim 10 , wherein a portion of the additive composition penetrates into the surface of said fertilizer granule. 
     
     
         16 . The solid urea-based fertilizer granule composition of  claim 9  or  claim 10 , wherein the additive composition further comprises a dye.