Use of sophorolipids and derivatives thereof in combination with pesticides as adjuvant/additive for plant protection and the industrial non-crop field

Abstract

Use of sophorolipids as adjuvants in combination with pesticides as tank mix additive and/or as formulation additive for crop protection and for the industrial non-crop sector.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A composition comprising
 a) at least one of a sophorolipid, a sophorolipid preparation, and derivatives thereof obtainable by fermentative preparation, and at least one   b) active pesticidal ingredient   with the proviso that component (a) has no inherent pesticidal activity.   
     
     
         12 . The composition as claimed in  claim 11  wherein a pesticidal efficacy and activity of the composition is greater than the sum of the efficacies of the individual components. 
     
     
         13 . The composition as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein component a) is present in an adjuvant, based on the solids, with a fraction of >30% by weight in the adjuvant. 
     
     
         14 . A composition as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein fermentative preparation includes a hydrophobic substance selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A composition as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein component a) is in purified or unpurified form, and
 i) is present as a mixture of lactone and acid form, with an acid fraction of 10% to less than 60% by weight, or   ii) consists to a fraction of >90% by weight of the lactone form, which can be solubilized by adjustment of pH to a level of between 6 and 8, or   iii) is present as methyl or ethyl ester, with a fraction of 1% to 100% by weight of the respective ester.   
     
     
         16 . A composition as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein component a) is a sophorolipid of formula 1 or 1a, 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where 
         R 1  and R 2  independently of one another are either H or an acetyl group, 
         R 3  is H or a methyl, ethyl or hexyl group, 
         R 4  independently at each occurrence is a saturated or unsaturated divalent, branched or unbranched organic group, 
         R 5  is H or a methyl group,
 with the proviso that the total number of the carbon atoms in groups R 4  and R 5  does not exceed the number 29. 
 
       
     
     
         17 .- 19 . (canceled)