Long-term fire retardant with an organophosphate and methods for making and using same

Abstract

A forest fire retardant composition is substantially free of ammonium and includes an organophosphate derived from (i) a phosphorylation agent and (ii) an organic molecule comprising at least two hydroxyl groups. The organophosphate may contain at least one phosphate ester bonded to an organic molecule, wherein the organic molecule comprises at least one monomer unit of about 2 to 40 carbon atoms. Preferably, at least 90% of the functional groups of the organophosphate is a phosphate ester group. The composition may also include a salt, including magnesium salt and/or calcium salt. The anion in the salt may be hydroxide, carbonate or phosphate. The salt may be an anhydrous salt, a salt hydrate, or a combination of both. The composition is effective in suppressing, retarding, and controlling forest fires while exhibiting corrosion resistance and low toxicity.

1 . A forest fire retardant composition, comprising:
 an organophosphate comprising at least one phosphate ester bonded to an organic molecule;   a corrosion inhibitor;   wherein:
 the organic molecule comprises one to five monosaccharide units; 
 each monosaccharide unit is about 2 to about 40 carbon atoms; and 
 the composition is substantially free of ammonium. 
   
     
     
         2 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the organic molecule comprises one or two monosaccharide units. 
     
     
         3 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the monosaccharide unit is at least one of glucose or fructose. 
     
     
         4 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a salt comprising at least one of magnesium salt, calcium salt, or magnesium calcium salt;
 wherein an anion in the salt comprises at least one of carbonate or phosphate.   
     
     
         5 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a strong base in the forest fire retardant composition in a weight percent of about 0.05% to about 60% relative to the amount of organophosphate in the forest fire retardant composition. 
     
     
         6 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the corrosion inhibitor inhibits the corrosion of at least one of brass, iron, aluminum, or magnesium. 
     
     
         7 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 6 , wherein the corrosion inhibitor comprises one or more azoles. 
     
     
         8 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a pigment present in the forest fire retardant composition in a weight percent of about 0.25% to about 20% relative to the amount of organophosphate in the forest fire retardant composition. 
     
     
         9 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a colorant present in the forest fire retardant composition in a weight percent of about 0.02% to about 3.0% relative to the amount of organophosphate in the forest fire retardant composition. 
     
     
         10 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a viscosity modifier present in the forest fire retardant composition in a weight percent of about 0.05% to about 5.0% relative to the amount of organophosphate in the forest fire retardant composition. 
     
     
         11 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a buffering agent in the forest fire retardant composition in a weight percent of about 0.25% to about 5.0% relative to the amount of organophosphate in the forest fire retardant composition. 
     
     
         12 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a glow-in-the-dark additive. 
     
     
         13 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the composition is in the form of a concentrate further comprising water, wherein:
 the water is present in the concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 5% to about 70% relative to the total weight of the concentrate; and 
 the organophosphate is present in the concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 15% to about 90% relative to the total weight of the concentrate. 
   
     
     
         14 . A kit comprising:
 a sealed container which contains the forest fire retardant composition of  claim 13  substantially in the absence of external moisture; and   instructions for using the composition to make a final diluted product useful to suppress, retard, or contain forest fires.   
     
     
         15 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a surfactant present in the forest fire retardant composition in a weight percent of about 0.02% to about 3% relative to the amount of organophosphate in the forest fire retardant composition. 
     
     
         16 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 15 , wherein the surfactant comprises at least one of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS), 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, sodium octyl sulfate, butylnaphthalenesulfonic acid sodium salt, or potassium oleate. 
     
     
         17 . A forest fire retardant composition, comprising:
 an organophosphate comprising at least one phosphate ester bonded to an organic molecule, wherein the organic molecule comprises at least one monomer unit of about 2 to about 40 carbon atoms;   a corrosion inhibitor; and   a glow-in-the-dark additive,   wherein the composition is substantially free of ammonium.   
     
     
         18 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 17 , further comprising a salt comprising at least one of magnesium salt, calcium salt, or magnesium calcium salt;
 wherein an anion in the salt comprises at least one of carbonate or phosphate.   
     
     
         19 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 17 , further comprising a strong base in the forest fire retardant composition in a weight percent of about 0.05% to about 60% relative to the amount of organophosphate in the forest fire retardant composition. 
     
     
         20 . The forest fire retardant composition of  claim 17 , wherein the corrosion inhibitor inhibits the corrosion of at least one of brass, iron, aluminum, or magnesium. 
     
     
         21 . A kit comprising:
 a sealed container which contains the forest fire retardant composition of  claim 17  substantially in the absence of external moisture; and   instructions for using the composition to make a final diluted product useful to suppress, retard, or contain forest fires.   
     
     
         22 . A forest fire retardant composition, comprising:
 an organophosphate comprising at least one phosphate ester bonded to an organic molecule, wherein the organic molecule comprises at least one monomer unit of about 2 to about 40 carbon atoms;   a corrosion inhibitor; and   a colorant present in the forest fire retardant composition in a weight percent of about 0.02% to about 3.0% relative to the amount of organophosphate in the forest fire retardant composition,   wherein:
 the composition is substantially free of ammonium; and 
 the colorant comprises at least one of a fugitive colorant or a non-fugitive colorant.