Alkyl amidoamine polyglycerol surfactants

Abstract

An agrochemical composition includes an agrochemical and a surfactant that has a structure (I)-(VI). The surfactant may be described as an alkyl amidoamine glycerol surfactant, an oxide thereof, or as a quaternary ammonium compound thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An agrochemical composition comprising:
 an agrochemical; and   at least one surfactant having the structure:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein each R is independently a C 6  to C 22  linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group; 
         wherein each m is independently of from about 0 to about 4; 
         wherein each Z is independently a glyceryl residue (glycerol) a  or H so long as at least one Z is a glyceryl residue (glycerol) a ; 
         wherein each a is independently of from about 1 to about 30; 
         wherein each O is independently optionally present so long as at least one O is present; 
         wherein each B −  is independently optionally present and when present is R 1 X − , so long as at least one B −  is present; 
         wherein each R 1  is independently optionally present and when present is a methyl or ethyl group; and 
         wherein each X −  is independently Cl − , Br, CH 3 OSO 3   − , CH 3 CH 2 OSO 3   − , or is not present if R 1  is not present. 
       
     
     
         2 . The agrochemical composition of  claim 1  wherein each a is independently from about 1 to about 20. 
     
     
         3 . The agrochemical composition of  claim 1  wherein each a is independently from about 1 to about 4. 
     
     
         4 . The agrochemical composition according to  claim 1  wherein each glyceryl residue independently comprises a linear portion, a branched portion, and a cyclic portion. 
     
     
         5 . The agrochemical composition according to  claim 1  wherein each R is independently a C 8 -C 18  group. 
     
     
         6 . The agrochemical composition according to  claim 1  wherein each R is independently a C 10 -C 18  group. 
     
     
         7 . The agrochemical composition according to  claim 1  wherein each R is independently a hydrocarbon group derived from an animal source, a vegetable source, a microbial/algae source, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The agrochemical composition of  claim 1  wherein the surfactant has structure (I) and wherein m is 1 and a is from about 1 to about 15. 
     
     
         9 . The agrochemical composition of  claim 1  wherein the surfactant has structure (II) and wherein m is 1 and a is from about 1 to about 15. 
     
     
         10 . The agrochemical composition according to  claim 1  wherein the surfactant is the derivative of the reaction product or reaction product of glycidol and an alkyl amidoamine of the structure: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein each R is independently a C 6  to C 22  linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group; and wherein each m is independently of from about 0 to about 4. 
       
     
     
         11 . The agrochemical composition according to  claim 1  wherein said agrochemical is chosen from herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The agrochemical composition of  claim 11  wherein the herbicide is selected from glyphosate, dicamba, glufosinate, 2,4-D, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The agrochemical composition according to  claim 1  wherein said agrochemical is glyphosate or glufosinate. 
     
     
         14 . A method of forming the agrochemical composition according to  claim 1 , said method comprising the step of combining the at least one surfactant and the agrochemical. 
     
     
         15 . A method of treating vegetation comprising the step of applying the agrochemical composition according to  claim 1  to the vegetation. 
     
     
         16 . A surfactant having the structure: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein each R is independently a C 6  to C 22  linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group; 
         wherein each m is independently of from about 0 to about 4; 
         wherein each Z is independently a glyceryl residue (glycerol) a  or H so long as at least one Z is a glyceryl residue (glycerol) a ; 
         wherein each a is independently of from about 1 to about 30; 
         wherein each O is independently optionally present so long as at least one O is present; 
         wherein each B −  is independently optionally present and when present is R 1 X − , so long as at least one B −  is present; 
         wherein each R 1  is independently optionally present and when present is a methyl or ethyl group; and 
         wherein each X −  is independently Cl − , Br, CH 3 OSO 3   − , CH 3 CH 2 OSO 3   − , or is not present if R 1  is not present. 
       
     
     
         17 . The surfactant of  claim 16  wherein each a is independently from about 1 to about 20. 
     
     
         18 . The surfactant of  claim 16  wherein each a is independently from about 1 to about 4. 
     
     
         19 . The surfactant according to  claim 16  wherein each glyceryl residue independently comprises a linear portion, a branched portion, and a cyclic portion. 
     
     
         20 . The surfactant according to  claim 16  wherein each R is independently a C 8 -C 18  group. 
     
     
         21 - 25 . (canceled)