Formulations, Adjuvants & Drift

• In the Basic Manual

– Formulations - Page 43

– Adjuvants - Page 47

– Drift – Pages 55

Pages 62, 63

What is a Formulation

• How a pesticide is packaged.

• Contains:– Active Ingredient– Inert Ingredient

Types of formulations

• Liquid

– pounds a.i. per gallon

• Dry

– % a.i. per pound

A.I. Chemical properties influences formulation.

Active Ingredients – a.i.

Pesticidal effect

Inert Ingredients

• “Inactive” ingredients mixed with a.i.

• Formulation easier to handle or store.

• Toxic or non-toxic

ANTIFREEZEANTIFREEZE

Liquid Formulations

• EC –emulsifiable concentrate

• S - soluble

• ULV – ultra low volume

• F or FL - flowables

• ME – micro-encapsulated

Dry Formulations

• WP – Wettable powder

• DF – Dry Flowable

• WDG – Water Dispersable Granule

• D - Dust

• P or G – Pellets or Granules

• M or ME – Micro-Encapsulated

Effects of Different Formulations

Formulation Hazards Phytox Equipment Agitate Compatible

WP Inhale Safe abrasive Yes High

DF/WDG Safe Safe abrasive Yes Good

SP Dusts Safe Non-abrasive Some Fair

D Inhale Safe NA NA NA

G or P Inhale Safe NA NA NA

EC Dermal Maybe Seals, gaskets No Fair

F or FL Dermal Maybe abrasive Yes Fair

S Dermal Safe Non-abrasive No Fair

M or ME Dermal Safe Generally ok Yes Fair

Convert a.i. to formulated gallons pg 73

Gallons of FormulatioFormulatio

nn

=active ingredient

lbs. a.i per gallon

0.50 pounds of picloram required

0.50 lbs. A.I.0.25 gallons Tordon™=

2 lbs. A.I. Per gal.

Convert a.i. – dry formulation

Gallons of Formulation

=active ingredient

lbs. a.i per gallon

1 pound of tebuthiuron required

1 pounds A.I.1.25 pounds Spike™=

0.80 a.i. per pound

% a.i per pound

Lbs. Of formulation

COMPATIBILITY TEST

– A small scale test using a 1 quart jar– Proportions

• 1 teaspoon per pint = 1 pint per 100 gallons of water

– Check for lumps, clumps, gunk, goop, glop, heat

Spray Additives

• Carrier – body to formulation–Aids in storage and application–At time of manufacture

• Diluent–Dilutes concentrated formulation–At time of Application

• Solvents –Aid in mixing

•Adjuvants

- Enhance or modify performanceerformance

Adjuvants include:Adjuvants include:

• Acidifiers -neutralize alkaline solutionsAcidifiers -neutralize alkaline solutions• Acidifiers - lower pH.Acidifiers - lower pH.• Buffering agents - stabilize the pH of Buffering agents - stabilize the pH of

spray solutions. spray solutions. • Anti-foaming agents Anti-foaming agents • Compatibility agents Compatibility agents • Deposition aidsDeposition aids• Drift control agents Drift control agents • Emulsification aidsEmulsification aids

• Acidifiers -neutralize alkaline solutionsAcidifiers -neutralize alkaline solutions• Acidifiers - lower pH.Acidifiers - lower pH.• Buffering agents - stabilize the pH of Buffering agents - stabilize the pH of

spray solutions. spray solutions. • Anti-foaming agents Anti-foaming agents • Compatibility agents Compatibility agents • Deposition aidsDeposition aids• Drift control agents Drift control agents • Emulsification aidsEmulsification aids

Surfactants

Reduces Surface Reduces Surface TensionTension

Surface Acting Surface Acting AgentAgent

30-60o

Contact Angle with a surfactant:

* 30 to 60 degrees.

* More leaf surface is covered

Surfactants/wetting agentsNon-ionic Surfactants

•Composed of alcohols and fatty acids

• Non-ionic = no charge • Cationic (+) • Anionic (-) • Reduces surface tension • Improves spreading, sticking and herbicide

uptake• All purpose

OilsCrop Oil Concentrates (COC)

• Blend of paraffin based petroleum oil and surfactants

• Provides penetration characteristics of crop oil and surface tension reducing qualities of the NIS

• Used primarily with grass herbicides

True Seed Oils

• Seed oils(corn, soybean, canola) with an alcohol to form an ester• MSO and ESO• Methylated Seed Oil• Ethylated Seed Oil

More crop friendly than COCs

FERTILIZERS SURFACTANTS

• Improved herbicide performanceImproved herbicide performance• Neutralizes hard water mineral ionsNeutralizes hard water mineral ions• Ammonium sulfateAmmonium sulfate• Adjust pH Adjust pH

– more herbicide is transported into the plant.more herbicide is transported into the plant.

– 2,4-D2,4-D

– Pursuit (imazethapyr)Pursuit (imazethapyr)

– Poast (sethoxydim) Poast (sethoxydim)

• Used primarily with broadleaf herbicides.Used primarily with broadleaf herbicides.

Water Quality

• pH (alkalinity)

• Hard Water

• Dirty Water

Water Quality

• Alkaline Hydrolysis – effect of high pH

• Organophosphate and carbamate pesticides degrade in pH >7.

Organophosphates

• Malathion/Parathion

• Dorsban/Lorsban

• Diazinon

Carbamates

• Sevin

•Lannate

Water Quality – Low pH

• pH 5-7 is optimum for most herbicides.

• Acid Hydrolysis

• Sulfonyl Urea herbicides degrade in acidic environments.– Ally and Escort

• Most sulfonyl ureas are stable in pH > 7.9

Water Quality – Hardness

• Hard Water –Ca+ and mg+

– ppm or grains

– Affect salt-based herbicides – Roundup, 2,4-D.

O-CH2-C-O- NaCl

Cl

Ca2+

Salt-based herbicide or a surfactantCalcium replaces the sodium

Different 2,4-D’s & Hard Water

Form of 2,4-D Stability in Hard Water*

• Di-ethyl amine Fair

• K, Na salts Poor

• Esters Good

Formulations, Adjuvants & Drift

• In the Basic Manual

– Formulations - Page 43

– Adjuvants - Page 47

– Drift – Pages 55

Pages 62, 63