Carriers for pesticides and process for forming adherent pesticide film

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns drying oil containing carriers forming polymerizable films usable in pesticides, and adherent pesticides containing the carriers and having controllable properties. The invention also covers a process for forming pesticides containing the carrier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In modern plant protection, it is an important aspect that the substances applied should reach the desired effect with the least environmental load. Therefore, it is highly important to facilitate the absorption of the active substances applied and maintain their effect over a sufficiently long period of time. Since, after their application, plant protection chemicals are frequently made ineffective by environmental effects. From among the numerous environmental effects, the leaching by rain, hydrolytic processes and light effects are considered to be the ones that most adversely affect the desired result. This is the reason why, in addition to the primer properties of a given active substance, the role of formulations prepared by colloidal, physical or chemical developments is becoming ever more appreciated. The interdisciplinary application of different technical fields is similarly important. As adherence enhancers different mineral oil derivatives, such as paraffin oils and vaseline oils, have been used for a long time. However, from an environmental point of view these compounds are becoming decreasingly acceptable. Additionally, during rains these compounds are significantly re-emulged and leached out and can cause also burning. The use of fat of animal origin might have public health consequences.

Drying oils have been used for a long time in the paint industry and in corrosion protection. Drying oils bind the protecting pigments (such as, ferric oxide red, organic pigments, etc.) to metal or other surfaces to be protected, by which a hard and wear-resistant layer can be formed.

The Hungarian Patents Nos. 223091 and 223092 relate to pesticide formulations with improved shelf-life and higher efficiency, which in compliance with the main claim, contain organic or inorganic fungicide agent; plant oils, preferably rapeseed or sunflower oil, as adjuvant; TMTD (tetramethyl thiuram disulfide) as antioxidant; lecithin and other additives. These formulations significantly differ from the pesticide formulations of the present invention in that they compulsorily contain TMTD. TMTD is a strong antioxidant which is added by the authors to prevent rancidity and to improve storage-life. However, TMTD significantly slows down the polymerization processes therefore no good quality film can be formed in its presence. Accordingly, polymerization or film formation was not observed for these compositions and no such process was mentioned in the above cited documents.

Hungarian Patent Application No. P0600108 describes compositions having improved effect and photostability and they contain different fungicide agents, plant oils, preferably rapeseed or sunflower oil, further mineral oil, lecithin, as well as light absorbers and other substances. Mineral oils, which do not polymerize under environmental conditions, are also compulsorily present in these formulations. Formulations used in the experiments disclosed in the description contained mineral oils and plant oils in a ratio from 1:1 to 1 :3. In such ratios drying oils are not capable of forming solid films. Accordingly, no polymerization or formation of a well-adhering solid film layer is described in this document and no such processes can be inferred from its contents.

The aim of the inventors' study was to develop a pesticide formulation which, after its application to leaf surfaces or to other plant surfaces, irreversibly converts to a protective film thereby increasing its efficiency.

The above mentioned aim is accomplished by using a carrier containing drying oils of plant origin. Consequently, in the nature the pesticide formulation converts to a solid film resulting in an improved plant protection effect.

Pesticide formulation containing the film-forming carrier elaborated by the present inventors or the coating layer formed therefrom facilitates the absorption and controls the release of the active substance while it does not block the metabolic processes of the plant, such as water and ion absorption and desorption, and gas exchange.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the discovery that drying oils go through polymerization in open air, as a consequence they become solid. This property can be readily utilized in pesticides which, after their application as oils or oil-water suspoemulsions to the plant or to its surrounding, will solidify to form a film coating in a few hours or within a day and thus a pesticide having improved efficiency and good adhesion properties is obtained.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a polymerizable, film-forming carrier which can be used in pesticides.

The invention concerns carriers for use in pesticides, wherein the carrier contains a drying or semi-drying plant oil as film forming oil, and optionally lecithin and a non-drying or just slightly drying plant oil as consistence adjusting oil.

In certain embodiments of the invention the drying or semi-drying oil is selected from the group of sunflower oil, soybean oil, pumpkin-seed oil, poppy seed oil, walnut oil, cotton seed oil, linseed oil, hemp seed oil, grape seed oil, sesame oil, tree oil or a mixture thereof; and the non-drying oil or slightly drying oil is selected from the group of rapeseed oil, palm oil, olive oil, castor oil or a mixture thereof.

Furthermore, the invention concerns such pesticides which contain the film-forming carrier of the invention, and optionally one or more active substances and additives commonly used in the manufacture of pesticides.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the pesticide is a well adhering pesticide having controllable properties.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the pesticide is a pesticide with controllable consistence, controllable solubility, which releases the active substance in a controllable manner, facilitates absorption, delays oxygen absorption from the air and/or shows antioxidant effect.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the pesticide optionally contains one or more fungicide agents selected from but not limited to the following ones: elementary sulfur, copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride, copper oxide, basic copper sulfate, captan (N-(tri- chloromethylthio)-tetrahydro-phtalamide), tebuconazole ((RS)- 1 -p-chlorophenyl-4,4- dimethyl-3-(lH-l,2,4-triazol-l-ylmethyl)-pentan-3-ol), thiophanate methyl (dimethyl-4,4'-(o- phenylene)-bis(3-thioallophanate)).

In the embodiments of the invention, the pesticide of the invention is, for example, a spray, a pesticide suspoemulsion, a seed dressing or a wash oil composition.

Additionally, the invention provides a method suitable for forming a polymerized pesticide film, the process comprising applying the pesticide of the invention to the application area and by exposing plant oils present in the carrier to the impact of environmental oxygen, allowing them to polymerize for a few hours or for a day, to obtain a polymerized pesticide film.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the pesticide film of the invention is formed on a plant or on its roots, stem or leaf, or on the seeds or on the soil or on any other culturing media.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention relates to a carrier forming a solidifying film which can be used in pesticides. This carrier contains a drying or semi-drying plant oil as a film-forming oil, and optionally lecithin and optionally a non-drying or just slightly drying plant oil as consistence adjusting oil. The inventors discovered that the carriers of the invention merely by being exposed to natural environmental oxygen and without separate initiating substances being added to them, they convert to a solid film layer and form a well-adhering film of controllable properties, on the surface. By the application of these carriers in pesticides, the pesticides form a well- adhering, solid film coating on the treated area, such as plants.

In certain embodiments of the invention the drying or semi-drying oil is selected from the group of sunflower oil, soybean oil, pumpkin-seed oil, poppy seed oil, walnut oil, cotton seed oil, linseed oil, hemp seed oil, grape seed oil, sesame oil, tree oil or a mixture thereof; and the non-drying or slightly drying oil is selected from the group of rapeseed oil, palm oil, olive oil, castor oil or a mixture thereof.

The drying oils used as film-forming substance in the carrier of the invention is preferably sunflower oil or linseed oil but not limited to them.

The consistency of the film layer can be adjusted according to the projected application of the formulation of the invention. For this, along with the film-forming oil, a non-drying or slightly drying oil, such as rapeseed oil can be used.

The active substance-dissolving capacity of the film layer can be controlled by the addition of transesterified plant oils and optionally other solvents.

In the embodiments of the invention, the pesticide of the invention is in the form of, for example, a spray, a pesticide suspoemulsion, seed dressing or wash oil composition. However, the pesticide of the invention can be utilized in several fields of agrochemistry.

By the application of the formulations of the invention, a significant improvement in efficiency and a prolonged duration of effect can be reached. The solidifying film binds the contact pesticides to the surface and facilitates the absorption of systemic pesticide active substance. Additionally, the properties of the forming coating can be altered in a wide range in accordance with the properties of the given pesticide, or the fertilizer used for a given plant or soil.

Due to the covering effect of the film and its oxygen absorption delaying effect as well as the natural antioxidant effect of the plant oils, the pesticide comprising the film-forming carrier of the invention provides enhanced protection for the active substances sensitive to environmental oxygen.

The carrier of the invention optionally comprises plant lecithins as an emulsifier. The lecithin is a compound with antioxidant activity. In the food industry and the pharmaceutical industry the lecithin is widely used as a preservative and emulsifier as well as a stabilizing agent. The inventors unexpectedly discovered that in spite of its above mentioned properties, lecithin does not inhibit the polymerization processes of drying oils or film formation, therefore it can advantageously be used in the film-forming carrier of the invention. In the presence of lecithin an even, thin, and weather-proof film will form relatively quickly, i.e. within a few hours or in a day. Due to its antioxidant effect, the lecithin protects the formed film and inhibits unwanted processes, such as rancidity, and protects oxygen-sensitive active substances.

Plant lecithin that can be used in the carrier of the invention is for example soy lecithin or rapeseed lecithin, and certain commercially available formulations contain the respective plant oil, such formulation is, for example, Lecico F600 IPM mentioned in the examples.

In the formulations of the invention the mass ratio of the drying oil and the non drying oil is preferably maximum 3:1, and the mass ratio of lecithin to plant oils is in the range from about 1 :5 to about 1 : 100, preferably from 1 :20 to 1 :30.

The pesticide formulation of the invention may be in the form of emulsion or suspoemulsion.

The suspoemulsion formulations may contain 5 to 30 % by weight, preferably 15 to 20

% by weight film-forming oil as film-forming carrier; 0 to 8 % by weight film consistency- adjusting oil and 0.3 to 3 % by weight lecithin emulsifier; and 1 o 5 % by weight, preferably 2 to 3 % by weight ethoxylated fatty acid emulsifier.

As an active substance, the suspoemulsion formulation comprises one or more fungicides selected form the group of elementary sulfur, copper hydroxide, captan, tiophanate methyl, and tebuconazole. From among these the following combinations are preferred: sulfur/copper hydroxide, sulfur/tiophanate methyl/tebuconazole, copper hydroxide/- tebuconazole.

Besides the active substance and the carrier of the invention, the suspoemulsion formulation may comprise certain additives, such as emulsifier, antifoaming agent, tixotropizing agent, pH adjuster, pH stabilizer; dispersing agents, viscosity adjusting and protecting colloid, bactericide, antifreezer, loosener, solvent, and it is frequently applied, supplemented with water. In the suspoemulsions of the invention e.g. a modified ethoxylated fatty acid (such as the one commercialized under the name of Emulsion AG 18C) or an ethoxylated fatty acid (such as Alkamuls VO/2003) may be used as emulsifier; the antifoaming agent could be e.g. an aqueous silica emulsion (such as Emulsion RD); the tixotropizing agent could be e.g. a mineral additive (such as Attagel 50); the pH adjuster could be e.g. citric acid monohydrate; the pH stabilizer could be e. g. calcium carbonate (such as Violet chalk); the dispersing agent could be e.g. an ethoxylated tristyrylphenol phosphate (such as Soprophor FL), polyarylphosphate ester amine salt (POE, such as Emulson AG TRST), condensed alkyl naphthalene sulfonate (such as Madeol MW or Supragil MNS/90), ligninsulfonate ammonium salt (such as Borresperse AM 320) or polycarboxylate (such as Geropon T/36); the viscosity-adjusting and protecting colloid could be e.g. the xanthan gum (such as Keltrol AP); the bactericide could be e.g. sodium benzoate; the antifreezer could be e.g. a monopropylene glycol; the loosing agent could e.g. a silica additive (Sipernat 880); the trans-esterified derivatives of plant oils, such as rapeseed oil methyl ester or the sunflower oil methyl ester, are suitable solvents for dissolving the active substance; and as a further solvent e.g. 1 -methoxy propanol can be used.

The formulation of the invention can be in a form of pesticide emulsion, such as e.g. the wash oil compositions demonstrated in the examples. These may comprise a film-forming carrier containing a drying oil and modified ethoxylated fatty acid and lecithin emulsifiers, and a film consistency adjuster. In the pesticide emulsion of the invention about 50 to 90 % by weight of film-forming oil, 0 to 20 % by weight of film consistency adjuster oil, 0 to 7 % by weight of lecithin and 8 to 18 % by weight of modified ethoxylated fatty acid emulsifier may be used as carriers for film formation.

Production of the formulations of the invention

Preparation of emulsifier premix

The required emulsifier premix is such that harmonizes with the other components of the suspoemulsion. In order to prepare this premix, first the lecithin - if used - while continously stirred, is dissolved in the plant oil at 60°C in a temperature controlled duplicator, subsequently the emulsifiers are dissolved. Next the premix is cooled down and transferred into a temporary container. This premix can be used in itself as an emulsifier, such as a wash oil composition.

Preparation of suspoemulsions

Aqueous xanthan gum solution containing sodium benzoate is prepared. The swelling or solubilization of this is a time-consuming process.

Simultaneously, in a temperature-controlled duplicator equipped with a stirrer the dispersants are dissolved in a mixture of propylene glycol and water under continuous stirring, then the salt-type compounds and sodium benzoate are added. Subsequently, a part of the xanthan gum solution is added and stirred thoroughly. The active substances are added to the mixture stepwise and suspended by intense stirring. Mineral additives, an antifoaming agent and - when a seed dressing agent is prepared - powder color is mixed to it, finally the oily emulsifier premix is gradually added under intense mixing, and the mixture is passed through a disaggregator.

Grinding procedures

Pre-grinding is performed in mills with emery discs in two steps. The suspoemulsion is feed through continuously operating in-line mills at a specified speed by using monopumps. The mills are equipped with a water-cooling jacket. After pre-grinding the particle size of the material is smaller than about 50 to 70 μηι.

Fine grinding is achieved through one or more feeds in a bead water-cooled mill, where the grinding media is glass or ceramic beads with a size of 1 to 3 mm. In the suspoemulsion present in the grinding space the strong and fast stirrer of the mill keeps the beads moving. Due to the collision of the grinding media and its abrasive effect, the solid phase is ground to particles with an average size of 2 to 4 μηι. After grinding, the suspoemulsion is transferred into a tank, where the xanthan gum solution is added under intense stirring to adjust the viscosity of the product. Then anti-foaming agent is added and the exact active substance content is adjusted with a small amount of water.

Subsequent to sample drawing and inspection, the product prepared in such a way will be packed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 : Electron microscopic image of a dried and polymerized spray droplet from formulation BVN-1 sprayed to an aluminum foil. In the droplet several thousand of fixed active substance particles are visible in 50-fold magnification.

Figure 2: Electron microscopic image of formulation BVN-1 on an aluminum foil, in 1000-fold magnification.

Figure 3: The image of the above sample in 3000-fold magnification.

Figure 4: The image of formulation BVN-2 sprayed on an aluminum foil, in 3000-fold magnification.

Figure 5: The image of formulation BVN-2 sprayed on a leaf, freeze-dried and coated with gold.

Figure 6: The image of formulation BVN-2 on the surface of a living leaf, no gold coating, in 1000- fold magnification.

Figure 7: The image of a particular part of the above formulation, in 2000-fold magnification.

Figure 8: The image of an area near the previous part, in 5000-fold magnification. Figure 9: The image of formulation BVN-2 on a living leaf in 1000-fold magnification. Figure 10: The image of a smaller part of the above leaf surface in 4000-fold magnification.

Figure 11 : The image of the edge of a living grass in the original condition, with no gold coating or spray, in 500-fold magnification.

Figure 12: Image of formulation BVN-1 spray dried and coated with gold on a glass slide, in 35-fold magnification.

Figure 13: Image of droplets of various size present on another area of the above glass slide, in 200-fold magnification.

Figure 14: Image of formulation BVN-1 spray droplet coated with gold, on a glass slide, in 2000-fold magnification.

Figure 15: Image of formulation BVN-1 spray droplet coated with gold, on a glass slide, in 2500-fold magnification.

Figure 16: The image of the above gold-coated glass slide in 2500-fold magnification. Figure 17: The image of the above gold-coated glass slide in 5000-fold magnification.

Figure 18: The image of formulation BVN-2 sprayed on a glass slide, coated with gold, in 1000-fold magnification.

Figure 19: The image of formulation BVN-3 droplets on a glass slide coated with gold, in 35-fold magnification.

Figure 20: Image of a part of the area shown above, in 250-fold magnification.

Figure 21 : Image of the same area, in 1000-fold magnification.

Figure 22: Image of the BVN-4 spray droplet coated with gold, on a glass slide, in 200- fold magnification.

Figure 23 : An image of the edge of a larger droplet of the above preparation, in 200- fold magnification.

Figure 24: The image of individual oil droplets present in the area between the spray droplets of formulation BVN-4, in 200-fold magnification.

Figure 25: The image of figure 23 in 500-fold magnification.

Figure 26: Comparative light microscopic image showing formulation BVN-2 on the right side of the screen.

The following examples illustrate the invention. EXAMPLES

Example 1

Sulfur - copper-hydroxide suspoemulsion

Component Composition (% by weight) ventilated elementary sulfur 23.0

Cu(OH) ₂ 11.5

Emulsion RD (aqueous silicone emulsion) 0.8

Attagel 50 (tixotropizing agent) 0.5-1.0 citric acid monohydrate 0.2-0.4

Emulson AG 18C (modified ethoxylated fatty acid) 2.0-3.0

Emulson AG TRST (POE, polyaryl phosphate ester amine salt) 1.5-2.5

Keltrol AP (xanthan gum) 0.05-0.1

Madeol MW (condensed alkyl naphthalene sulfonate) 0.6-1.5 sunflower oil 15.0-23.0 rapeseed oil 0-8.0

Na-benzoate 0.03-0.08 monopropylene-glycol 3.0-7.0

Sipernat 22 (silica additive) 0.2-0.9

Lecico F600 IPM (plant lecithin) 0.3-1.0 water to 100

Example 2

Sulfur - copper-hydroxide suspoemulsion

Component Composition (% by weight) ventilated elementary sulfur 15-30

Cu(OH) ₂ 6-15

Emulsion RD (aqueous silicone emulsion) 0.8

Attagel 50 (tixotropizing agent) 0.5-1.0 citric acid monohydrate 0.2-0.4 Emulson AG 18C (modified ethoxylated fatty acid) 2.0-3.0

Emulson AG TRST (POE, polyaryl phosphate ester amine salt) 1.5-2.5

Keltrol AP (xanthan gum) 0.05-0.15

Madeol MW (condensed alkyl naphthalene sulfonate) 0.6-1.5 sunflower oil 15.0-23.0 rapeseed oil 0-8.0

Na-benzoate 0.03-0.08 monopropylene-glycol 3.0-7.0

Sipemat 22 (silica additive) 0.2-0.9 Lecico F600 IPM (plant lecithin) 0.3-1.0 water to 100

Example 3

Captan suspoemulsion

Component Composition (% by weight) captan 31.0

Emulsion RD (aqueous silicone emulsion) 0.5-1.0

Geropon T/36 (polycarboxylate) 1.0-3.0

Emulson AG 18C (modified ethoxylated fatty acid) 1.0-3.0

Emulson AG TRST (POE, polyaryl phosphate ester amine salt) 1.0-4

Keltrol AP (xanthan gum) 0.05-0.15 monopropylene-glycol 3.0-9.0

Violet chalk (calcium carbonate) 2.0-4.0 sunflower oil 5.0-20.0 rapeseed oil 0-8.0 Na-benzoate 0.02-0.1

Sipernat 880 (silica additive) 1.0-2.5

Lecico F600 IPM (plant lecithin) 0.3-3.0 water to 100

Example 4

Captan suspoemulsion

Component Composition (% by weight)

Captan 18-40

Emulsion RD (aqueous silicone emulsion) 0.5-1.0

Geropon T/36 (polycarboxylate) 1.0-3.0 Emulson AG 18C (modified ethoxylated fatty acid) 1.0-3.0

Emulson AG TRST (POE, polyaryl phosphate ester amine salt) 1.0-4

Keltrol AP (xanthan gum) 0.05-0.15 monopropylene-glycol 3.0-9.0

Violet chalk (calcium carbonate) 2.0-4.0 sunflower oil 5.0-20.0 rapeseed oil 0-8.0

Na-benzoate 0.02-0.1

Sipernat 880 (silica additive) 1.0-2.5 Lecico F600 IPM (plant lecithin) 0.3-3.0 water to 100

Example 5

Copper suspoemulsion

Component Composition (% by weight) Cu(OH) ₂ 13.0-30.0

Emulsion RD (aqueous silicone emulsion) 0.3-1.2

Attagel 50 (mineral additive) 0.5-2.0 citric acid monohydrate 0-1.4

Emulson AG 18C (modified ethoxylated fatty acid) 1.5-4.0 Emulson AG TRST (POE, polyaryl phosphate ester amine salt) 1.5-3.0

Keltrol AP (xanthan gum) 0.02-0.1

Madeol MW (condensed alkyl naphthalene sulfonate) 0.5-2.0 monopropylene-glycol 3.0-9.0 linseed oil 12.0-21.0 rapeseed oil 0-8.0

Na-benzoate 0.02-0.1

Lecico F600 IPM (plant lecithin) 0.3-2.0

Sipernat 22 (silica additive) 0.3-1.3 water to 100

Example 6

Copper hydroxide suspoemulsion (formulation BNV-1)

Component Composition (% by weight)

Cu(OH) ₂ 24.0

Emulsion RD (aqueous silicone emulsion) 0.8

Attagel 50 (mineral additive) 1.5 citric acid monohydrate 0.8

Emulson AG 18C (modified ethoxylated fatty acid) 2.9

Emulson AG TRST (POE, polyaryl phosphate ester amine salt) 2.0

Keltrol AP (xanthan gum) 0.04 Madeol MW (condensed alkyl naphthalene sulfonate) 0.8 monopropylene-glycol 6.0 sunflower oil 20.4

Sodium benzoate 0.04

Sipernat 22 (silica additive) 0.8

Lecico F600 IPM (plant lecithin) 0.72 water to 100

Example 7

Copper hydroxide suspoemulsion

Component Composition (% by weight)

Cu(OH) ₂ 15-35

Emulsion RD (aqueous silicone emulsion) 0.5-1.2

Attagel 50 (mineral additive) 0.5-1.8 citric acid monohydrate 0.3-1.2 Emulson AG 18C (modified ethoxylated fatty acid) 2.0-5.0

Emulson AG TRST (POE, polyaryl phosphate ester amine salt) 1.3-3.0

Keltrol AP (xanthan gum) 0.02-0.1

Madeol MW (condensed alkyl naphthalene sulfonate) 0.5-1.5 monopropylene-glycol 3.0-9.0 sunflower oil 15,0-28.0 rapeseed oil 0-8.0

Na-benzoate 0.02-0.1

Sipernat 22 (silica additive) 0.5-1.5

Lecico F600 IPM (plant lecithin) 0.3- 1.5 water to 100

Example 8

Sulfur - tiophante methyl - tebuconazole suspoemulsion (formulation BVN-2)

Component Composition (% by weight)

Soprophor FL (ethoxylated tristyrylphenol phosphate ) 2.0

1,2- propylene glycol 4.6

Supragil MNS/90 (condensed alkylnaphtalene sulfonate) 1.5

Borresperse AM 320 (Ammonium Lignosulfonate ) 0.7 sodium benzoate 0.04

Keltrol AP (xanthan gum) 0.12 ventilated elementary sulfur (99.9%) 36.04 tiophanate methyl (97%) 6.19 tebuconazole (97%) 3.10

Siperaat 22 (silica additive) 0.30 sunflower oil 17

Alkamuls VO/2003 (ethoxylated fatty acid) 2.4

Lecico F600 IPM (soy lecithin) 0.6

Geronol FF4 (blends) 0.8

Emulsion RD (aqueous silicone emulsion) 0.8 ion exchanged water to 100

Reference example 9

Sulfur - thiophanate methyl - tebuconazole suspension (formulation BVN-3)

The formulation of example 8, but without sunflower oil.

Example 10

Seed dressing suspoemulsion

Component Composition (% by weight)

Cu(OH) ₂ 13.0-30.0 tebuconazole 1.0-8.0

Emulsion RD (aqueous silicone emulsion) 0.4-1.5 Emulson AG 18C (modified ethoxylated fatty acid) 1.0-3.5

Emulson AG TRST (POE, polyaryl phosphate ester amine salt) 1.0-4.0

Keltrol AP (xanthan gum) 0.02-0.1 monopropylene-glycol 3.0-10.0

Borresperse AM 320 (ammonium lignosulfonate ) 1.0-4.0 Na-benzoate 0.02-0.1 citric acid monohydrate 0.3-1.2

Versalred F6 RT (marking dye) 0.8-4.0

Lecico F600 IPM (plant lecithin) 0.3-1.5

Sipernat 22 (silica additive) 0.2-1.0 sunflower oil 10.0-30.0 rapeseed oil 0-8.0 water to 100 Example 11

Wash oil composition (formulation BVN-4)

Component Composition (% by weight) sunflower oil 85.0

Emulson AG 18C (modified ethoxylated fatty acid) 12.0

Lecico F600 IPM (plant lecithin) 3.0

Example 12

Wash oil composition

Component Composition (% by weight) sunflower oil 50-90 rapeseed oil 0-20

Emulson AG 18C (modified ethoxylated fatty acid) 8-18

Lecico F600 IPM (plant lecithin) 1 -7

Example 13

Wash oil composition

Component Composition (% by weight) sunflower oil 78 rapeseed oil 10

Emulson AG 18C (modified ethoxylated fatty acid) 12

Electron microscopic examinations

For studying surface structures, scanning electronmicroscope was used. This device allows monitoring the activity of sprays even on leaf surfaces, i.e. provides an opportunity to detect the presence of a certain active substance (such as captan, copper (II) hydroxide etc.) and to examine the quality of the films fixing them. Each preparation method provides for the monitoring of a different property. Therefore, the properties of the coating can be planned on observational basis.

Electron microscopic studies were performed on formulations of example 6 (BVN-1), example 8 (BVN-2), example 9 (BVN-3) and example 11 (BVN-4). As a control, leaves present in naturally occurring form were used with no spraying. Images were taken in scanning mode with an accelerating voltage of 25 kV in most cases.

Figure 1 shows an electron microscopic image of a dried and polymerized spray droplet of formulation BVN-1 (oily formulation containing copper hydroxide active substance) sprayed to an aluminum foil. In the droplet several thousand of fixed active substance particles are visible in 50-fold magnification. Figure 2 shows an electron microscopic image of formulation BVN-1 on an aluminum foil, in 1000-fold magnification. The layer is thicker on the edge of the droplet, therefore it is more visible. In this magnification it is significantly visible that the solidified oil film ruptures in vacuum thus facilitating the release of a small amount of volatile components. Curved and round holes characteristic to elastic materials are visible with having no ruptures in them.

Figure 3 shows the image of the previous sample in 3000-fold magnification, where solid particles of the active substance can be seen through the layer and the round holes mentioned above are also highly visible.

Figure 4 shows the image of formulation BVN-2 (oily formulation with three active substances) sprayed on an aluminum foil, in 3000-fold magnification. The particles show through the solidified oil layer (with no gold coating on it) having a slightly diffuse borderline inasmuch as the electron beam penetrated the exceptionally fine layer and where there is a clearer vision into the depth of the solidified oil layer, the holes having faint but clearly visible rims come into view. These holes are clearly visible above the particles and they are definitely of round shape.

Figure 5 shows the image of formulation BVN-2 sprayed on a leaf, then freeze-dried and coated with gold. Due to the gold coating, this sample is absolutely impenetrable, however the surface appears sharply and with high contrast in the image. Since the fibrous and veinose plant surface became dehydrated and shrunk because of freeze-drying, the lamellar surface layers coming off from the plant surface can be observed. In this 500- magnification image the particles of the active substance seem to be very small.

Figure 6 shows the image of formulation BVN-2 on the surface of a living leaf, with no gold coating, 1000-fold magnification. The image shows the cells forming the plant skin and a stomata, furthermore, it also depicts the dried spray containing the active substance particles which is present in the grooves between cells. The oil film is hardly visible in this image (no gold coating was applied), however the appearance of the surface is more natural.

Figure 7 shows an accentuated part of the previous picture in 2000-fold magnification.

Figure 8 shows an area near to previous part, in 5000-fold magnification. In this image, which was taken of a living leaf with no gold coating film on it, film-like structures appearing around the particles can already be observed.

Figure 9 shows the image of formulation BVN-2 of a living leaf in 1000-fold magnification. In this image a part of a relatively large dried spray drop is visible between the plant leaf cells and the microvessels. Here the layer is thick and its rupture at the bend of the leaf blade is clearly visible, while at the same time sediment of the film- forming composition binding together the particles of the active substance can also be observed.

Figure 10 shows the image of a smaller part of the above leaf surface in 4000-fold magnification. Although this preparation contains a living leaf surface with no gold coating applied on it, the thin film layer containing small holes is also visible at the interface of the plant surface and the particle of active substance.

Figure 1 1 shows the image of the edge of a living grass in its original condition, with no gold coating or spray on it, in 500-fold magnification.

Figure 12 shows the image of the spray of formulation BVN-1 dried and coated with gold on a glass slide, in 35-fold magnification. The image shows a uniform particle distribution present in the droplets. Furthermore, it is visible that due to the effect of surface tension, particles already with a size of about 100 micron or smaller form a circle.

Figure 13 shows the image of droplets of various sizes present in another area of the above glass slide, in 200-fold magnification. In this image, in the various sized droplets the active substance particles are individually visible and it can also be observed that the edges of the droplets became thicker when dried and the smaller droplets are of round shape. Relative to the those mentioned above, it is an observation of great significance that simultaneously with the decrease in spray droplets the number of particles falls rapidly. If the drops are suitably small, only one single particle of active substance or a single drop of oil can be found in the spray drop. In such cases, when the water has evaporated, individual active substance particles and individual oil drops should be visible on the slide. This image depicts the above case really well. These small droplets are formed in such way that the high speed collisions result in small droplets, even micro droplets are formed from the spray drops, and these small droplets will also adhere to the surface. This is clearly visible in figure 22 and also on the left side of figure 26 (image taken with Projectina light microscope).

Figure 14 shows an image of formulation BVN-1 spray droplet coated with gold, on a glass slide, in 2000-fold magnification. The image shows a smaller spray droplet with a size of approximately 50 μπι containing numerous but a countable number of particles of the active substance. Thickening is also clearly visible on the edge of this droplet and outside the spray droplet an individual dried oil droplet can be found on the glass surface.

Figure 15 shows an image of formulation BVN-1 spray droplet coated with gold, on a glass slide, in 2500-fold magnification. This image is taken of a larger droplet and the coating at the edge of the droplet can be better observed. The film connecting the particles is clearly visible here. Figure 16 shows the image of the above gold-coated glass slide in 2500- fold magnification. Here, the film connecting droplets and several holes in the film can also be observed. Additionally, an individual, dried oil drop with a size of approximately 10 μπι is also visible in this image.

Figure 17 shows the image of the above gold-coated glass slide in 5000-fold magnification. Here, the sediment-like polymer film covering the active substance particles are clearly visible on the edge of the droplet. Here, the characteristic features of the film may be observed the best.

Figure 18 shows the image of the spray of formulation BVN-2 sprayed on a glass slide, coated with gold, in 1000- fold magnification. In this image a polymer film binding the active substance particles together in the droplets, and on other parts of the glass slide, several solitary oil drops can be seen.

Figure 19 shows the image of the spray droplets of formulation BVN-3 (oil free spray with three active substances) on a glass slide, coated with gold, in 35-fold magnification (the composition of BVN Novenyvedo ft.). The image shows a uniform particle distribution present in spray droplets. Here it is also visible that the smaller droplets are of circular shape.

Figure 20 shows an image of a part of the area of the previous image, in 250-fold magnification, where a smaller number of particles are present in the small droplets and a few particles of active substance also appear. However, no traces of oil drops can be observed.

Figure 21 shows the image of the same area in 1000-fold magnification. Since the applied formulation does not contain any film-forming substances but it comprises water- soluble dispersants which do not evaporate in vacuum, these dispersants become highly concentrated at the edge of the droplet. The dispersants constitute a rigid layer and due to its shrinkage during drying, on the rigid surface of the glass a characteristic fracture pattern is formed. This phenomenon can mainly be observed with large drops.

Figure 22 shows an image of a dried, polymerized spray droplet of the formulation BVN-4 (emulsifier- containing oily formulation) on a glass slide, coated with gold, in 200-fold magnification. The gold-coated glass slide facilitates the study of the oily additive layer in itself. In the middle of the image a larger spray drop is visible together with the surrounding small oil drops. The contrast of both this and the following photograph is smaller, however the image is characteristic. Considering the fact that this is a preparation which contains no active substance, the ratio of oil is about 5-times higher in this spray droplet compared with other samples. Therefore, the number of isolated oil drops is relatively high. Figure 23 shows an image taken of the edge of a larger droplet of the above preparation in 200-fold magnification. Besides the spray droplet, the separate oil drops are clearly visible, although the partly gelatinized oil drops confluently cover the surface in the large spray droplet, but their adjacent edges are still detectable. This is the first phase of the polymerization process.

Figure 24 shows the image of individual oil droplets present in the area between the spray droplets of formulation BV -4 in 200-fold magnification. Details inside big-sized droplets are not visible since the actual contrast and illumination were adjusted to small droplets. In this case a completely polymerized and solidified sample was coated with gold.

Figure 25 shows the image of figure 23 in 500-fold magnification. In this image a multitude of droplets can be seen. Droplets freshly sprayed to the glass slide were initially in a liquid state, then they lost their water content and became polymerized while keeping their shape. Thus, these droplets are composed of polymer macromolecules, which are in the form of film, therefore they do not evaporate in a vacuum as small molecules do, and their surface can be coated with gold. The smoothness of the glass surface enables these small elevations to be seen. A scanning electronmicroscope is perfectly capable of scanning the gold-coated surface, although in this case the contrast is very poor.

Figure 26 shows a comparative image taken with a traditional light microscope (Projectina). On the left side of the comparative image visibly rough dried spray droplets of commonly used Ken WG (Sulfur WG) is shown, where due to its big mass, the edge of the droplet has a thick and wide rim. On the right-hand side of the field the dried droplet of the formulation according to example 8 (BVN-2, oily formulation with three active substances) can be observed. In relation with this it should be noted that various adjuvants are used in several products. Here, it is clearly unnecessary. The image clearly shows that the sample spray is of a fine-droplet consistency even without the application of any adjuvant.