The traditional concept of using block copolymer polyol surfactants as emulsifiers and dispersing agents is based on the following assumptions: An optimum pH value has to be between 5.5 to 6.5 to reach a stable emulsion or a stable colloidal suspension The dispersing media must have high affinity with the active ingredient (chiefly organic) and this value is related to the Distribution Coefficient of the active ingredient in such media The emulsion or colloidal dispersion can be obtained only in aqueous systems with hardness values lower than 600 ppm of CaC03 equivalent 'Dispersing media and/or emulsifiers with lowest content of dissolved or suspended particles electrically charged could affect the stability of the emulsion/colloidal dispersion.

This is the case of an aquous dispersing media with content of dissolved salts Small particles with negative charge facilitate the Brownian Movement, therefore stability of the colloidal dispersion/emulsion is assured by repulsion effects 'The physico-chemical characteristics of the active ingredient will be essential to determine a specific hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB). To maintain the stability of a colloidal system/emulsion a very narrow dynamic HLB range value is a must.

Affinities of amphyphylic compounds with a narrow value of Hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) determine a dynamic equilibrium almost specific to disperse an active ingredient into colloidal particle size. According to the chemical structure it is almost always necessary to design an exclusive system for each active ingredient A general colloidal system to be applied to different active ingredients is highly difficult to obtain. The methodology to stabilise colloidal dispersions/emulsions must be done using different surfactant agents selected and mixed by trial and error. The colloidal system must be developed for specific active ingredients always according to the physico-chemical properties of the active ingredients.

General advantages of microemulsion-and suspoemulsion- delivery systems are described in the book chapter on the "Applications of Polyoxyalkylene Block Copolymer Surfactants" by M. W. Edens (in Nonionic Surfactants; Polyoxyalkylene Block Copolymers, ed. V. M. Nace, Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, 1996). It contains a very useful comprehension of the application areas for polyoxyalkylene block copolymer surfactants, which range from agricultural chemicals to detergents to coal and petroleum applications to food to biomedical and veterinary. In section V. for example several known agricultural applications of polyalkylene block copolymer surfactants are summarized.

However it is apparent, that in all disclosures the surfactant composition has been developed specifically for a certain application or a narrow range of applications for specific active ingredients.

The US-Patent 5'074'905 (HoECHST AG) describes a herbicidal suspoemulsion wherein the aqueous phase contains linuron, isoproturon, diuron or chlortoluron and the organic phase contains trifluralin and pendimethalin as herbicidally active ingredients. The organic phase contains surfactants like ethylene oxide/propylene oxide polymers (MW 1'000 to 20'000).

Suitable solvents for the organic phase are aromatic hydrocarbons like xylene, toulene or mixtures of (C6-C16)- aromatics. The aqueous phase additionally contains wetting agents, antifoaming agents, antifreeze and alumosilicates.

A herbicidal emulsifiable concentrate composition is described in the US-A-5'270'286 (AMERICAN CYANIMID Co.). The active ingredients are an imidazolinyl acid, 2,6- dinitroaniline derivatives and an alkylarylsulfonic acid.

Amongst the further ingredients are a ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer and alkylphenol polyethylene oxide condensate emulsifying agents and antigelation agents. Organic solvents are selected from the groups of aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbon solvents and mixtures thereof.

A biocide activator that can be used with herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and plant growth regulators is disclosed in the US-A-4'481'900 (KAO CORP.). The activator is produced by adding propylene oxide alone or together with ethylene oxide, to a mixture of fatty acid triglycerides and a polyhydric alcohol under conditions effective to cause addition polymerization. The described biocidal compositions contain the biocide, the activator, aromatic hydrocarbons as organic solvents and alkylbenzene sulfonate and at least two different polyoxyethylene compounds as emulsifiers. Numerous examples for specific compositions of the different activators, solvents, emulsifiers and even dispersants adapted to be used with specific biocides are given. For each biocide a specific activator has to be produced. It is necessary to use a specific blend of solvent and emulsifier or dispersant for each biocide-activator combination. Each emulsifier composition comprises o a mixture of three different compounds.

Summary of the invention The object of this invention is to create a non-toxic emulsifiable colloid concentrate composition to overcome the limitations of known emulsifiable colloid concentrate compositions as stated above.

It is therefore one of the objectives of the invention to create Emulsifiable Colloid Concentrate Compositions (ECCs) which allow to refute the optimal pH range value of 5.5 to 6.5. Using the novel Emulsifiable Colloid Concentrate Compositions stable colloidal dispersions/emulsions can be prepared in almost all ranges of values for pH. The colloidal dispersions are stable irrespective of the chemical profile of the active ingredient. A colloidal system can be prepared with alcaline or acidic values at both ends of the pH scale, such as solutions of H2SO4 5% (ca. pH 1) and NaOH 4% (ca. pH 13).

It is a further objective of the present invention that dispersing media/emulsifiers with low contents of dissolved or suspended electrically charged particles do not affect the stability of the colloidal dispersion/emulsion. This is the case of an aquous dispersing media with content of dissolved salts or even in higher levels of hardness. It is possible to prepare a colloidal dispersion applying the ECC (even with hardness levels >10000 ppm CaCO3). Certain fertilizer applications with solution of concentration close to 30,000 ppm can be formulated with the new ECC.

A further objective of the invention is an increased affinity to a wide range of active ingredients. In the field of hydrophile-lipophile balance by organic affinities, an organic active ingredient which is soluble or affin to different organic media can be dispersed in a broad range of media applying the ECC. In other words active ingredients with HLB values ranging from 0 (standard oleic acid; lipophylic media) to HLB 20 (standard refence water, hydrophyllic media) can be stabilised as colloidal dispersion/emulsion.

It is a further objective of the present invention to allow for a decrease in the amount of adjuvant and/or formulation agent necessary per ha treated area in agricultural pesticide applications compared to the known adjuvants, e. g. as described above.

In experimental field conditions a volume of 30-60 ml ECC is sufficient per ha treated area. It is sufficient to obtain colloidal dispersion/emulsion with dilution properties of 1: 200. This value is much greater than the values of the traditional applications of 1: 80 which are only reached with best dilution capacities.

The ECC according to the present invention also allows to prepare colloidal dispersions/emulsions of non-compatible active ingredients which allows them to be applied simultaneously.

As a summary of above mentioned novel features, ECC allow to increase the statistical probability for the active ingredient to work specifically in a superior area coverage.

This means that the ECC according to the present invention is facilitating by this way contact area, penetration, translocation of the active ingredient in a minimum amount.

The motion of the active ingredients through different biological layers (different HL characteristics) is therefore facilitated by the ECC based on it's possibility to form invert or true emulsions according to the respective HLB value of the contact surface or the layer that has to be penetrated and crossed. This is especially important in agricultural, cosmetic and medical applications.

The ECC can be used in form of a concentrated premix with a minimal addition of solvent (e. g. water or oil) containing the active ingredients and using afterwards water as a diffusion and transport media for the colloidal system. This allows the end-user, for example a farmer to obtain a small amount of ECC and use it subsequently with a wide range of commercially available pesticides, fertilizers or other agrochemicals. In addition, the ECC protects the active ingredient from contact with impurities present in the water or oil used as solvent, which could otherwise inhibit the transport of the active ingredient as a colloidal particle/micelle.

The ECCs have the following additional advantages : they are non-corrosive, non-imflammable, non-explosive and neither acidic a nor alcaline. Another major advantage compared to most of the known adjuvants or surfactant systems is the ECCs non-toxicity. The ECCs consist only of biodegradable raw materials meeting the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) general profile with the pertinent advantages for environment, animals and humans.

All igredients used in the composition of the ECC are classified in the lowest category of toxicity as GRAS. This means that they are all classified as inert materials which are safe for humans, animals and the environment.

Detailed description of the invention The non-toxic Emulsifiable Colloid Concentrate Composition according to the invention comprises i) 9.8 to 18.2% of a poly (oxypropylene) poly (oxyethylene) block copolymer; ii) 8.4 to 15.6% aliphatic alcohols Ce to Cis ; iii) 66 to 82% of a diluent carrier comprising vegetable based saturated oils or mixtures thereof; and white mineral oil.

The poly (oxypropylene) poly (oxyethylene) block copolymer is preferably produced by reacting a-butyl-o-hydroxy- poly (oxypropylene) poly (oxyethylene) block copolymer with a molecular weight ranging from 2200 to 3800 in mixture with aliphatic C8 to Cis alcohols.

The alcohols used for the reaction are preferably aliphatic C8 to C18 alcohols or mixtures thereof.

It has been shown, that suitable cosolvent vegetable oils are selected from the group of cotton, soybean or corn oils or mixtures thereof.

Epoxidized linseed or soybean oil has been shown to be especially suitable for producing the emulsifiable colloid concentrate compositions.

The detailed composition according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is as follows: -Alpha-butyl-omega-hydroxypoly (oxypropylene) block polymer with poly (oxyethylene), with a molecular weight of 2200-3800, reacted in mixture with nonyl, decyl, undecyl and dodecyl alcohols and related reaction products (primarily decanol and undecanol characterised as an aqueous-based soluble liquid 50-65% solids content and 15 to 20% secondary alcohol isomers ; -Vegetable oil from cotton, soybean and corn as co- solvents Castor oil, polyoxyethylated (average content 20-35 moles) carrier. Cosolvent mixture epoxidized linseed/soybean oil; and -Diluent carrier: paraffinic-based oil/mixture of selected vegetable oils Table 1 : The ECC comprises according to a further preferred embodiment the following (per liter; expressed at 20°C) : Active Ingredients (Principal Functioning Agents) g % w/v Active Ingredient I.

Block copolymer of polyethylene and polypropylene glycol 128.8 14.0 CASNumber'9003-11-6 Range of molar EO content about 5 to 20 Active Ingredient II.

C8-C18 alcohols 110. 4 12.0 CAS Number 69013-18-9 Alcohol C-chain distribution by weight, approximately : C8 <1.5% C10 75-89% C12 5-12% C14 4-10% C16 <1% C18 <1% TOTAL Active Ingredients 239.2 26.0 Inert Ingredients Epoxidised Soybean oil CAS Number 8013-07-8 To adjust HLB <0.9 <5% value Soybean oil CAS Number 8001-22-7 To adjust HLB, <4.6 <15% value White mineral oil CAS Number 8042-47-5 To balance >675. 3 >80% TOTAL Inert Ingredients 680.8 74.0 <BR> <BR> <BR> TOTAL 920 100 Pesticide applications Applying between 30 to 80 ml/ha of the ECC are enough to reduce the amount of active ingredient necessary for effective treatment up to 50% when compared to the traditional commercial dosage necessary per hectare.

Up to now more than 50 different commercially available formulated agrochemical products were tested with the ECC in several crops such as maize, wheat, barley, rice, potatoes, banana, oil palms, coffee, sugar cane, soybean, deciduous fruits, vegetables and flowers. The products tested covered a broad range of commercial herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and nematicides.

Different types of commercial herbicides as formulated products with very different chemical properties were tested, such as glyphosate, 2,4-D-propanil and many others. In the field of insecticides organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids and others formulated as commercial products were used in field trials.

The ECC increases not only the contact action by an increased affinity to the plant surface or the animal cuticle, but also ensures better penetration and higher translocation of the active ingredients. For insecticides the ECC is especially advantegeous when used with systemic products. First by transporting the active ingredient to the target compartments of the plant and second by facilitating the transport of the insecticide to the target organs in the insect. Some of the mixtures tested under field conditions are listed below in the following tables: Table 2: Crop MIxture Dose/Ha : ECBPC dos : Oil Palm Glyphosate/Ally 750ml/8g 40ml Folar 4,5 l 30ml Karmex/Ansar 920g/920g 30ml Karmex/Basta 920g/577ml 30ml Glyphosate/Karmex1 l/500g 30ml Kamex/Gramoxone 696g/500ml 30ml Table 3: Crop Mixture Dose/Ha ECBPC dose Soya Bean Pre-emerg Zencor/Dual 900g/1,71 40ml Post-emerg Verdiet 800ml 40ml Agil 1 ! 0 1 40ml Fusilade 1,0 l 40ml Cobra 1,0 l 40ml Flex 1 ! 0 ! 40m Table 4: Crop Mixture Dose/Ha ECBPC dose Soya Bean Insecticides Lorsban 1,0 l 30ml Thiodan 1,0 l 30ml Dipterex 1,0 l 30ml Cidial 1,0 l 30ml Methavin 250g 30ml The doses of the pesticides listed in the Tables 1 to 3 correspond to 70 to 80 % of the regular commercial dose for agrochemicals tested. Field results of above mentioned mixtures showed weed or insect control between 80 to 100% when compared to control groups treated with the regular commercial dose. Thus it was clearly demonstrated, that the amount of pesticide necessary for efficient pest control can be reduced by at least 20% when the ECC is added. This reduction in applied pesticide results not only in great financial savings for the farmer, but also in a corresponding reduction of the environmental risks caused by the pesticides.

In the following examples some preferred uses for the ECC according to the preferred embodiment as shown in table 1.

Example 1: Preparation of herbicidal concentrate compositions TESTCROP: RICE PRODUCT: Arsenals IMAZAPYR (HERBICIDE) DOSE: 300 ml/ha P. C. + 40 ml/ha ECC COMMENTS: This product has a long persistance in soil, not recommended for use in agriculture areas. When applied, it requires intensive follow-up and experience. A wrong application can have a negative impact on coming germinations. It is used in first burnt.

Example 2: Preparation of herbicidal concentrate compositions TESTCROP: RICE PRODUCT: Allyo METSULFURON methyl DOSE: 12-15 g/ha P. C. + 40 ml/ha ECC COMMENTS: This product requires good humidity conditions. It is also not compatible with oxifenoxis. When presence of susceptible weeds is high, its activity can be enhanced in tank-mix with 250 ml/ha Actril.

Example 3: Preparation of insecticidal compositions PRODUCT: Lorsbano (clorpyrifos; O, O dimethyl 0- (3, 5,6- trichloro-2-pyridyl) phosphorothioate) DOSE: 1.0 1/ha + 30 ml/ha ECC Example 4: Preparation of fungicidal concentrate compositions TESTCROP: RICE PRODUCT: BIM (FUNGICIDE) DOSE: 200 g/ha + 40 ml/ha ECC COMMENTS: Excellent control of piriculariae at this reduced dose.

Example 5: Enhancement of herbicide efficacy in winter barley Standard and reduced dosages of herbicides in combination with ECC were tested under field conditions in winter barley.

Following products were tested: Ralon Super (Fenoxaprop-P 63.60 g/l + mefenpyr 75 g/1), Hoestar (Amidosulferon 750 g/1) and Pointer (Tribenuron 723.20 g/1). The results obtained demonstrated the same activity of the commercially recommended dose rates and of the dose rates reduced by 30 and 50% in combination with ECC.

Example 6: Enhancement of glyphosate efficacy in oil palm Glyphosate is the main herbicide to control the gulma weed (Imperata cylindrica) one of the most important weeds in oil palm fields of Indonesia. Field trial was carried out with the objective to reduce the glyphosate (Round-up 480 AS) application rates by adding the ECC. The results obtained demonstrated the same activity of both the commercially recommended dose rate and the dose rate reduced by 50% in combination with ECC.

Example 7: Enhancement of herbicide efficacy in rice fields Experimental rice plots of 25m2 each were treated with full dosage of 4 different herbicides as well as with dose rates reduced by 30% in combination with ECC. The efficacy was evaluated on 6 major weed species: Echinochloa crusgalli, Leptochloa chinensis, Paspalum distichum, Cyperus difformis, Fimbristylis milicae and Marsiselea quadrifolia. The herbicides tested were: Sirius (pyrazosulfuron-ethyl), Whip-S (fenoxaprop-P-ethyl), Tiller-S (2,4-D), and Clincher (cyhalofop-butyl).

The weed control and the rice yield were evaluated.

The results obtained demonstrated the same activity of the commercially recommended dose rates and of the dose rates reduced by 30% in combination with ECC.

Example 8: Enhancement of nematicide efficacy in flower fields Experiments were carried out on a flower farm with Trimaton (metam-sodium) acting as soil fumigant. The full recommended dose of 800 1 per ha was compared with 50% reduced dose in mixture with 80 ml ECC per ha. The results obtained demonstrated the same activity of both the commercially recommended dose rate and the dose rate reduced by 50% in combination with ECC.

Example 9: Enhancement of fungicide efficacy in potatoes Influence of ECC on Shirlan (fluazinam) and Curzate M (cymoxanil/mancozeb) against Phytophtora infestans in potatoes was tested. The recommended dose rates of the fungicides were compared with dose rates reduced by 30% and 60%, but in combination with Greemax at 0.1% concentration.

The results obtained demonstrated the same activity of the commercially recommended dose rates and of the reduced dose rates in combination with ECC.

Example 10: Enhancement of fungicide efficacy in rice fields Experimental rice plots of 25m2 each were treated with full dosage of 4 different fungicides as well as with dose rates reduced by 30% in combination with ECC. The efficacy was evaluated against Blast, Sheath blight, and gain discoloration. The following fungicides were tested: Fuji-one (isoprothiolane), Rovral (iprodione), Anvil (hexaconazole) and Tilt (propiconazole).

The disease control and the rice yield were evaluated.

The results obtained demonstrated the same activity of the commercially recommended dose rates and of the reduced dose rates in combination with ECC.

Example 11: Enhancement of insecticide efficacy in rice fields Experimental rice plots of 25m2 each were treated with full dosage of 4 different insecticides as well as with dose rates reduced by 30% in combination with ECC. The efficacy was evaluated against Brown Plant Hopper and stem borer-2 major rice pests in Far East Asia. The following insecticides were tested: Applaud (buprofezin), Trebon (etonfenprox), Fastac (alpha-cypermethrin), and Sherpa (cypermethrin).

The results obtained demonstrated the same activity of the commercially recommended dose rates and of the reduced dose rates in combination with ECC.

Example 12: Enhancement of insecticide efficacy in maize fields Experimental rice plots of 25m2 each were treated with full dosage of 4 different insecticides as well as with dose rates reduced by 30%. The efficacy was evaluated against cutworm and stem borer. The following insecticides were tested: Sumicidin (fenvalerate), Padan (cartap), Lannate (methomyl), and Sherpa (cypermethrin).

The results obtained demonstrated the same activity of the commercially recommended dose rates and of the reduced dose rates in combination with ECC.

Further agricultural applications In addition to the above mentioned pesticides plant nutrients and plant hormones can also be delivered to their sites of action by formulating them with the ECC according to the present invention.

Mixtures An preferred way of applying the pesticides or plant nutrients emulsified with the block copolymer of polyethylene and polypropylene glycol in mixture with C8 to C18 alcohols and organic oils according to the present invention is spraying. All ingredients of the ECC are classified as GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) by the EPA and the product is unlikely to present acute hazard in normal use (WHO Class III). The precautions to be taken when preparing the mixtures are therefore mainly governed by the pesticide to be applied.

The ECC is perferably delivered in the following pack sizes: 1 1 for 20-30 ha, 0.5 1 for 10-15 ha, and 120 ml for 2.5-4 ha.

Tank mixes can be made by 1)-mixing a small amount of water with the full amount of ECC and thereby forming a so called colloidal delivery system - adding the full amount of the commercial pesticide - agitation - adding enough water to reach the complete volume - agitation ; or by 2)-mixing a small amount of water with the full amount of the commercial pesticide - agitation - adding the full amount of ECC - agitation - adding enough water to reach the complete volume.