surfactants that improve the stability of agrichemical seed treatment ...

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/195,481 filed Jul. 22, .

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Non-pesticide formularies for seed treatments generally include material such as surfactants, humectants, fillers, and polymers that influence the treated seed characteristics. In an effort to provide seeds pretreated for the purpose of resisting pests and insects, various means have been employed to bind the active ingredient to the seed in such a way that allows even and predictable loading onto the seed. Further, the bound ingredient must be reasonably active, usually over a period of time and over a given space around the seed which means the ingredient must be released in a generally predictable manner. Seed treatments for these purposes have been developed. However, many such seed treatments have yet to adequately address the problem of “dusting off” which occurs as the seeds are transported, poured, and applied while maintaining the desired characteristics of the specific application. A new seed treatment was needed that could address both the dusting off issues as well as provide a vehicle for accurately binding active ingredient to the seed, and releasing it as needed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The practice of treating seed with pesticide formulations is well known. Fungicides and Insecticides are applied to crop seeds separately or in combination to protect them from pests in the soil and throughout the early growing stages. Four types of formulations are widely used;

1. aqueous flowables (suspension concentrates) which typically include aqueous concentrated compositions of solid particulate water insoluble substances which flow as viscous liquids;

2. wettable powders, which, when mixed with water do not dissolve but, instead, form a suspension; and

3. granular form which may include water dispersible granules or extruded granules; and

4. water dispersible granules which are like wettable powders except instead of being dust-like, they are formulated as small, easily measured granules which are mixed with water to be applied or may be applied dry with water applied secondly. Once in water, water dispersible granules break apart into fine particles similar to wettable powders. If mixed with water, a water-dispersible granular formulation typically requires constant agitation to keep the granules suspended in water. The percentage of active ingredient can be high, sometimes as much as 90 percent by weight. Water-dispersible granules share many of the same advantages and disadvantages of wettable powders except they are more easily measured and mixed, and pose less inhalation hazard to the applicator during handling.

In common circumstances, pesticide formulations for seed treatments are mixed together with one another in addition to binding agents, flow agents, and colorants. Binding agents are used to cause the formulation to bind together upon drying on a surface to which the formulation is applied, similar to paint. Whereas, flow agents are additives included in powdered or granulated material to prevent the formation of lumps (caking). Water-soluble polymer coatings, water-insoluble but water-sensitive seed coatings that disintegrate when contacted with water, and non-phytotoxic polymer-based film coatings which may or may not also include lubrication are known. Seed treatments may even include plant seed-binding protein. These types of formulations may be commonly known as “Custom Blends.” Under 40 CFR Subchapter E Part 167 Subpart A 167.3, Custom Blends are referred to as a mixture containing pesticides made to a customer's specifications. A Custom Blend usually comprises a pesticide(s)-fertilizer(s) mixture, a pesticide-pesticide mixture, or a pesticide-animal feed mixture.”

When blending and producing Custom Blends, several issues arise from highly loaded active ingredient concentrations of several suspension concentrate, wettable powder, and granular formulations. These highly loaded concentrations result in high percent weight by weight solids which, in turn, may cause incremental increase in viscosity and decreased stability. Both commercial seed treatment formulations and Custom Blends of increased viscosity require the use of specialized and mechanically diversified equipment in order to move, package, and evenly apply the seed treatments. Appropriate handling and pumping of formulations, Custom Blends and slurries becomes critical to ensure uniform seed coverage.

Although seed treatment is applied to the seeds in a manner that encourages the treatment to adhere to the seed, application is not perfect and various conditions can affect the level of adherence to the seed. Those conditions include; the level of moisture in the storage area or during application, the length of time the treated seed is stored, the manner of seed handling, and, of course, the properties of the seed treatment itself. A certain amount of the treatment will invariably become dissociated from the seed and become what is referred to as “dust off”. The rate at which this occurs per kernel is referred to as “dusting off” or the “dust off rate”

An issue relating to Custom Blends and/or the viscous liquid agrichemical compositions applied as seed treatments has arisen in recent years. There is a perception that the use of the Neonicotinoid class of insecticides is linked to the bee pollinator colony collapse around the world. As a result, a standard “dust off rate” has been broadly accepted based upon The EUROPEAN COMMISSION HEALTH AND CONSUMERS DIRECTORATE-GENERAL Directorate E—Safety of the food chain Unit E.3—Chemicals, contaminants, pesticides, SANCO// rev. 8 Mar. . This document contains information on the European Union allowable level of seed treatment dust and establishes 0.75 grams/100,000 kernels of maize as an upper acceptable level. In the U.S., this level has been widely accepted and is the base target for dusting off formulation improvements.

There is, therefore, a demand for higher quality seed treatment formulations and custom blends that do not have a high viscosity, are more stable, have less dust off and are not phytotoxic to the seed.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention concerns liquid agrichemical compositions for use as or in conjunction with seed treatments to achieve improved viscosity, stability, and processes for making such compositions. The compositions contain active ingredients from multiple classes of chemistries with one or more surfactants that reduce the viscosity of formulations and include blends that surprisingly lead to reduced viscosity, improved stability, and handling. The novel inventive compositions have proved to have a lower and acceptable viscosity, improved stability, and improved suspension properties in dilution. Furthermore, these surfactants have unexpectedly reduced seed dust off, especially with Neonicotinoid Insecticides.

The subject invention pertains to providing seed treatments having improved: viscosity profile, stability and seed safety of liquid pesticide formulations, which comprise the following:

• • 1. At least one surfactant that reduces the viscosity profile, increases the stability, and retains germination rates of the seed when used at between about 0.10% and about 10.00% w/w. The surfactants preferably do not cause independent physical or biological damage to seed.
  • 2. A formulation or Custom Blend of one or more pesticides that are in the form of a suspension concentrate, wettable powder or granule and contain an active ingredient content of 0.50-99.00% w/w which contain the surfactant at between about 0.10% and about 10.00% w/w. Optionally, other additives such as polymers, colorants, fertilizers, or bio-stimulants may be combined with the seed treatment custom blend. Co-emulsifiers and/or additional surfactant may also be included.
  • 3. Seed dust off around or, preferably, below 0.75 grams/100,000 kernels of maize, especially with the Neonicotinoid Insecticides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 Example structures of surfactants suitable for use with the inventive seed treatment

FIG. 2 Example structures of surfactants suitable for use with the inventive seed treatment;

FIG. 3 Example structures of surfactants suitable for use with the inventive seed treatment;

FIG. 4A-4D Example structures of surfactants suitable for use with the inventive seed treatment;

FIG. 5A-5D Example structures of surfactants suitable for use with the inventive seed treatment;

FIG. 6A-6D Example structures of surfactants suitable for use with the inventive seed treatment;

FIG. 7A-7C Example structures of surfactants suitable for use with the inventive seed treatment;

FIG. 8A-8B Example structures of surfactants suitable for use with the inventive seed treatment;

FIG. 9A-9C Example structures of surfactants suitable for use with the inventive seed treatment.

FIG. 10A-10D Example structures of surfactants suitable for use with the inventive seed treatment.

FIG. 11 Example structures of surfactants suitable for use with the inventive seed treatment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention addresses a seed treatment formulation which comprises at least one surfactant. The at least one surfactant (identified in the Figs. as “ALB100”) may include a mixture of polyoxyethylated alkaryls, or mixed alkaryl ethoxylates and, as a particular example, may comprise ethoxylated styrenated phenol alkoxylate, polyarylphenol ethoxylates, ethoxylated polyphenyl ether phosphate and their salts and alkylated tristyrlphenols which are generally referred to as Tristyrylphenol ethoxylates (see exemplary structures at FIGS. 1-11). The surfactant may also consist of or comprise mono-, di-, or tri-styrenated phenols and mixtures thereof. The seed treatment of the present invention comprises lower viscosity than seed treatments without the subject surfactant and exhibits dust off rates well within the accepted limits, all without statistically compromising seed germination rates as shown at Tables 13-23 herein, yet, increasing stability of the seed treatment.

Measurement Methods:

Stability—Stability is defined in the subject invention as a seed treatment formulation/custom blend that exhibits little or no visible bleed layer (i.e. a layer containing little or no suspended or dispersed solid particles) after a specified period of time and the ability of the finished products or blends to be agitated to re-disperse this layer.

Viscosity—Viscosity measurements of exemplary subject seed treatment formulations are presented in Tables 1-12 in Centipoise (cP) and were generated using a Brookfield DV-II+ viscometer. All measurements were taken at 20 C, in a 600 ml glass or stainless steel beaker with the #2 Spindle at 12 Revolutions per minute. Viscosity measurements using these parameters are limited to viscosities of less than cPs. According to this invention, acceptable viscosity readings range from 1 to about cPs. Seed treatment formulations having viscosity higher than about cPs were deemed difficult to handle commercially but, even so, are considered to be within the purview of this disclosure. Tables 1-12 present viscosity.

Method for Agitation—It has become apparent during the research and development underlying this invention that high shear mixing provides the level of agitation and uniform mixing desirable for the subject formulations and custom blends. Means for achieving acceptable uniformity include a Silverson mixer or other means of high shear to adequately disperse, or transport, one phase or ingredient (liquid, solid, gas) into a main continuous phase (liquid), with which it would normally be immiscible.

Evaluating Dust Off—Seed treatment formulations and controls were applied to seed utilizing a Hege batch treater. Two 100 g seed samples were run through the Heubach Dustmeter. Temperature and relative humidity at time of evaluation were recorded and required to fall within a specified range for measurement consistency (control) purposes. A seed count also was performed to determine the mean grams of dust per 100,000 seed. Dust off levels are presented at Table 18 herein.

Examples of Inventive Formulations & Data:

Seed treatment formulations of the present invention reduce viscosity (see Tables 1-12 below and include components as described below in weight by weight expression, with the amount of surfactant as disclosed herein serving as the variable.

The chemical structures of acceptable surfactants of the present invention are shown at FIGS. 1-11. The samples ranged from a control sample with no surfactant up to a little more than 5%, however, the invention contemplates the use of surfactant up to about 10% w/w surfactant. The viscosity and amount of surfactant meeting the characteristics disclosed herein were generally inversely related, as expected. The level of viscosity was measured over time and it was determined that the increase in the viscosity over time in samples where surfactant was present was far less than expected when no surfactant was employed.

TABLE 1 (w/w %) Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4 Sample 5 Fludioxonil 4.0 ST 2.16 2.15 2.14 2.14 2.13 Metalaxyl 4.0 ST 13.48 13.44 13.40 13.38 13.33 T-Methyl ST 7.55 7.53 7.51 7.49 7.47 Imidacloprid 600 ST 43.13 43.01 42.90 42.80 42.67 Keystone Treating Solutions Red 20.22 20.16 20.11 20.06 20.00 Colorant Keystone Solutions Soybean 13.48 13.44 13.40 13.38 13.33 Polymer 604 Surfactant 0.00 0.27 0.54 0.749 1.07 Viscosity (initial) 817 Viscosity (30 days) 950 Viscosity (60 days) 873.3

TABLE 2 (w/w %) Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4 Sample 5 Thiabendazole 4.0 ST 2.28 2.27 2.26 2.26 2.25 Metalazyl 4.0 ST 14.22 14.19 14.15 14.12 14.08 Rancona 3.8 2.42 2.41 2.41 2.40 2.39 Imidacloprid 600 ST 45.52 45.42 45.29 45.17 45.07 Keystone Solutions Red Colorant 21.34 21.29 21.23 21.17 21.13 Keystone Solutions Soybean 14.22 14.19 14.15 14.12 14.08 Polymer 604 Surfactant 0.00 0.23 0.51 0.76 0.99 Viscosity (initial) EEEE EEEE Viscosity (30 days) EEEE EEEE Viscosity (60 days) EEEE EEEE EEEE

TABLE 3 (w/w %) Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4 Sample 5 Sample 6 Sample 7 Fludioxonil 4.0 ST 7.41 7.39 7.37 7.35 7.33 7.25 7.18 Metalaxyl 4.0 ST 46.30 46.17 46.08 45.96 45.83 45.33 44.88 Keystone 46.30 46.17 46.08 45.96 45.83 45.33 44.88 Solutions Red Colorant Surfactant 0.00 0.277 0.461 0.735 1.008 2.085 3.052 Viscosity (initial) 610 640 663 663 670 730 800 Viscosity (30 986.7 986.7 926.7 923.3 days) Viscosity (60 980 983.3 990 923.3 987 days)

TABLE 4 (w/w %) Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Macho 480 ST 65.44 65.28 65.11 64.95 64.78 64.13 63.64 Rizolex 7.62 7.60 7.58 7.57 7.55 7.47 7.41 Metalaxyl 4.0 ST 4.39 4.38 4.37 4.36 4.35 4.31 4.27 Myclobutanil 240 ST 1.10 1.10 1.09 1.09 1.09 1.08 1.07 Azoxystrobin 9.6 FL 2.01 2.01 2.00 2.00 1.99 1.97 1.96 Surfactant 0.000 0.251 0.504 0.748 1.004 2.004 2.752 Keystone Solutions 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.17 1.17 1.16 1.15 Soybean Polymer 604 Acephate 97% 18.25 18.20 18.16 18.11 18.07 17.88 17.75 Viscosity (initial) 963 863 860 972 Viscosity (30 days) Viscosity (60 days) 886.7 910 820 640

TABLE 5 (w/w %) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Metalaxyl 4.0 ST 5.94 5.92 5.91 5.89 5.88 5.82 5.76 5.70 5.64 Fludioxonil 4 L ST 0.24 0.24 0.24 0.24 0.24 0.23 0.23 0.23 0.23 Myclobutanil 11.88 11.85 11.82 11.79 11.76 11.64 11.52 11.40 11.27 240 ST Difenoconazole 5.94 5.92 5.91 5.89 5.88 5.82 5.76 5.70 5.64 3 L ST Macho 600 ST 76.01 75.82 75.63 75.44 75.25 74.49 73.73 72.98 72.15 Surfactant 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 2.00 3.00 3.99 5.07 Viscosity (initial) EEEE EEEE EEEE EEEE EEEE EEEE 897 Viscosity (30 EEEE / / / / / EEEE days) Viscosity (60 EEEE / / / / / EEEE days)

TABLE 6 (w/w %) Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Macho 600 ST 10.87 10.84 10.81 10.79 10.76 10.65 10.54 Difenoconazole 3 L ST 21.74 21.68 21.63 21.58 21.51 21.30 21.09 Metalazyl 4.0 ST 26.09 26.02 25.95 25.90 25.82 25.56 25.31 Thiabendazole 4 L ST 7.39 7.37 7.35 7.34 7.31 7.24 7.17 Keystone Solutions Red 33.91 33.82 33.74 33.66 33.56 33.23 32.90 Colorant Surfactant 0.00 0.26 0.52 0.73 1.03 2.00 2.99 Viscosity (initial) 520 670 Viscosity (30 days) EEEE 750 696.7 756.7 Viscosity (60 days) EEEE EEEE EEEE EEEE EEEE

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TABLE 7 (w/w %) Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Macho 600 ST 15.63 15.59 15.55 15.51 15.47 15.31 15.15 Difenoconazole 3 L ST 31.25 31.17 31.09 31.02 30.93 30.62 30.30 Metalaxyl 4.0 ST 9.38 9.35 9.33 9.31 9.28 9.19 9.09 Thiabendazole 4 L ST 7.81 7.79 7.77 7.75 7.73 7.65 7.58 Rizolex 9.38 9.35 9.33 9.31 9.28 9.19 9.09 Keystone Treating 20.31 20.26 20.21 20.16 20.11 19.90 19.70 Solutions Red Colorant Keystone Solutions 6.25 6.23 6.22 6.20 6.19 6.12 6.06 Soybean Polymer 604 Surfactant 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.74 1.02 2.02 3.03 Viscosity (initial) 980 693 Viscosity (30 days) Viscosity (60 days)

TABLE 8 (w/w %) Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Macho 600 ST 15.63 15.59 15.55 15.51 15.47 15.31 15.15 Difenoconazole 3 L ST 31.25 31.17 31.09 31.02 30.93 30.62 30.30 Metalaxyl 4.0 ST 9.38 9.35 9.33 9.31 9.28 9.19 9.09 Thiabendazole 4 L ST 7.81 7.79 7.77 7.75 7.73 7.65 7.58 Rizolex 9.38 9.35 9.33 9.31 9.28 9.19 9.09 BASF Color Coat Blue 20.31 20.26 20.21 20.16 20.11 19.90 19.70 Keystone Solutions 6.25 6.23 6.22 6.20 6.19 6.12 6.06 Soybean polymer 604 Surfactant 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.74 1.02 2.02 3.03 Viscosity (initial) 943 993 993 Viscosity (30 days) Viscosity (60 days)

TABLE 9 (w/w %) Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Macho 600 ST 15.63 15.59 15.55 15.51 15.47 15.31 15.15 Difenoconazole 3 L ST 31.25 31.17 31.09 31.02 30.93 30.62 30.30 Metalaxyl 4.0 ST 9.38 9.35 9.33 9.31 9.28 9.19 9.09 Thiabendazole 4 L ST 7.81 7.79 7.77 7.75 7.73 7.65 7.58 Rizolex 9.38 9.35 9.33 9.31 9.28 9.19 9.09 BASF Color Coat Green 20.31 20.26 20.21 20.16 20.11 19.90 19.70 Keystone Solutions 6.25 6.23 6.22 6.20 6.19 6.12 6.06 Soybean Polymer 604 Surfactant 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.74 1.02 2.02 3.03 Viscosity (initial) 780 780 800 783 820 770 780 Viscosity (30 days) Viscosity (60 days)

TABLE 10 (w/w %) Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Macho 600 ST 18.05 18.00 17.96 17.91 17.87 17.68 17.50 Metalaxyl 4.0 ST 8.02 8.00 7.98 7.96 7.94 7.86 7.78 Rizolex 7.52 7.50 7.48 7.46 7.44 7.37 7.29 Difenoconazole 3 L ST 18.80 18.75 18.70 18.66 18.61 18.42 18.23 Keystone Treating 22.56 22.50 22.44 22.39 22.33 22.10 21.88 Solutions Red Colorant AMEX 25.06 25.00 24.94 24.88 24.81 24.56 24.31 Surfactant 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 0.99 2.01 3.01 Viscosity (initial) 647 703 773 827 977 Viscosity (30 days) 840 826.7 743.3 723.3 810 Viscosity (60 days) 946.7 856.7 820 756.7 780

TABLE 11 (w/w %) Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Macho 600 ST 31.45 31.37 31.29 31.21 31.13 30.81 30.50 Metalaxyl 4.0 ST 6.71 6.69 6.68 6.66 6.64 6.57 6.51 Rizolex 6.29 6.27 6.26 6.24 6.23 6.16 6.10 Difenoconazole 3 L ST 15.72 15.68 15.64 15.61 15.57 15.41 15.25 Keystone Treating 18.87 18.82 18.77 18.73 18.68 18.49 18.30 Solutions Red Colorant AMEX 20.96 20.91 20.86 20.81 20.76 20.54 20.33 Surfactant 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 2.01 3.01 Viscosity (initial) EEEE EEEE Viscosity (30 days) Viscosity (60 days)

TABLE 12 (w/w %) Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4 Sample 5 Sample 6 Macho 480 ST 26.47 26.01 25.46 37.50 37.00 36.22 Difenoconazole 3 L 22.06 21.68 21.22 15.63 15.42 15.09 Metalaxyl 265 ST 17.65 17.34 16.97 12.5 12.33 12.07 Thiabendazole 4LSTST 5.00 4.91 4.81 3.54 3.49 3.42 Rizolex 8.82 8.67 8.49 6.25 6.17 6.04 Surfactant 2.35 4.05 6.08 2.71 4.01 6.04 Sensient Green/Blue 17.65 17.34 16.97 21.88 21.58 21.13 Viscosity (initial) 720 783 476 686 970 Viscosity (120 days) 510 413 616

Tables 1-12 show measurement of each sample's viscosity three times: initially, at 30 days, and at 60 days or, in the case of Table 12, two times, at 0 and 120 days. Compared to the control which initially measured cPs and at 60 days almost tripled for an increase of 157%, all of the samples of the inventive seed treatment formulations containing surfactant initially measured lower viscosity upon inclusion of the surfactant, but also showed far less increase in viscosity over time. In other words, not only does the surfactant as described herein reduce viscosity, this reduction is retained over storage time far better than when surfactant of the present invention is not employed. Where the surfactant was present at 0.54% the viscosity increased at 60 days by 27% and where the surfactant was present at 1.1 w/w %, the viscosity increased only 7% at 60 days.

Dust-off of the example formulations was also evaluated. Here, corn was treated with three different seed treatments, each said seed treatment comprising a specified level of a surfactant of FIGS. 1-11 and compared with a control comprising corn treated with the seed treatment with no surfactant. See Table 13 below.

TABLE 13 APP RATE SURFACTANT % oz/100 lbs DUST OFF TREATMENT w/w seed g/100,000 seeds Corn Macho 480 0 0 . Corn Macho 480 2 7.5 . Corn Macho 600 0 0 . Corn Macho 600 2.4 6 . Corn Untreated 0 N/A . Corn Cruiser 0 1.33 . Corn Cruiser 1.00 1.34 . Corn Cruiser 2.00 1.35 . Corn Cruise 3.00 1.36 . Corn Cruise 4.00 1.38 . Corn Macho 480 only 0 7.5 . Corn Macho 480 + soprophor4D-360 2 7.5 . Corn Macho 480 + emulsion AG13A 2 7.5 . Corn Macho480 + STEPFAC TSP-PE-K 2 7.5 . Corn Macho600 only 0 6 . Corn Macho 600 + soprophor 4D-360 2.4 6 . Corn Macho 600 + emulsion AG13A 2.4 6 . Corn Macho600 + STEPFAC TSP-pE-K 2.4 6 .

In short, the addition of a surfactant of a structure shown in FIGS. 1-11 markedly reduced dust off. When one of said surfactants was used at 2.0% w/w with Macho 480, dust off compared with dust off of Macho 480 alone was reduced from average 0. to 0. g/100,000 seed; when used at 2.4% w/w with Macho 600 the average dust off reduction was from 0. to 0.; and, finally, when used at several different concentrations with Cruiser average dust off was reduced from 0. with no inventive surfactant included, to 0. at 4.00% w/w surfactant inclusion.

Seed safety was evaluated by conducting warm seed germination testing. Germination rates are summarized below in Tables 14-24. Germination of seed of several crops were compared. Specifically, germination rates of soybeans, corn, lentils, peas, chickpea, wheat, barley, oats, triticale, rice and cotton were studied. Seed treated with a seed treatment including the surfactant of the present invention were compared with seeds treated with a control seed treatment. The data shows no statistical differences in the germination rates of seeds treated with seed treatments of the present invention as compared to those treated with control seed treatment.

TABLE 14 Crop: Soybean Storage Temperature: 25 C. Time Point Initial 7 Day 2 Month Warm Mean Mean Mean Sample Treatment Norm Norm Norm Sample 1 control 96 94 95 Sample 2 Surfactant 0.05 fl oz/100 lbs 96 94 94 Sample 3 Surfactant 0.10 fl oz/100 lbs 96 94 91 Sample 4 Surfactant 0.20 fl oz/100 lbs 96 94 91 Sample 5 Surfactant 0.40 fl oz/100 lbs 96 95 94 Sample 6 Surfactant 1:1 with DI H2O 95 94 95

TABLE 15 Crop: Corn Storage Temperature: 25 C. Time Point Initial 7 Day 2 Month Warm Mean Mean Mean Sample Treatment Norm Norm Norm Sample 1 control 94 95 95 Sample 2 Surfactant 0.05 fl oz/100 lbs 95 96 95 Sample 3 Surfactant 0.10 fl oz/100 lbs 96 95 93 Sample 4 Surfactant 0.20 fl oz/100 lbs 96 95 96 Sample 5 Surfactant 0.40 fl oz/100 lbs 95 95 93 Sample 6 Surfactant 1:1 with DI H2O 94 94 94

TABLE 16 Crop: Lentils Storage Temperature: 20 C. Time Point Initial 7 Day 2 Month Warm Mean Mean Mean Sample Treatment Norm Norm Norm Sample 1 control 79 85 76 Sample 2 Surfactant 0.05 fl oz/100 lbs 82 90 76 Sample 3 Surfactant 0.10 fl oz/100 lbs 81 87 80 Sample 4 Surfactant 0.20 fl oz/100 lbs 80 92 78 Sample 5 Surfactant 0.40 fl oz/100 lbs 80 92 71 Sample 6 Surfactant 1:1 with DI H2O 80 92 75

TABLE 17 Crop: Peas Storage Temperature: 20 C. Time Point Initial 7 Day 2 Month Warm Mean Mean Mean Sample Treatment Norm Norm Norm Sample 1 control 65 61 62 Sample 2 Surfactant 0.05 fl oz/100 lbs 67 62 68 Sample 3 Surfactant 0.10 fl oz/100 lbs 63 62 61 Sample 4 Surfactant 0.20 fl oz/100 lbs 63 62 61 Sample 5 Surfactant 0.40 fl oz/100 lbs 64 61 61 Sample 6 Surfactant 1:1 with DI H2O 64 63 67

TABLE 18 Crop: Chickpea Storage Temperature: 20 C. Time Point Initial 7 Day 2 Month Warm Mean Mean Mean Sample Treatment Norm Norm Norm Sample 1 control 86 86 86 Sample 2 Surfactant 0.05 fl oz/100 lbs 84 88 87 Sample 3 Surfactant 0.10 fl oz/100 lbs 87 87 88 Sample 4 Surfactant 0.20 fl oz/100 lbs 85 88 86 Sample 5 Surfactant 0.40 fl oz/100 lbs 82 90 90 Sample 6 Surfactant 1:1 with DI H2O 81 88 90

TABLE 19 Crop: Wheat Storage Temperature: 20 C. Initial 7 Day 2 Month Warm Mean Mean Mean Sample Treatment Norm Norm Norm Sample 1 control 90 87 91 Sample 2 Surfactant 0.05 fl oz/100 lbs 93 88 95 Sample 3 Surfactant 0.10 fl oz/100 lbs 91 89 93 Sample 4 Surfactant 0.20 fl oz/100 lbs 90 84 94 Sample 5 Surfactant 0.40 fl oz/100 lbs 92 84 90 Sample 6 Surfactant 1:1 with DI H2O 91 80 79

TABLE 20 Crop: Barley Storage Temperature: 20 C. Time Point Initial 7 Day 2 Month Warm Mean Mean Mean Sample Treatment Norm Norm Norm Sample 1 control 99 99 98 Sample 2 Surfactant 0.05 fl oz/100 lbs 98 99 99 Sample 3 Surfactant 0.10 fl oz/100 lbs 99 99 98 Sample 4 Surfactant 0.20 fl oz/100 lbs 97 99 98 Sample 5 Surfactant 0.40 fl oz/100 lbs 97 99 98 Sample 6 Surfactant 1:1 with DI H2O 98 99 98

TABLE 21 Crop: Oats Storage Temperature: 20 C. Time Point Initial 7 Day 2 Month Warm Mean Mean Mean Sample Treatment Norm Norm Norm Sample 1 control 97 99 99 Sample 2 Surfactant 0.05 fl oz/100 lbs 97 99 99 Sample 3 Surfactant 0.10 fl oz/100 lbs 97 98 98 Sample 4 Surfactant 0.20 fl oz/100 lbs 97 97 98 Sample 5 Surfactant 0.40 fl oz/100 lbs 96 97 96 Sample 6 Surfactant 1:1 with DI H2O 97 98 98

TABLE 22 Crop: Triticale Storage Temperature: 20 C. Time Point Initial 7 Day 2 Month Warm Mean Mean Mean Sample Treatment Norm Norm Norm Sample 1 control 89 85 88 Sample 2 Surfactant 0.05 fl oz/100 lbs 88 85 90 Sample 3 Surfactant 0.10 fl oz/100 lbs 85 87 84 Sample 4 Surfactant 0.20 fl oz/100 lbs 85 82 89 Sample 5 Surfactant 0.40 fl oz/100 lbs 87 87 87 Sample 6 Surfactant 1:1 with DI H2O 86 81 86

TABLE 23 Crop: Rice Storage Temperature: 20-30 C. Time Point Initial 7 Day 2 Month Warm Mean Mean Mean Sample Treatment Norm Norm Norm Sample 1 control 87 82 84 Sample 2 Surfactant 0.05 fl oz/100 lbs 85 81 83 Sample 3 Surfactant 0.10 fl oz/100 lbs 81 82 81 Sample 4 Surfactant 0.20 fl oz/100 lbs 83 80 86 Sample 5 Surfactant 0.40 fl oz/100 lbs 83 73 80 Sample 6 Surfactant 1:1 with DI H2O 84 79 81

TABLE 24 Crop: Cotton Storage Temperature: 30 C. Time Point Initial 7 Day 2 Month Warm Mean Mean Mean Sample Treatment Norm Norm Norm Sample 1 control 53 55 73 Sample 2 Surfactant 0.05 fl oz/100 lbs 64 69 83 Sample 3 Surfactant 0.10 fl oz/100 lbs 60 74 76 Sample 4 Surfactant 0.20 fl oz/100 lbs 67 65 64 Sample 5 Surfactant 0.40 fl oz/100 lbs 65 76 84 Sample 6 Surfactant 1:1 with DI H2O 62 67 61

Suitable Surfactants

Suitable surfactants for the subject invention may include a mixture of polyoxyethylated alkaryls, or mixed alkaryl ethoxylates and, as a particular example, may comprise ethoxylated styrenated phenol alkoxylate, polyarylphenol ethoxylates, ethoxylated polyphenyl ether phosphate and their salts and alkylated tristyrlphenols as well as mono- di- and tri-styrenated phenols and mixtures thereof, and perform similarly to a dispersant in agrichemical seed treatment formulations. When incorporated into custom blends, the surfactants suitable for use in the agrichemical seed treatment formulations of the subject invention unexpectedly have an average molecular weight of between 600-, preferably in the -, up to around 2,000 or even higher into the 10,000 range. Most of the range is lower than surfactants used in other commercially employed seed treatments. Further, these surfactants have been observed to be more user friendly and increase the stability of the seed treatment formulation custom blend over time. They contain ethylene oxide chain lengths of anywhere from 5-50 mols, mols, desirably in the 10-20 mol ranges and may be exemplified by the structures shown at FIGS. 1-11. These surfactants contain a solids loading of 40.00-100.00% weight by weight with the balance being either water or a mixture of water and glycols. The surfactants employed in the present invention exhibit HLB ranges from about 6 to about 25. Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance (HLB) is an empirical expression for the relationship of the hydrophilic (“water-loving”) and hydrophobic (“water-hating”) groups of a surfactant. The higher the HLB value, the more water-soluble the surfactant. These surfactants may exhibit hydroxyl values from 30 to 80 and may comprise, but are not limited to a mixture of polyoxyethylated alkaryls, or mixed alkaryl ethoxylates and, as a particular example, may comprise ethoxylated styrenated phenol alkoxylate, polyarylphenol ethoxylates, ethoxylated polyphenyl ether phosphate and their salts and alkylated tristyrlphenols generally referred to as tristyrylphenol ethoxylates. Styrenated phenol ethoxylates comprise characteristics indicating efficacy as a surfactant in the present invention. FIGS. 1-11 shows molecular structure of suitable surfactants.

Examples of surfactants well-suited for use in the present invention may include but are not limited to one or more of the following types of compounds or their equivalents: Soprophor TS/10, Soprophor BSU, Soprophor CY/8, Soprophor S/25, Soprophor S-40, Soprophor TS/60, Soprophor 3D-33, Soprophor 3D-22/LN, Soprophor FLK, Soprophor FL, Soprophor FL-60, Soprophor 4D-484, Soprophor 4D-36 from Solvay; Ethox , Ethox , Ethox , and Ethox from Ethox LLC. Termul and Termul from Huntsman. STEPFAC TSP-PE-K, STEPFAC TSP-PE-N, STEPFAC TSP-PE, MAKON TSP-12, MAKON TSP-16, MAKON TSP-20, MAKON TSP-25, MAKON TSP-40, and MAKON TSP-60 from Stepan. EMULSON AG A, EMULSON AG A, EMULSON AG A, EMULSON AG A, EMULSON AG A, EMULSON AG A, EMULSON AG 8A, EMULSON AG 13A, EMULSON AG 17A, EMULSON AG TRS 204 from Lamberti. Emulsogen TS 100, Emulsogen TS 160, Emulsogen TS 200, Emulsogen TS 290, Emulsogen TS 540, Emulsogen TS 600 from Clariant.

Active Ingredients

The invention is based upon using surfactants meeting the characteristics as disclosed herein in formulations. The formulations may also comprise one or more of a number of active ingredients or agrichemicals, including but not limited to one or more of the following ingredients. Or, the formulations may include one or more of the active ingredients in multiple combinations to create Custom Blends with the active ingredients listed alphabetically below.

Benzimidazole Fungicides—Such as Albendazole, Benomyl, Carbendazim, Chlorfenazole, Cypendazole, Debacarb, Fuberidazole, Mecarbinzid, Rabenzazole, Thiabendazole, Thiophanate, and Thiophanate-methyl.

Dithiocarbamate Fungicides—Such as amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, and ziram.

Neonicotinoid Insecticides—Such as, Acetamiprid, Clothianidin, Dinotefuran, Imidacloprid, Nithiazine, Thiacloprid and Thiamethoxam.

Organophosporus Insecticides—Such as Acephate, Azamethiphos, Azinphos Methyl, Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon, Dichlorvos, Fenitrothion, Malathion, Methyl Parathion, Parathion, Phosmet, Tetrachlorvinphos.

Organophosphorus Fungicides—Such as Ampropylfos, Ditalimos, Edifenphos, Fosetyl, Inezin, Iprobenfos, Izoamfos, Phosdipen, Pyrazopos, Toclofos-Ethyl, and Triamiphos.

Oxathiin Fungicides—Such as Caroboxin and Oxathiin

Phenylamide Fungicides—Such as Metalaxyl, Metalaxyl-M

Phenylpyrrole Fungicides—Such as Dimetachlone, Fludioxonil, Fenpiclonil, and Fluroimide

Phthalimide Fungicides—Such as Captafol, Captan, Ditalimfos, Folpet, and Thiochlorofenphim.

Triazole Fungicides—Such as Azaconazole, Bromuconazole, Cyproconazole, Diclobutrazol, Difenoconazole, Diniconazolke, Etaconazole, Epoxiconazole, Fenbuconazole, Fluquinconazole, Flutriafol, Furconazole, Hexaconazole, Imibenconazole, Ipconazole, Metconazole, Myclonutanil, Penaconazole, Prothioconazole Propiconazole, Tebuconazole, Quinconazole, Simeconazole, Tetraconazole, Triadimefon, Triadimenol, Triticonazole, and Uniconazole.

Strobilurin Fungicides—Such as Azoxystrobin, Coumoxystrobin, Dimoxystrobin, Enoxastrobin, Fenaminstrobin, Flufenoxystrobin, Fluoxastrobin, Mandestrobin, Metominoistrobin, Orysastrobin, Picoxystrobin, and Pyaoxystrobin, Pyraclostrobin, Pyrametostobin, Pyrametostrobin, and Trifloxystrobin.

The present invention comprises a method of treating seeds and a seed treatment formulation. The method comprises treating seeds with a seed treatment formulation that includes at least one agrichemical (active ingredient) and a surfactant. Generally, the at least one agrichemical may include a pesticide, a fungicide, or an insecticide as listed above or a mixture thereof. One method comprises treating seeds with a seed treatment formulation comprising between about 0.10% and about 5% w/w said surfactant. Another employs a formulation comprising between about 0.10% w/w/and about 10% w/w of the surfactant or blend of surfactants of the present invention or a blend comprising at least one surfactant of the present invention and at least one other surfactant or co-emulsifier. The seed treatment of the present invention is formulated so as to minimize dust off. In some embodiments, the seed treatment is applied at a rate of less than 1.5 oz/100 lbs of seed where said seed treatment formula includes between about 1% and about 5% w/w of the surfactant. In another embodiment, an application rate of about 7.5 oz/100 pounds of seed is employed for a commercial seed treatment formula comprising about 2% to about 3% w/w of the surfactant. The method includes seed treatment for providing a level of pesticide protection to the seeds treated without significantly decreasing the seed's expected germination rate as is demonstrated at Tables 14-24. And, finally, the seed treatment of the present invention may be formulated not only to reduce viscosity upon formulation but to retain a lower viscosity over time for ease of use and advantageous storage possibilities (see Tables 1-12).

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects set forth above, together with other advantages, which are obvious and inherent to the seed treatment and method of using the seed treatment. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

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