Microfibrillated cellulose as rheology modifier in high ionic strength agricultural formulations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11358905-B2
Application number	US-202016751423-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2020
Priority date	Jan 25, 2019
Publication date	Jun 14, 2022
Grant date	Jun 14, 2022

Abstract

Described herein, inter alia, is a concentrate including a high ionic strength liquid and a microfibrillated cellulose, and methods of making the same.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A composition comprising:
a chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose;
a medium having a high ionic strength;
optionally an agriculturally active compound; and
optionally a biostimulant;
wherein the composition exhibits thixotropy, and wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is processed using high shear conditions, optionally using a wetting agent, a dispersant, or combinations thereof.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the high ionic strength of the medium is provided by one or more ions having a concentration of at least about 5% of saturation level.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the high ionic strength of the medium is provided by one or more ions having a concentration of at least about 10% of saturation level.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the high ionic strength of the medium is provided by one or more ions having a concentration of at least about 20% of saturation level.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the high ionic strength of the medium is provided by one or more ions having a concentration of at least about 50% of saturation level.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the high ionic strength of the medium is provided by one or more ions having a concentration at about 100% of saturation level.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the high ionic strength of the medium is provided by one or more ions having a concentration above 100% of the saturation level and undissolved material is suspended in the composition.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the medium having high ionic strength comprises a fertilizer.

9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the medium having a high ionic strength comprises the agriculturally active compound as an ionic salt.

10. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the ionic salt is selected from the group consisting of glufosinate, glyphosate, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and 2-methoxy-3,6-dichlorobenzoic acid.

11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the agriculturally active compound is present.

12. The composition of claim 11 , wherein the agriculturally active compound is in the form of a particulate.

13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the particulate is a solid particle of the agriculturally active compound.

14. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the particulate is a capsule suspension of the agriculturally active compound.

15. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the particulate is a suspension concentrate of the agriculturally active compound.

16. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the particulate is an emulsion concentrate of the agriculturally active compound.

17. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the particulate is a liquid particle of the agriculturally active compound.

18. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the particulate is a gel of the agriculturally active compound.

19. The composition of claim 11 , wherein the agriculturally active compound comprises at least one of a pesticide, a bactericide, an algaecide, a nematicide, a fungicide, a larvicide, an insecticide, an herbicide, an herbicide safener, a plant growth regulator, a plant activator, a synergist, an acaricide, a molluscicide, a repellant, a biostimulant, or a micronutrient.

20. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is present in a dry matter weight concentration from about 0.01% to about 5%.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is present in a concentration from about 0.01% to about 1% on a dry weight basis.

22. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the wetting agent, the dispersant, or combinations thereof is present.

23. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is processed prior to mixing with the medium having a high ionic strength.

24. A composition comprising:
a fertilizer; and
a chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose; wherein an amount of fertilizer present in the composition imparts a high ionic strength, and wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is processed using high shear conditions, optionally using a wetting agent, a dispersant, or combinations thereof.

25. The composition of claim 24 , wherein the wetting agent, the dispersant, or combinations thereof is present.

26. The composition of claim 24 , wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is present in a dry matter weight concentration from about 0.01% to about 5%.

27. The composition of claim 24 , wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is processed prior to mixing with the fertilizer or to mixing with the fertilizer.

28. A method comprising:
mixing a fertilizer with a chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose to form a mix-ready fertilizer adjuvant, wherein an amount of fertilizer present in the adjuvant imparts a high ionic strength, and wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is processed using high shear conditions, optionally using a wetting agent, a dispersant, or combinations thereof.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is present in a concentration from about 0.01% to about 5%.

30. The method of claim 28 , further comprising adding an agriculturally active ingredient to the mix-ready fertilizer adjuvant.

31. The method of claim 28 , wherein the fertilizer is a fertilizer concentrate.

32. The method of claim 28 , wherein the wetting agent, the dispersant, or combinations thereof is present.

33. The method of claim 28 , wherein the chemically unmodified microfibrillated cellulose is processed prior to mixing with the fertilizer.

Assignees

• Amvac Chemical Corp

Inventors

• Lopez Humberto Benito
• Zeni Lisiane

Classifications

• C08L1/02

  Cellulose; Modified cellulose · CPC title

• C05G5/27

  Dispersions, e.g. suspensions or emulsions · CPC title

• C05B15/00 Primary

  Organic phosphatic fertilisers (bone meal C05B17/00) · CPC title

• C05G5/35

  Capsules, e.g. core-shell · CPC title

• C05G3/60

  Biocides or preservatives, e.g. disinfectants, pesticides or herbicides; Pest repellants or attractants · CPC title