Alkyl Polyglycosides-New Solutions for Agricultural Applications

Alkyl polyglycosides have been known and available to agricultural formulators for many years. There are at least four characteristics of alkyl glycosides recommended for agricultural use。

First, there are the excellent wetting and penetrating properties. Wetting performance is critical to the formulator of dry agricultural formulations and spreading on plant surfaces is essential to the performance of many pesticides and agricultural adjuvants.

Second, no nonionic other than alkyl polyglycoside exhibits comparable tolerance for high concentrations of electrolytes. This property opens the door to applications which were previously inaccessible to typical nonionics and in which alkyl polyglycosides provide the desired properties of nonionic surfactants in the presence of highly ionic pesticides or high concentrations of nitrogen fertilizer.

Third, alkyl polyglycosides with a certain range of alkyl chain length do not exhibit the inverse solubility with increasing temperature or “cloud point” phenomenon characteristic of alkylene oxide based nonionic surfactants. This removes a significant formulation constraint.

Last, the ecotoxicity profiles of alkyl polyglycosides are among the most environmentally friendly that are known. The risk in their use near critical locations, such as surface waters, is greatly reduced in relation to alkylene oxide based nonionic surfactants.

One of the most important developments in the recent history of herbicides has been the introduction of several new classes of products that are post-applied. Post application occurs after the desired crop has germinated and is in the early growth stages. This technique allows the farmer to specifically identify and target the offending weed species instead of following the preemergent route which seeks to anticipate what might happen. These new herbicides enjoy very low application rates thanks to their high activity. This use is economical of weed control and favorable to the environment.

It has been found that the activity of many of these post-applied products is potentiated by the inclusion in the tank mix of a nonionic surfactant. Polyalkylene ethers serve this purpose quite well. However, the addition of nitrogen-containing fertilizer is also beneficial and often herbicide labels recommend, indeed specify, the use of both adjuvants together. In such salt solutions,a standard nonionic is not well tolerated and can “salt out” of solution. Beneficial advantage can be taken of the superior salt tolerance of the AgroPG surfactants series. Concentrations of 30% ammonium sulfate can be added to 20 % solutions of these alkyl polyglycosides and remain homogeneous.Two percent solutions are compatible with up to 40% ammonium sulfate.Field trials have shown the alkyl polyglycosides to provide the desired adjuvant effects of a nonionic.

The combination of the properties just discussed (wettability, salt tolerance, adjuvant and compatibility) provides an opportunity to consider combinations of additives that can produce multiple functional adjuvants. Farmers and custom applicators are in great need of such adjuvants because they eliminate the inconvenience of measuring and mixing several individual adjuvants. Of course, when the product is packaged in a predetermined quantity in accordance with the labeling recommendations of the pesticide manufacturer, this also reduces the possibility of mixing errors. An example of such a combination adjuvant product is a petroleum spray oil including methyl ester or vegetable oil and an adjuvant for a concentrated nitrogen fertilizer solution compatible with alkyl polyglycosides. The preparation of such a combination with sufficient storage stability is a formidable challenge. Such products are now being introduced to the market.

Alkyl glycoside surfactants have good ecotoxicity. They are extremely gentle to aquatic organisms and are completely biodegradable. These characteristics are the basis for these surfactants to be widely recognized under the US Environmental Protection Agency regulations. Regardless of whether the goal is to formulate pesticides or adjuvants, it is recognized that alkyl glycosides provide functions with minimal environmental and handling risks with their choices, making the choice more and more comfortable formulations.

AgroPG alkyl polyglycoside is a new, naturally derived, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly surfactant with a series of performance characteristics, which is worthy of consideration and use in advanced formulations of pesticides and agricultural auxiliary products. As the world seeks to maximize agricultural production while minimizing adverse effects on the environment, AgroPG alkyl polyglycosides will help ensure this result.