U.S. patent application number 10/646928 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-03 for ph colour indicator for use with agricultural compounds.
This patent application is currently assigned to NutriAg Ltd.. Invention is credited to Bloomberg, Martin David, Houston-McMillan, Mark Stewart.
Application Number | 20050048665 10/646928 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34216450 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050048665 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bloomberg, Martin David ; et
al. |
March 3, 2005 |
pH colour indicator for use with agricultural compounds
Abstract
This invention discloses a new class of pH indicators suitable
for use in agricultural compounds. The class comprises naturally
occurring substances which are extracts from grape skins, cabbage
and lecithin. Safety concerns are now causing regulatory bodies to
prohibit use of chemical pH indicators in compounds which are used
for crops and animals. The naturally occurring compounds of this
invention satisfy these concerns of the regulators and function as
well as chemical indicators of the prior art.
Inventors: |
Bloomberg, Martin David;
(Toronto, CA) ; Houston-McMillan, Mark Stewart;
(Toronto, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RICHES, MCKENZIE & HERBERT, LLP
SUITE 1800
2 BLOOR STREET EAST
TORONTO
ON
M4W 3J5
CA
|
Assignee: |
NutriAg Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
34216450 |
Appl. No.: |
10/646928 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
436/166 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01N 65/00 20130101;
A01N 65/03 20130101; C05G 3/00 20130101; A01N 65/08 20130101; G01N
21/80 20130101; A01N 65/00 20130101; A01N 61/00 20130101; A01N
65/00 20130101; A01N 65/03 20130101; A01N 65/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
436/166 |
International
Class: |
G01N 031/22 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A naturally occurring pH indicator for use in a concentrate for
preparing an agricultural compound which comprises an extract from
grapes, cabbage or lichen.
2. A concentrate comprising a mixture of a pH modifying agent and a
naturally occurring pH indicator for colouring water, which
concentrate can be diluted with water and added to an agricultural
chemical for application to crops, soil or animals, the
agricultural chemical having an activity that varies with the pH of
the water and having an acceptable agricultural activity at a pH
within the range of 4-6, wherein the proportions of pH modifying
agent and pH indicator in the concentrate are such that when the
concentrate is diluted with water and the pH of the water is
modified by the pH modifying agent, the pH indicator indicates
visually when the pH of the water is in the range of from about 4
to about 6.
3. A concentrate as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pH indicator is
selected from the group comprising extracts of grape skins, cabbage
and lecithin.
4. A concentrate as claimed in claim 3 wherein said pH indicator is
an extract of grape skin.
5. A concentrate as claimed in claim 4 wherein said pH indicator is
present in a concentration of about 10 to about 25%.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to agricultural compounds and more
particularly to an improved agricultural compound which uses a
naturally occurring pH indicator rather than a chemical pH
indicator.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,132 granted to Gouws & Scheepers
(Proprietary) Limited discloses a concentrate for dilution with
water useful in the production of agricultural compounds for
application to crops, soil or animals. The concentrate is added to
the agricultural compound and then diluted with water until the
desired pH is reached. This desired level of pH is controlled by
the agricultural compound.
[0003] The patent discloses several chemicals which are used to
determine the level of pH. These compounds include methyl red,
resorcin blue, 2,5-dinitrophenol and chlorophenol red. These pH
indicators change colour when the pH is changed and accordingly,
provide a visual indicator as to when the desired pH is
reached.
[0004] However, regulatory authorities throughout the world are now
discouraging the use of non-natural ingredients especially when the
agricultural compounds are used on crops and for treatment of
animals. As a result, the chemical pH indicators currently in use
are being rejected by regulatory authorities.
[0005] The Food and Drug Agency of the United States government
sets out specifications of products which are approved for such
use. These specifications are contained in, inter alia, Federal
regulations, Title 21, Part 73.170. It is noted that methyl red is
not listed and is therefore not an approved product.
[0006] Similarly, the European Economic Commission has also issued
directives as contained in the EEC Additives No. E163 (Commission
directive 95/45/EC as amended) which lists approved products for
such use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, the present invention provides an improvement
wherein a completely naturally occurring product is used as the pH
indicator.
[0008] To this end, in one of its aspects, the invention provides a
naturally occurring pH indicator for use in a concentrate for
preparing an agricultural compound which comprises an extract from
grapes, cabbage or lichen.
[0009] In another of its aspects, the invention provides a
concentrate comprising a mixture of a pH modifying agent and a
naturally occurring pH indicator for colouring water, which
concentrate can be diluted with water and added to an agricultural
chemical for application to crops, soil or animals, the
agricultural chemical having an activity that varies with the pH of
the water and having an acceptable agricultural activity at a pH
within the range of 4-6, wherein the proportions of pH modifying
agent and pH indicator in the concentrate are such that when the
concentrate is diluted with water and the pH of the water is
modified by the pH modifying agent, the pH indicator indicates
visually when the pH of the water is in the range of from about 4
to about 6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0010] The inventors have discovered that several naturally
occurring products may be used as the colour/pH indicator in the
concentrate as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,132. These
naturally occurring compounds produce the same colour changes as do
the chemical compounds but are acceptable to regulatory authorities
throughout the world. These compounds exhibit no untoward activity
to plants or animals.
[0011] The pH indictor of the present invention is selected from
the group consisting of extracts from grape skins, cabbage or
lichen. Extracts of grape skins are preferred because the required
concentration is less but extracts of cabbage and lichen are also
acceptable although they do require a higher concentration.
[0012] It is desired that the pH indicator change colour at a pH
from about 4 to about 6. It is also desired that the indicator not
have any deleterious effects on the crops or animals and it is for
this reason that the naturally occurring products of the invention
are so useful.
[0013] The grapes are first processed to remove the juice from the
grapes to produce grape juice or wine and then the skin of the
grape is removed. The grape skin extract is a purplish-red liquid
which is prepared by the aqueous extraction of the fresh deseeded
marc remaining after the grapes have been pressed. The extract
contains anthocyanins, tartaric acid, tannins, sugars and minerals
but not in the same proportions as in the grape juice. During the
steeping process, sulphur dioxide is added and most of the
extracted sugars are fermented to alcohol. The extract is then
concentrated by vacuum evaporation during which almost all of the
alcohol is removed. A small amount of sulphur dioxide may be
present.
[0014] The extract shows a blue colour at a pH greater than 5 and a
red colour at a pH lower than 5.
[0015] This extract was tested in the formulations disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,132 and excellent results were obtained.
However, it was found that much higher concentrations were required
to show the visual colour change. Concentrations in the range of 10
to 25% were necessary to show the colour changes.
[0016] The experiments were repeated using cabbage extract and
lichen extract. These worked although higher concentrations were
necessary. Thus, while they clearly fall within the scope of this
invention, the preferred product is grape extract.
[0017] An example of the concentrate (acid adjuvant) suitable for
pH reduction, control and buffering in aqueous agricultural
compositions for application to plants or soil an alkali sensitive
agricultural chemicals subject to degradation in alkaline
environments was formulated with the following composition:
1 Nonyl phenoxy polyoxyethylene glycol 10.4 Monoortho-phosphoric
esters 43.6 Diorthophosphoric esters 2.9 Isopropyl alcohol 15.6
Water 17.5 Grape skin extract 10.0
[0018] All percentages are expressed in mass/mass.
[0019] A second example of the concentrate (acid adjuvant) suitable
for pH reduction, control and buffering in aqueous agricultural
compositions for application to plants or soil an alkali sensitive
agricultural chemicals subject to degradation in alkaline
environments was formulated with the following composition:
2 Nonyl phenoxy polyoxyethylene glycol 10.4 Monoortho-phosphoric
esters 43.6 Diorthophosphoric esters 2.9 Isopropyl alcohol 15.6
Cabbage Extract 27.5
[0020] All percentages are expressed in mass/mass.
[0021] A third example of the concentrate (acid adjuvant) suitable
for pH reduction, control and buffering in aqueous agricultural
compositions for application to plants or soil an alkali sensitive
agricultural chemicals subject to degradation in alkaline
environments was formulated with the following composition:
3 Nonyl phenoxy polyoxyethylene glycol 10.4 Monoortho-phosphoric
esters 43.6 Diorthophosphoric esters 2.9 Isopropyl alcohol 15.6
Lichen extract 27.5
[0022] All percentages are expressed in mass/mass.
[0023] Accordingly, the use of a naturally occurring pH indicator
represents a significant advance.
[0024] Although the invention describes and illustrates a preferred
embodiment of the invention, kit is understood that it is no so
restricted and includes in its scope, variations thereof.
* * * * *