U.S. patent application number 15/892386 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-21 for insecticidal compositions.
This patent application is currently assigned to HOMS, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is HOMS, LLC. Invention is credited to Allen L. Jones, JR..
Application Number | 20180168149 15/892386 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57984132 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180168149 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jones, JR.; Allen L. |
June 21, 2018 |
INSECTICIDAL COMPOSITIONS
Abstract
Pest-control compositions are variously described, including
soaps as well as free fatty acids as active ingredients. The
disclosed compositions may be constituted in a concentrated form,
or the composition may be further diluted for application.
Pesticidal compositions of the disclosure may be employed to
selectively target pests without a systemic mode of action, and may
be used to control a wide variety of insects, arthropods, and other
pests, at and/or in a locus that contains or is susceptible to
emergence thereof.
Inventors: |
Jones, JR.; Allen L.;
(Pittsboro, NC) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HOMS, LLC |
PITTSBORO |
NC |
US |
|
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Assignee: |
HOMS, LLC
|
Family ID: |
57984132 |
Appl. No.: |
15/892386 |
Filed: |
February 8, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/US2016/045937 |
Aug 7, 2016 |
|
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15892386 |
|
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62202898 |
Aug 9, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01N 25/02 20130101;
A01N 65/06 20130101; A01N 65/20 20130101; A01N 37/02 20130101; A01N
65/40 20130101; A01N 37/02 20130101; A01N 25/04 20130101; A01N
2300/00 20130101; A01N 25/30 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A01N 37/02 20060101
A01N037/02; A01N 65/40 20060101 A01N065/40; A01N 25/02 20060101
A01N025/02; A01N 25/04 20060101 A01N025/04; A01N 65/06 20060101
A01N065/06; A01N 65/20 20060101 A01N065/20 |
Claims
1. An insect control composition comprising coconut oil soap and
free fatty acids.
2. The insect control composition of claim 1, further comprising
MCT oil-based soap.
3. The insect control composition of claim 1, wherein the free
fatty acids comprise at least C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and C.sub.12 free
fatty acids.
4. The insect control composition of claim 3, wherein the free
fatty acids comprise: from 2 weight percent to 10 weight percent
C.sub.8 free fatty acid; from 2 weight percent to 10 weight percent
C.sub.10 free fatty acid; and from 0 weight percent to 8 weight
percent C.sub.12 free fatty acid, based on the total weight of the
insect control composition.
5. The insect control composition of claim 1, further comprising
soybean oil.
6. The insect control composition of claim 1, further comprising
citric acid.
7. The insect control composition of claim 1, further comprising
water.
8. The insect control composition of claim 1, further comprising
emulsifier.
9. The insect control composition of claim 7, wherein the
emulsifier comprises sodium lauryl sulfate.
10. The insect control composition of claim 1, further comprising
one or more essential oils.
11. The insect control composition of claim 9, wherein said one or
more essential oils comprise cedarwood oil.
12. The insect control composition of claim 9, wherein said one or
more essential oils comprise at least one selected from the group
consisting of cedarwood oil, geranium oil, citronella, lemongrass
oil, limonene, citrus grasses, citrol, and citronellol.
13. The insect control composition of claim 1, further comprising
glycerol monostearate.
14. The insect control composition of claim 1, further comprising
palmitic acid.
15. The insect control composition of claim 1, further comprising
preservative.
16. The insect control composition of claim 1, further comprising
sodium bicarbonate.
17. The insect control composition of claim 1, optionally further
comprising one or more of soybean oil, water, emulsifier, and
essential oil(s).
18. The insect control composition of claim 1, comprising citric
acid, glycerol monostearate, and palmitic acid, and further
optionally comprising one of more of MCT oil-based soap, free fatty
acids including at least C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and C.sub.12 free fatty
acids, soybean oil, water, essential oil(s), preservative, and
sodium bicarbonate.
19. A method of controlling unwanted insects and/or arthropods in a
locus containing or susceptible to incursion of same, said method
comprising applying to said locus an insect controllingly effective
amount of the insect control composition of claim 1.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein said insect control composition
optionally further comprises one or more of soybean oil, water,
emulsifier, and essential oil(s).
21. The method of claim 18, wherein said insect control composition
comprises citric acid, glycerol monostearate, and palmitic acid,
and further optionally comprises one of more of MCT oil-based soap,
free fatty acids including at least C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and C.sub.12
free fatty acids, soybean oil, water, essential oil(s),
preservative, and sodium bicarbonate.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part under the provisions of 35
U.S.C. 120 of International Patent Application PCT/US16/45937 filed
Aug. 7, 2016 in the name of Allen L. Jones for "HERBICIDAL
COMPOSITIONS", which in turn claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119
of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/202,898 filed Aug. 9,
2015 in the name of Allen L. Jones for "HERBICIDAL COMPOSITIONS".
The disclosures of International Patent Application PCT/US16/45937
and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/202,898 are hereby
incorporated herein in their respective entireties, for all
purposes.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to herbicidal compositions
that are cidally effective against unwanted vegetation such as
grasses, woody brush, trees, and weeds, and to methods of combating
unwanted vegetation in loci containing or susceptible to emergence
of same, as well as to pest-control compositions and methods of
making and using the same. The disclosure also relates to
compositions of such type that are herbicidal as well as
pest-combating in character.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0003] In the use of phytotoxic agents to combat unwanted plant
species such as grasses, woody brush, trees, and weeds in various
locations in which they grow, a wide variety of herbicidal
compositions have been developed and are in use. These compositions
in many cases are highly effective in killing grasses, woody brush,
trees, and weeds, but have attendant environmental toxicity or
other deficiencies in health and safety characteristics that render
them undesirable for general use.
[0004] For a sustainable herbicide, it is imperative to develop an
effective herbicidal action that is not systemic to control
vegetation without detrimental effects to bees and other pollinator
populations. Moreover, a sustainable choice would also include a
mode of action to which vegetation cannot develop resistance, and
such sustainable choice would exclude herbicidal agents having a
mode of action that is detrimental to humans and animals.
[0005] Many "natural" or "environmentally friendly" herbicidal
agents that have been used to date have not been highly effective,
and many require full sun, relatively high temperatures, and a
period without rain in order to work effectively. In general, these
agents have not exhibited the capability of retaining their initial
active character for extended periods of time in controlling
unwanted vegetation, and other synthetic compositions have been
used to replace them. Unfortunately, such other synthetic
compositions in many cases have detrimental effects on beneficial
insect populations, as well as adversely affecting human and animal
health.
[0006] Many of the same issues encountered with herbicidal agents
are associated with synthetic pesticides. Synthetic pesticides in
general have been linked to a wide range of human health hazards,
ranging from short-term impact such as headaches and nausea to
chronic impacts, such as cancer, reproductive system pathology, and
endocrine disruption. Most formulations of effective insecticides
use synthetic toxic compounds that are systemic and also persist in
the soil, negatively affecting habitats for plants and pollinator
species, and run off into waterways where they adversely affect
aquatic life. Ethanol is used in many pesticide formulas to
dissolve synthetic toxic compounds, but ethanol formulations are
highly flammable (Flammability of Class 3), volatile, and can
create significant hazards to human health. The use of both
synthetic insecticides and herbicides on residential, farm, and
industrial properties, and the use of synthetic insecticides on
livestock and pets, have devastated a wide variety of habitats and
negatively affected human and animal health.
[0007] In consequence, the art continues to seek improvements in
herbicidal compositions that are effective for killing unwanted
vegetation such as grasses, woody brush, trees, and weeds, but
which are benign to other plants and the environment generally, and
otherwise entail no health or safety hazards to persons applying
such compositions, or persons who are present in locations to which
such compositions have been applied. The art also has need of
compositions having herbicidal and/or pesticidal character, which
are environmentally benign and pose no health risks to humans
and/or animals.
SUMMARY
[0008] The present disclosure relates to herbicidal compositions
that are usefully employed to eliminate unwanted vegetation, e.g.,
grasses, woody brush, trees, and weeds, from areas in which they
are not wanted, as well as to methods of combating undesired
grasses, woody brush, trees, and weeds in such areas. The
disclosure also encompasses compositions of such type, which have
pest-combating, e.g., pesticidal and/or pest-repellent character,
and therefore can be applied to plants, animals, human skin,
clothing, etc., to combat insect, arthropod, and other pests.
[0009] In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a herbicidal
composition comprising (i) one or more soap and/or detergent
ingredients, and (ii) free fatty acid(s).
[0010] In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a pest control
composition, comprising a combination of ingredients selected from
the group consisting of:
(a) coconut oil soap and free fatty acid(s), for yard and crop
insect and arthropod control; (b) coconut oil soap, free fatty
acid(s), and sodium lauryl sulfate, for yard and crop insect and
arthropod control; (c) any of the foregoing (a) and (b), further
comprising modified vegetable oil(s) to impart increased cidal
penetration and duration (weatherproofing), or increased insect and
arthropod repellency; (d) any of the foregoing (a)-(c), in a
formulation constituted for one or more of deer repellence, insect
repellence, and arthropod repellence; (e) MCT soap and free fatty
acids, optionally with modified vegetable oil(s), in a formulation
constituted for insecticidal and arthropod-repellent applications;
(f) a formulation (e), further comprising sodium lauryl sulfate;
(g) any of the foregoing (a)-(f), in a formulation constituted for
insect and arthropod control on articles or structures comprising
wood and/or cellulosic material; and (h) any of the foregoing
(a)-(g), further comprising additional insect and/or arthropod
control agents.
[0011] In a further aspect, the disclosure relates to an
insecticidal and arthropod-repellent composition comprising,
including MCT soap and free fatty acids, optionally with modified
vegetable oil(s).
[0012] Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a herbicidal
and/or pesticidal composition, selected from the group consisting
of Formula A through Formula M, as described more fully
hereinafter.
[0013] Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a method of
combating unwanted vegetation in a locus containing or susceptible
to emergence thereof, said method comprising administering to said
locus an effective amount of a herbicidal composition of the
present disclosure.
[0014] Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a method of
combating pests, comprising applying to the pests and/or an
environment containing or susceptible to presence or incursion of
pests, a pest-combating composition of the present disclosure.
[0015] In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a herbicidal
composition, comprising (i) soy methyl ester, (ii) sodium laurel
sulfate, and (iii) C.sub.6-C.sub.12 fatty acid(s).
[0016] In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a herbicidal
composition, comprising (i) soy methyl ester, (ii) sodium laurel
sulfate, (iii) C.sub.6-C.sub.12 fatty acid(s), and (iv) diluent,
wherein the soy methyl ester has a concentration in a range of from
1% to 60%, the sodium laurel sulfate has a concentration in a range
of from 0.1 to 20%, the C.sub.6-C.sub.12 fatty acid(s) has a
concentration in a range of from 1% to 60%, and the diluent has a
concentration in a range of from 1 to 97.9%, wherein said
concentrations are percentages by weight, based on total weight of
ingredients (i)-(iv), and wherein the amounts of all ingredients
(i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) total to 100 weight percent.
[0017] A further aspect of the disclosure relates to a herbicidal
composition, comprising: Soy Methyl Ester, Capric Acid, Capryllic
Acid, Lauric Acid, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Glycerol Monostearate,
Potassium Oleate, Glycerin, and Water.
[0018] A still further aspect of the disclosure relates to a
herbicidal composition, comprising: Soy Methyl Ester, Sodium Lauryl
Sulfate, Lauric Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Oleate, Glycerol
Monostearate, and Water.
[0019] Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a herbicidal
composition, comprising: Soy Methyl Ester, Capric Acid, Capryllic
Acid, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Lauric Acid, Peg40 Castor Oil,
Polysorbate 20, Potassium Oleate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Glycerol
Monostearate, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, and
Water.
[0020] Yet another aspect of the disclosure relates to a herbicidal
composition, comprising: Soy Method Ester, a C.sub.6, C.sub.8,
C.sub.10, C.sub.12 fatty acid mixture, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate,
Glycerin, Pancreatic Amylase, Fungal Lipase, Cellulase, Subtilisin,
Amylase, and Proteinase.
[0021] The disclosure in another aspect relates to a herbicidal
composition comprising an MCT oil-based soap.
[0022] A further aspect of the disclosure relates to a method of
combating unwanted plants and/or algae in a locus containing same,
such method comprising applying to the unwanted plants and/or algae
a cidally effective amount of an herbicidal composition of the
present disclosure, as variously described herein.
[0023] Another aspect of the disclosure relates to an insect
control composition comprising coconut oil soap and free fatty
acids.
[0024] Yet another aspect of the disclosure relates to a method of
controlling unwanted insects and/or arthropods in a locus
containing or susceptible to incursion of same, such method
comprising applying to the locus an insect controllingly effective
amount of an insect control composition of the disclosure, as
variously described herein.
[0025] Other aspects, features and embodiments of the disclosure
will be more fully apparent from the ensuing description and
appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a photograph of a woody brush area, prior to any
treatment.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a photograph of the woody brush area of FIG. 1,
one day after treatment of such area with a herbicidal composition
of the present disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a photograph of the woody brush area of FIG. 1,
one week after treatment of such area with a herbicidal composition
of the present disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a photograph of a woody tree, prior to any
treatment.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a photograph of the woody tree of FIG. 4, one day
after treatment of such tree with a herbicidal composition of the
present disclosure.
[0031] FIG. 6 is a photograph of the woody tree of FIG. 4, one week
after treatment of such tree with a herbicidal composition of the
present disclosure.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a photograph of Johnson grass, prior to any
treatment.
[0033] FIG. 8 is a photograph of the Johnson grass of FIG. 7, one
day after treatment with a herbicidal composition of the present
disclosure.
[0034] FIG. 9 is a photograph of the Johnson grass of FIG. 7, one
week after treatment with a herbicidal composition of the present
disclosure.
[0035] FIG. 10 is a photograph of crabgrass, prior to any
treatment.
[0036] FIG. 11 is a photograph of the crabgrass shown in FIG. 10,
one day after treatment with a herbicidal composition of the
present disclosure.
[0037] FIG. 12 is a photograph of the crabgrass shown in FIG. 10,
one week after treatment with a herbicidal composition of the
present disclosure.
[0038] FIG. 13 is a photograph of thistle weed, prior to any
treatment.
[0039] FIG. 14 is a photograph of the thistle weed shown in FIG.
13, one day after treatment with a herbicidal composition of the
present disclosure.
[0040] FIG. 15 is a photograph of the thistle weed shown in FIG.
13, one week after treatment with a herbicidal composition of the
present disclosure.
[0041] FIGS. 16-24 are compiled photographs illustrating the
treatment of various target vegetation with the Formula F
composition of the disclosure, as applied with a 100 gallons per
application spray wand applicator.
[0042] FIG. 25 is a composite of before and after photographs
illustrating the treatment of small briars with the Formulation G
composition of the disclosure.
[0043] FIG. 26 is a composite of before and after photographs
illustrating the treatment of large briars, ivy, and weeds with the
Formulation H composition of the disclosure.
[0044] FIG. 27 is a composite of before and after photographs
illustrating the treatment of grass with the Formulation H
composition of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0045] The present disclosure relates to herbicidal compositions
that are cidally effective against unwanted vegetation, such as
grasses, woody brush, trees, and weeds, and to methods of use of
such compositions to combat grasses, woody brush, trees, and weeds
in loci in which same are not desired. The disclosure also relates
to compositions of herbicidal character, which additionally have
pest-combating utility.
[0046] The herbicidal compositions of the present disclosure may be
provided as a concentrate that is diluted with a suitable diluent
to yield a formulation for administration to a locus in which
undesired vegetation such as grasses, woody brush, trees, and weeds
are present, or in which germination and growth of such grasses,
woody brush, trees, and weeds may occur if the locus is untreated.
Alternatively, the composition may be provided in a ready to use
(RTU) form.
[0047] "C.sub.6-C.sub.12 fatty acid(s)" as referred to herein
comprise one or more fatty acids having carbon number(s) in a range
of from 6 to 12. Preferred C.sub.6-C.sub.12 fatty acids have
even-numbered carbon numbers, i.e., C.sub.6, C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and
C.sub.12, and the C.sub.6-C.sub.12 fatty acid(s) ingredient may
therefore comprise a combination of such C.sub.6, C.sub.8,
C.sub.10, and C.sub.12, fatty acids, or a selected one or ones
thereof, or alternatively a combination of any other fatty acids
having carbon numbers in the range of from 6 to 12, or a selected
one or ones thereof. The C.sub.6-C.sub.12 fatty acid(s) in specific
embodiments may for example include a mixture of C.sub.8, C.sub.10,
and C.sub.12 fatty acids, a mixture of C.sub.6 and C.sub.10 fatty
acids, a mixture of C.sub.8 and C.sub.10, fatty acids, or a mixture
of C.sub.10 and C.sub.12 fatty acids.
[0048] Correspondingly, "C.sub.8-C.sub.12 fatty acid(s)" as
referred to herein comprise one or more fatty acids having carbon
number(s) in a range of from 8 to 12. Preferred C.sub.8-C.sub.12
fatty acids have even-numbered carbon numbers, i.e., C.sub.8,
C.sub.10, and C.sub.12, and the C.sub.8-C.sub.12 fatty acid(s)
ingredient may therefore comprise a combination of such C.sub.8,
C.sub.10, and C.sub.12, fatty acids, or a selected one or ones
thereof, or alternatively a combination of any other fatty acids
having carbon numbers in the range of from 8 to 12, or a selected
one or ones thereof. The C.sub.8-C.sub.12 fatty acid(s) in specific
embodiments may for example include a mixture of C.sub.8, C.sub.10,
and C.sub.12 fatty acids, or a mixture of C.sub.8 and C.sub.10,
fatty acids, or a mixture of C.sub.10 and C.sub.12 fatty acids.
[0049] In various embodiments, the compositions of the present
disclosure may be provided in concentrate form or in diluted, e.g.,
ready to use (RTU) form, and in any of such forms, the compositions
may comprise, consist, or consist essentially of, the ingredients
variously specified herein, or selected one or ones thereof.
Relative proportions of ingredients in such compositions may be
readily determined, within the skill in the art, based on the
disclosure herein, without undue experimentation.
[0050] The present disclosure relates to a variety of herbicidal
compositions including (i) one or more soap and/or detergent
ingredients, and (ii) free fatty acid(s).
[0051] The herbicidal compositions in various formulations may
include soap ingredients such as MCT soap and/or coconut oil soap.
MCT (medium chain triglycerides) soap is derived from fractionated
coconut oil.
[0052] The herbicidal compositions in other formulations may
include one or more detergent ingredients. In various embodiments,
the one or more detergent ingredients may comprise sodium laurel
sulfate.
[0053] In other formulations, the herbicidal compositions of the
disclosure may comprise soap and detergent ingredients, e.g., (i)
MCT soap and sodium lauryl sulfate, (ii) coconut oil soap and
sodium lauryl sulfate, (iii) MCT soap, coconut oil soap, and sodium
lauryl sulfate.
[0054] Accordingly, the phrase "one or more soap and/or detergent
ingredients" is intended to be broadly construed to encompass (a)
one or more soap ingredients, (b) one or more detergent
ingredients, and (c) one or more soap ingredients in combination
with one or more detergent ingredients.
[0055] The (ii) free fatty acid(s) that are utilized with the (i)
one or more soap and/or detergent ingredients, can be of any
suitable type. In various formulations, the free fatty acid(s)
comprise C.sub.6-C.sub.12 fatty acid(s), e.g., C.sub.6 and/or
C.sub.8 and/or C.sub.10 and/or C.sub.12 fatty acid(s). In other
formulations, the free fatty acid(s) comprise C.sub.8-C.sub.12
fatty acid(s), e.g., C.sub.8 and/or C.sub.10 and/or C.sub.12 fatty
acid(s).
[0056] The free fatty acids in various embodiments may include
caproic acid as a C.sub.6 fatty acid, caprylic acid as a C.sub.8
fatty acid, capric acid as a C.sub.10 fatty acid, and lauric acid
as a C.sub.12 fatty acid.
[0057] Accordingly, the herbicidal compositions of the present
disclosure including (i) one or more soap and/or detergent
ingredients, and (ii) free fatty acid(s) may in various specific
formulations comprise any of the following combinations of
ingredients: (a) MCT soap, and C.sub.8 and/or C.sub.10 and/or
C.sub.12 free fatty acid(s); (b) coconut oil soap, and C.sub.8
and/or C.sub.10 and/or C.sub.12 free fatty acid(s); (c) MCT soap
and coconut oil soap, and C.sub.8 and/or C.sub.10 and/or C.sub.12
free fatty acid(s); (d) any of the foregoing (a)-(c), further
comprising sodium lauryl sulfate; (e) sodium lauryl sulfate, and
C.sub.8 and/or C.sub.10 and/or C.sub.12 free fatty acid(s); (f) any
of the foregoing (a)-(d), further comprising modified vegetable oil
that is effective as a penetrant and solvent into woody stem
plants; and (g) any of the foregoing (a)-(f), further comprising
additional herbicidal actives.
[0058] The additional herbicidal actives in various embodiments may
comprise natural herbicidal ingredients such as cedarwood oil or
other natural herbicidal ingredients, and/or synthetic herbicidal
ingredients of suitable type or types.
[0059] The herbicidal compositions of the present disclosure
include formulations that in addition to herbicidal activity are
pesticidal, e.g., insecticidal, in character. In various
formulations, such herbicidal compositions having insecticidal or
other pesticidal activity, comprise coconut oil soap, and free
fatty acid(s), e.g., C.sub.8 and/or C.sub.12) and/or C.sub.12 free
fatty acid(s).
[0060] The present disclosure also contemplates various pest
control compositions, comprising a combination of ingredients
selected from the group consisting of: (a) coconut oil soap and
free fatty acid(s), for yard and crop insect and arthropod control;
(b) coconut oil soap, free fatty acid(s), and sodium lauryl
sulfate, for yard and crop insect and arthropod control; (c) any of
the foregoing (a) and (b), further comprising modified vegetable
oil(s) to impart increased cidal penetration and duration
(weatherproofing), or increased insect and arthropod repellency;
(d) any of the foregoing (a)-(c), in a formulation constituted for
one or more of deer repellence, insect repellence, and arthropod
repellence; (e) MCT soap and free fatty acids, optionally with
modified vegetable oil(s), in a formulation constituted for
insecticidal and arthropod-repellent applications; (f) a
formulation (e), further comprising sodium lauryl sulfate; (g) any
of the foregoing (a)-(f), in a formulation constituted for insect
and arthropod control on articles or structures comprising wood
and/or cellulosic material; and (h) any of the foregoing (a)-(g),
further comprising additional insect and/or arthropod control
agents.
[0061] Compositions of the present disclosure when applied to
vegetation function as animal repellents on such vegetation, since
animals do not want to eat the treated vegetation, thereby
protecting such vegetation.
[0062] The additional insect and/or arthropod control agents in the
above pest control compositions may comprise pest-control oils such
as cedarwood oil and/or geraniol, and/or synthetic and/or natural
pest-control active ingredient(s).
[0063] Thus, the disclosure in various aspects provides
insecticidal soap compositions with specific vegetable fatty acid
profiles and penetrating ingredients, to greatly enhance herbicidal
activity and control of vegetation using natural
ingredient-containing sustainable compositions that are effective
for fortifying soil and environmental habitats. Increased
effectiveness of such formulations is achievable with higher
dilutions with water, while remaining effective in rain, low sun,
and/or low temperature conditions.
[0064] In herbicidal compositions of the present disclosure,
comprising detergent and/or soap ingredients, the detergent (e.g.,
sodium lauryl sulfate and/or other detergent(s)) and/or soap action
dissolves waxy portions of vegetation allowing penetration of fatty
acids into the vegetation. The vegetable fatty acid profile content
is an important aspect of the herbicidal activity toward grass,
weeds, and woody stem plants, in making the product selective or
non-selective in character. A penetrating solvent may be used for
the herbicidal actives in the composition to penetrate into the
plant mass and most significantly woody stem plants. The amount of
penetrant ingredient(s) that is effective to dissolve the
herbicidal active ingredient(s) and mediate penetration into woody
stems and spread into the plant is a function of the vegetable
fatty acid content in the modified vegetable oil when present in
the composition. Control of different types of vegetation can be
made selective by the vegetable fatty acid profile employed with
the detergent or soap that is selected for the composition, and the
type and amount of the penetrant that is used, as selected with
specific vegetable fatty acids to dissolve herbicidal active(s)
into the plant cells.
[0065] In general, the use of detergent such as sodium lauryl
sulfate and specific fatty acids, in the absence of herbicidal soap
ingredient(s), affords good "burn down" results in grasses and
weeds, but a penetrant is typically necessary to kill woody stem
plants. Modified vegetable oil with a specific fatty acid profile
enables the herbicidal active ingredient(s) to penetrate woody
stems quickly and is rain-proof.
[0066] In various compositions of the present disclosure, coconut
oil soap and/or MTC soap can be used in place of or in addition to
detergent ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate. In various
implementations, the soap content may be carefully saponified and
partially acidulated to have free fatty acids with specific ranges
of a desired fatty acid profile so that use of detergent
ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate is not necessary. The
detergent and/or soap action dissolves the waxy portion of the
vegetation to aid in penetrating the herbicidal active(s) into the
vegetation. The vegetable fatty acid profile causes a non-systemic
action to destroy the cell wall of the plant and to act as a
desiccant.
[0067] In various compositions of the disclosure, a detergent
and/or soap may be utilized for what he plant penetration, together
with an effective herbicidal vegetable fatty acid profile from
coconut oil or palm oil and methylated seed oil (also known as
modified vegetable oil). The methylated seed oil may be obtained
from soybean oil, but can be derived from other vegetable oils
including canola oil, palm oil, and others. The amount of modified
vegetable oil in the composition is a portion or percentage of the
amount of fatty acid oil content and detergent that is used, in
order to penetrate the target vegetation and to waterproof the
herbicidal action.
[0068] Thus, for contact action without penetration, the herbicidal
composition may be formulated without modified vegetable oil
component(s), to provide a highly rapid vegetation burn-down that
does not affect other vegetation. Such formulation of the
herbicidal composition may for example be highly beneficial to
berry growers for control of grass and weeds. For woody stem
control, modified vegetable oil advantageously is used to penetrate
the woody plant, including, for example, tree limbs or entire
trees. Contact is required, but the composition does not act
systemically in that the herbicidal active ingredient(s) are not
carried throughout the part of the plant or tree that is not
contacted with the composition. Control of vegetation may thereby
be conducted selectively and by non-systemic mode of action.
[0069] Further non-selectivity of particular plant species may be
obtained by varying the fatty acid profile, and the detergent
and/or soap content of the composition. For example, control of
broad leaf plants without killing of grass may be accommodated by
use of positions of the disclosure that do not contain modified
vegetable oil, so that detergent and/or soap content, together with
a fatty acid profile for broad leaf weeds, is utilized. For woody
stem plants, a specific fatty acid profile may be selected so as
not to kill grass, using compositions containing modified vegetable
oil.
[0070] Thus, modified vegetable oil as a penetrant may optionally
be employed with or without the vegetable fatty acid profile,
depending on the nature and extent of penetration that is desired.
Various adjuvants may be employed that have a vegetable fatty acid
content that is effective to enhance the effectiveness of
penetration and solvating effect for the herbicidal activity.
Advantageously, when modified vegetable oil is used as a penetrant,
the specific fatty acid profile of the modified vegetable oil
penetrant is selected so that the modified vegetable oil is readily
biodegradable, while simultaneously being effective is a solvent
for the herbicidal active(s) and the woody stem plants. Vegetable
fatty acid profile is important in human nutrition, and can
additionally be formulated for non-systemic herbicidal activity
that is readily biodegradable to provide soil nutrients and food
for microorganisms.
[0071] Vegetable fatty acids useful in the practice of the present
disclosure are found in coconut and/or soybean oil, which may be
employed singly or in mixture with one another in compositions of
the present disclosure. Coconut oil is a vegetable oil that derives
from a coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) that is pollinated by bees.
There are additional vegetable sources with similar fatty acid
content, such as palm oil and canola oil. In addition to natural
coconut oil and/or natural soybean oil, the present disclosure
encompasses compositions employing mixtures that are identical to
natural products obtained from synthetic or natural oils, which
correspond in their mixture to natural products.
[0072] Sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS (CAS Number 151-21-3), is a
preferred detergent ingredient in compositions of the present
disclosure that comprise detergent. Sodium lauryl sulfate is
approved for food use as a pesticide in the United States. It is
preferred in conjunction with a vegetable fatty acid profile for
herbicidal activity, and may be made from lauric acid derived from
coconut oil or palm oil.
[0073] MCT soap utilized in various compositions of the present
disclosure may be made by saponification of MCT oil performed with
potassium hydroxide (KOH) or other saponification agent according
to the Saponification Value of MCT, with water used to create soap
being at minimum 50% and at maximum 60%. The soap form may be
acidulated partially with citric acid to free fatty acids C.sub.8
and C.sub.10, or free fatty acids C.sub.8 and C.sub.10 may be
separately added to the MCT soap without acidulation.
[0074] Fatty acids and soap content used in compositions of the
present disclosure may derive from refined coconut oil known as MCT
oil, or alternatively may be derived from palm oil or synthetic
oils. MCT oil contains medium chain fatty acids, and may be
utilized alone or in combination with other fatty acids, in the
formulation of compositions of the present disclosure. MCT oil is a
generally recognized as safe (GRAS) ingredient (United States FDA),
and is an edible oil. MCT oil can be made into soap by
saponification in which vegetable fatty acid of the soap and
detergent properties are advantageously employed in compositions of
the present disclosure. A typical composition of MCT oil is shown
in Table A below
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 MCT Oil Specification Parameter
Specification Acid Value 0.1 Max Saponification Value 325-345
Moisture % 0.15 Max Fatty Acid Composition: C8 55-65 C10 35-45
[0075] In like manner, coconut oil soap utilized in various
compositions of the present disclosure may be made by
saponification of coconut oil performed with potassium hydroxide
(KOH) or other saponification agent according to the Saponification
Value of Coconut Oil, with water used to create soap being at
minimum 50% and at maximum 60%. The soap form may be acidulated
with citric acid so that primarily C.sub.12 fatty acid (lauric
acid) is free, and preferably the acidulation is carried out so
that additional C.sub.8 and C.sub.10 fatty acids are free.
Alternatively, lauric acid and/or capric acid and/or caprylic acid
can be added separately to the coconut oil soap without
acidulation.
[0076] Coconut oil may be obtained by pressing and extraction of
seeds of the coconut palm. Coconut oil is a generally recognized as
safe (GRAS) ingredient (United States FDA), and is an edible oil.
Coconut oil is a mixture of different fatty acids, the exact
composition varies in dependency from the place of origin and the
conditions during growth. A typical composition is shown in Table 2
below.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Coconut Oil Specification Saponification
Value: 250-265 Fatty Acid Content (wt. %) Capronic acid (C6)
0.2-1.0 Caprylic acid (C8) 5.4-10.0 Capric acid (C10) 6.5-8.5
Lauric acid (C12) 45.0-55.0 Myristic acid (C14) 16.5-18.5 Palmitic
acid (C16) 8.0-10.5 Stearic acid (C18) 2.0-2.8 Oleic acid (C18:1)
5.0-10.0 Linolic acid (C18:2) 0.7-1.9
[0077] Modified vegetable oil utilized in compositions of the
present disclosure is advantageously methylated soybean oil.
Alternatively, any vegetable oil feedstock may be employed, with
preferred oil feedstocks having good solvency characteristics,
remaining viscous through a practical range of temperature, e.g.,
50.degree. F.-110.degree. F., and not solidifying in cooler
weather. Canola oil is similar in fatty acid profile to soybean
oil, and a preferred feedstock.
[0078] Methylation of the soybean oil enables the fatty acid
content to act as a solvent and penetrant to woody stem plants with
a high solvency KB (Kauri-butanol) value of 58, which is an
excellent natural solvent. Soybean oil is a mixture of different
fatty acids, whose exact composition varies dependent on the source
of the soybeans from which the oil is derived. A typical soybean
oil composition is set out in Table 3 below.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Fatty acid Content (number of carbon Wt. %
atoms:number of (most common double bonds) value) C16:0 7.0-14 (10)
C18:0 1.4-4.5 (4.0) C18:1 19-30 (21) C18:2 44-62 (56) C18:3 4-11
(8)
[0079] In addition to the above-noted fatty acids, soybean oil
comprises lesser amounts of fatty acids having 14 or fewer carbon
atoms (less than 0.6 wt %), a small amount of C.sub.16 fatty acids
having one double bond (less than 0.5 wt %) as well as a low amount
of fatty acids having 20 or 22 carbon atoms and 0 or 1 double bond,
respectively (each less than 1.0 wt %).
[0080] Compositions of the present disclosure may also comprise
fatty acid ester ingredients, such as vegetable methyl ester
commercially available from Solvent Systems International as SSI
Vegetable Methyl Ester.
[0081] Compositions of the present disclosure may be of varying
forms, and may be a single phase soap composition, or alternatively
an emulsion composition, in various embodiments. Emulsified forms
of compositions of the present disclosure may be formulated using
emulsifiers or emulsion-forming ingredients in any suitable manner,
including those illustratively described elsewhere herein.
Likewise, surfactants and surfactant builders may be employed in
compositions of the present disclosure, as illustratively described
elsewhere herein.
[0082] Compositions of the present disclosure may be prepared in
the form of a concentrate that then is diluted by the end-user, or
they may be provided as ready to use compositions to the user. The
compositions of the present disclosure may utilize additional
herbicidal and/or pest-control ingredient(s). Additional herbicidal
ingredient(s) include other oils having herbicidal activity, e.g.,
cedarwood oil. In addition, formulations containing other
herbicidal active(s) can be enhanced by using the vegetable fatty
acid profiles and formulations and methods of the present
disclosure.
[0083] The present disclosure further contemplates insecticidal and
arthropod-repellent compositions, including (a) MCT soap and free
fatty acids, optionally with modified vegetable oil(s).
[0084] The herbicidal compositions of the present disclosure
provide safe and effective action in combating unwanted plants in
areas containing or susceptible to emergence of same, and the
compositions having herbicidal as well as pesticidal character
likewise provide safe and effective action in combating unwanted
plants as well as combating undesired pest species. The
compositions of the present disclosure are readily formulated with
natural ingredients, and have been found to have no adverse effect
on bee and pollinator populations. In various formulations, the
compositions of the present disclosure provide sustainable
herbicidal and/or pesticidal action and may be formulated with
recycled vegetable oil ingredients and other natural ingredients to
provide vegetation control formulations, variously including
selective as well as non-selective contact herbicides with a
non-systemic mode of action.
[0085] Set out below are illustrative compositions of the present
disclosure (Formula A through Formula M), as non-limiting examples
of specific compositions in particular embodiments of the
disclosure.
[0086] Formula A: 20% Soy Methyl Ester, 10% Capric Acid, 10%
Capryllic Acid, 5% Lauric Acid, 3% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Standapol
WAQ-LC, BASF CAS 68585-47-7), 0.3% Glycerol Monostearate, 0.3%
Potassium Oleate, 0.4% Glycerin, and 51% Water
[0087] Formula B: 5% Soy Methyl Ester, 4% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
(Standapol WAQ-LC, BASF CAS 68585-47-7), 2% Lauric Acid, 5%
Glycerin, 4% Potassium Oleate, 3% Glycerol Monostearate, and 77%
Water
[0088] Formula C: 30% Soy Methyl Esther, 5% Capric Acid, 5%
Caprylic Acid, 4% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Standapol WAQ-LC, BASF CAS
68585-47-7), 1% mark acid, 1% Peg40 Castor Oil, 0.9% Polysorbate
20, 0.2% Potassium Oleate, 0.3% Sodium Bicarbonate, 0.2% Glycerol
Monostearate, 0.2% Citric Acid, 0.1% Glycerin, 0.1% Sodium
Benzoate, and 52% Water
[0089] Formula D: 47% Soy Methyl Ester, 47% C.sub.6, C.sub.8,
C.sub.10, C.sub.12 fatty acid mixture (LC-810L, Peter Cremer CAS
67762-36-1), and 6% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Standapol WAQ-LC, BASF
CAS 68585-47-7)
[0090] Formula E: 41% Soy Methyl Ester, 41% C.sub.6, C.sub.8,
C.sub.10, C.sub.12 fatty acid mixture (LC-810L, Peter Cremer CAS
67762-36-1), 4.5% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Standapol WAQ-LC, BASF CAS
68585-47-7), 1% Glycerin, Enzymes (2.5% Pancreatic Amylase, 2.5%
Fungal Lipase, 2.5% Cellulase, 2.5% Subtilisin (proteolytic
enzyme), 2.5% Bacteria, Complex (with Amylase and Proteinase CAS
068920-42-3)
[0091] Formula F: From concentrate, 30% Modified Soy Oil, 22.5% C8,
17.5% C10, 4% C12, 6% SLS, 10% MCT SOAP diluted with water to 20%
Concentrate for RTU. RTU: 6% Modified Soy Oil, 4.5% C8, 3.5% C10,
0.8% C12, 1.2% SLS, 2% MCT Soap, Water 82%
[0092] Formula G: From Concentrate, 30% Coconut Oil Soap, 10%
Lauric Acid, 4% Glycerin, 3% GMS, 1% Citric Acid, 52% Water diluted
with water to 10% Concentrate for RTU. RTU: 3% Coconut Oil Soap, 1%
Lauric Acid, 0.4% Glycerin, 0.3% GMS, 0.1% Citric Acid, 95.2%
Water
[0093] Formula H: From Concentrate, 30% MCT Oil Soap, 4% Lauric
Acid, 12% C8, 8% C10, 4% Glycerin, 3% GMS, 1% Citric Acid, 38%
Water diluted with water to 25% Concentrate for RTU. RTU: 7.5% MCT
Oil Soap, 1% Lauric Acid, 3% C8, 2% C10, 1% Glycerin, 0.75% GMS,
0.25% Citric Acid, 84.5% Water
[0094] Formula I: From Concentrate, 70% Coconut Oil Soap, 8% Lauric
Acid, 3% Glycerin, 10% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, 7% water, and 2%
Citric Acid diluted with water to 25% Concentrate for RTU. RTU:
17.5% Coconut Oil Soap, 2% Lauric Acid, 0.75% Glycerin, 2.5% Sodium
Lauryl Sulfate, 0.5% Citric Acid, 76.75% Water
[0095] Formula J: From Concentrate, 25% `Modified Vegetable Oil`,
55% Coconut Oil Soap, 7% Lauric Acid, 2% Glycerin, 10% Sodium
Lauryl Sulfate, and 1% Citric Acid diluted with water to 50%
Concentrate for RTU. RTU: 12.5% `Modified Vegetable Oil`, 27.5%
Coconut Oil Soap, 3.5% Lauric Acid, 1% Glycerin, 5% Sodium Lauryl
Sulfate, 0.5% Citric Acid, 50% Water
[0096] Formula K: From Concentrate, 70% Coconut Oil Soap, 8% Lauric
Acid, 3% Glycerin, 10% Cedarwood Oil, 7% water, and 2% Citric Acid
diluted with water to 25% Concentrate for RTU. RTU: 17.5% Coconut
Oil Soap, 2% Lauric Acid, 0.75% Glycerin, 2.5% Cedarwood Oil, 0.5%
Citric Acid, 76.75% Water
[0097] Formula L: From Concentrate, 25% `Modified Vegetable Oil`,
55% Coconut Oil Soap, 7% Lauric Acid, 2% Glycerin, 10% Cedarwood
Oil, and 1% Citric Acid diluted with water to 50% Concentrate for
RTU. RTU: 12.5% `Modified Vegetable Oil`, 27.5% Coconut Oil Soap,
3.5% Lauric Acid, 1% Glycerin, 5% Cedarwood Oil, 0.5% Citric Acid,
50% Water
[0098] Formula M: From Concentrate, 25% `Modified Vegetable Oil`,
42% MCT Oil Soap, 6% C8, 4% C10, 10% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, 2%
Glycerin, 10% Geraniol Oil, and 1% Citric Acid diluted with water
to 50% Concentrate for RTU. RTU: 12.5% `Modified Vegetable Oil`,
21% MCT Oil Soap, 3% C8 Fatty Acid, 2% C10 Fatty Acid, 5% Sodium
Lauryl Sulfate, 1% Glycerin, 5% Geraniol Oil, 0.5% Citric Acid, 50%
Water
[0099] The results for use of Formula F, Formula G, and Formula H
in specific target vegetation herbicidal applications, and the
selectivity/non-selectivity character of such compositions in these
applications, are set out in Table 4 below.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Composition Target Vegetation Selective/non-
Formula Type selective Results F Woody Stem Trees, Non-Selective
Total Vegetation Kill-can kill Weeds, Grasses, Ivy trees based on
contact of entire (poison ivy, Kudzu) tree-after 1 year area trees
sprayed are still dead but new growth of other species are growing.
Kills some grasses, ie. fescue and suppresses others, ie. Bermuda.
Kills ivy including poison ivy, Kudzu G Small weeds < 4 inch
Selective Does not affect grass; kills broad in agriculture field
leaf weeds and Small Briars less than 4'' H Weeds, ivy, and small
Selective Kills most weeds, ivy and small woody stem plants woody
stem plants but not bushes or trees. Burns down grass but does not
kill it.
[0100] Pesticidal compositions of the present disclosure can be
formulated from natural ingredients that are effective but also
have a non-systemic mode of action as a contact insecticide and a
biodegradable character providing beneficial buildup of soil and
maintenance of habitats that are safe for humans and animals. As
contact insecticides with a desiccant mode of action, insecticidal
compositions of the present disclosure ensure that insects and
arthropods will not build up resistance to them, and such
compositions can be selectively used to avoid cidal action on
beneficial insects.
[0101] The compositions of the present disclosure are readily
biodegradable and break down into nutrients and organic matter
constituting a food source for beneficial soil organisms. Their
formulation with natural vegetable oils deriving from agricultural
crops is sustainable, since they are recycled back to the
environment without harmful effects.
[0102] Selective herbicidal compositions of the present disclosure,
utilizing coconut oil insecticidal soap with free fatty acids, are
advantageous for yard and crop sprays, as cidal contact agents for
controlling insects and arthropods by a desiccant mode of action.
As with herbicidal compositions of the present disclosure,
insecticidal compositions in accordance with the present disclosure
can be formulated to utilize the free fatty acid content and
profile of a soap or detergent by adding fatty acids to the soap or
detergent content (e.g., SLS, coconut oil soap, MCT soap) or
saponifying coconut oil soap or MCT soap and acidulating the soap
forms for the free fatty acid content described herein.
[0103] For cidal action, insects or arthropods must fully contact
the pesticidal composition. Accordingly, bees and other pollinators
are not affected by landing on the material, and in fact are
observed to avoid it until it breaks down. Being readily
biodegradable, the insecticidal composition quickly breaks down so
that it is not harmful.
[0104] Pesticidal compositions of the present disclosure display
enhanced insect and arthropod penetration and cidal effectiveness
at higher dilutions with water, to reliably control insects and
arthropods. The free fatty acid composition of the insecticidal
soap can be optimized to yield immediate quick kill results in
application to a wide range of insects and arthropods, including
hard bodied insects and arthropods.
[0105] The pesticidal compositions of the present disclosure
achieve enhanced results by detergent or soap action dissolving the
waxes and protein structures of insect and arthropod exoskeletons,
allowing the specific free fatty acid components to penetrate into
the exoskeleton and further break down the structure rapidly,
causing the insight to quickly dehydrate and respiratory systems to
cease as a result of disruption of cell membrane integrity.
[0106] For control of hard bodied insects and arthropods,
pesticidal compositions of the present disclosure are
advantageously formulated so that soap and/or detergent with the
specified fatty acid components along with the modified vegetable
oil effect penetration of the outer cuticle structure. The
specified fatty acid components are benign with respect to human
and animal health and habitats.
[0107] Thus, selective herbicidal compositions for insect and
arthropod control can be formulated, which do not kill grass and
are selective for broad leaf and/or other weed species. The Formula
G composition is particularly effective on insects, killing
mosquitoes, aphids, fleas, and other small insects. The Formula I
composition containing SLS as a detergent component, together with
coconut oil soap and free fatty acid components, is particularly
effective on ticks and for controlling hard bodied arthropods.
Since these compositions do not have a systemic mode of action and
full contact of material is needed to kill an insect or arthropod
past, these compositions will not negatively affect beehives or
pollinator colonies when bees or other pollinators land on them.
Further, these compositions are readily biodegradable and break
down quickly into ground nutrients and food sources for microbes,
thereby enhancing the soil and enriching pollinator habitats. The
Formula I composition has been observed to immediately kill outdoor
cockroaches, fire ants, flies, wasps, ticks, spiders, stinkbugs,
Japanese beetles, and carpenter bees.
[0108] Adding modified vegetable oil to coconut oil soap with free
fatty acids and to detergent, e.g., SLS, compositions, increases
cidal and repellent effectiveness by enhancing penetration and
weatherproofing for extended insect and arthropod control duration.
The Formula J composition, in addition to being cidal to insects
and arthropods, is also repellent to cockroaches and other
arthropods and they seek to avoid contact. This composition is also
more weatherproofing and persisting in character, and lasts for 2
weeks as a deer repellent when sprayed on outside vegetation. The
Formula J composition is also highly effective in controlling flies
on equine and bovine animal species for 2 weeks after spraying the
animals when the animals are out of doors for the entire 2 week
period.
[0109] Preferred organic compositions of the present disclosure can
be made in certified organic formulas by adding organic oils having
cidal or repellent character for arthropod control. A particularly
effective organic composition is the Formula K composition
containing cedarwood oil that is cidal to insects and arthropods
and can be used in yards and on structures. The Formula L
composition, of similar formulation to the Formula K formulation
but containing modified seed oil, is more weatherproof and lasts 2
weeks as a deer repellent when sprayed on outside vegetation. The
Formula L composition also effectively controlled flies on dogs,
equine, and bovine animal species for 2 weeks after spraying the
animals when the animals are out of doors for the entire 2 week
period. Repellency was also observed after spraying outside wood
structures and residential wood decking, killing cockroaches,
spiders, and carpenter bees on full contact, and repelling insects
and arthropods for 30 days.
[0110] Another preferred composition for livestock insecticide
application and arthropod control on structures is the Formula M
composition, using SLS and MCT oil soap and specific fatty acids,
and such composition may be employed for arthropod control on plant
species for which the composition is herbicidal.
[0111] The Formula M composition is preferred as a highly effective
general pest control composition for killing insects and
vegetation, or to control insects and arthropods on animals. The
Formula M composition is particularly useful in mulch areas and
will control weeds, grasses, insects, and arthropods for more than
30 days.
[0112] Table 5 below identifies specific control results for
insecticidal and arthropod control compositions of Formulas G, I,
J, K, L, and M.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Insect, Arthropod, Pest Control Compositions
COMPOSITION Pest, Insect or Animal, Area, or Control FORMULA
Arthropod Structure Results G = Coconut oil Mosquito, Aphids,
Garden Immediate Kill Soap + fatty acids Thrips, Spider mites, of
target Insects Fleas, common Ant (<1 minute) I = SLS + Coconut
oil Fly, cockroach, Lone Yard and fruit Trees, Quick Kill (<5
min) Soap + fatty acids Star Tick, Spider, Fire Garden, On of
target arthropods Ant, Japanese Beetle, Playground Wood Carpenter
Bee, Structure Squash Beetle, Stink Bug, Grasshopper, Wasp J =
Coconut oil Soap + Fly, Flea, Horse Fly, Yard, Dog, Horse and
Immediate kill fatty acids + Modified Lone Star Ticks, Cow insects,
Quick Kill Vegetable Oil Japanese Beetle, Arthropods and Carpenter
Bee, Stink Repellent to Bug, Wasp, Mosquito, Arthropods on yard
Aphid, Spider mites, for 2 weeks. Repelled Fleas, Fire Ant, Deer
Deer from vegetation for 2 weeks. K = SLS + Coconut oil Fly, flea,
Aphid, Organic farm areas Immediately killed Soap + fatty acids +
Spider Mite, Thrip, and Organic Insects; Arthropods Cedarwood Oil
Ticks, Japanese Livestock killed in 10 minutes Beetle, Squash
Beetle, Stink Bug, Grasshopper L = Coconut oil Soap + Fly, flea,
Japanese Yard, Garden, Wood Immediate kill of fatty acids + Cedar
Beetle, Lone Star Structures, Dog, insects, Quick kill of Oil +
Modified Tick, Grasshopper, Horse, and Cow arthropods, Repelled
Vegetable oil Cockroach, Spider, Arthropods from Yard Carpenter Bee
for 2 weeks, Repelled Arthropods for 30 days from wood structures,
repelled Deer from Vegetation for 2 weeks. Repelled Arthropods for
2 weeks on Dog, Horse and Cow. M = SLS + MCT Grass and Weeds, Yard
mulch areas, Immediate kill of Oil Soap + FA + Mosquito, Fly, Flea,
Wood Home insects and arthropods Geraniol + Modified Japanese
Beetle, Lone Structures, Wood on Contact. Veg Oil Star Tick,
Playground Structure, Controlled Weeds and Grasshopper, Stone
walkway, Insects and Cockroach, Spider, Gravel Area Arthropods from
Carpenter Bee, Fire walkways and wood Ants, Common Ants, structures
and Wasp mulched areas for 30 days. Controlled arthropods for 30
days on animals.
[0113] It will be appreciated that the compositions of the present
disclosure may be formulated in any of suitable forms, including
concentrate forms, intermediate diluted forms, and final diluted
ready to use forms. The choice of a specific form will depend on
the specific ingredients, proportions of water and other solvent
media in the final use form of the composition, and other
processing, packaging, and transportation considerations.
[0114] In specific embodiments, the herbicidal composition of the
present disclosure may comprise a concentrate comprising (i) soy
methyl ester, (ii) sodium laurel sulfate, and (iii)
C.sub.6-C.sub.12 fatty acid(s), e.g., C.sub.8 and/or C.sub.10
and/or C.sub.12 fatty acid(s).
[0115] In various embodiments, the herbicidal composition
concentrate may consist, or consist essentially of, the ingredients
(i)-(iii).
[0116] The herbicidal composition concentrate may be prepared for
use, i.e., administration to a locus containing or susceptible to
emergence of unwanted vegetation such as grasses, woody brush,
trees, and weeds, by addition to the concentrate, comprising
ingredients (i)-(iii), of a (iv) diluent, to form a diluted
herbicidal formulation. The diluent may be of any suitable type
that is effective for dissolution or suspension of the concentrate
ingredients. The diluent may for example comprise an aqueous medium
such as water or an alcoholic aqueous solution, a silicone, oil, or
any other appropriate diluent. Water is a preferred diluent.
[0117] In addition to the ingredients (i)-(iii) in the herbicidal
composition concentrate, and the ingredients (i)-(iv) in the
diluted herbicidal formulation, other excipients and ingredients
may optionally be employed in either the concentrate or the diluted
formulation, such as emulsifiers, defoamers, surfactants,
stabilizers, pH modifiers, preservatives, etc. Emulsifiers may be
of any suitable type, and may include, for example, one or more of
potassium oleate, Peg40 castor oil, polysorbate 20, lecithin, and
other emulsifying agents. Defoamers may include glycerol
monostearate, potassium oleate, or other suitable deforming agents.
Surfactants and stabilizers may be of any suitable types. Suitable
pH modifiers include sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and
other base and acid materials. Preservatives that may be employed
in various embodiments include citric acid, sodium benzoate, and
other preservative agents. Where enzymes are included in the
composition, glycerin may be added as an enzyme protectant.
[0118] In the concentrate, and in the diluted formulation, the
compositions of the disclosure may utilize the ingredients
(i)-(iii) in any suitable proportions in relation to one another,
and in the diluted formulation, the proportion of (iv) water or
other diluent may be substantially varied.
[0119] In various embodiments, the herbicidal composition
concentrate may contain (i) soy methyl ester in an amount in a
range of from 45 to 50% by weight, (ii) sodium laurel sulfate in an
amount of from 4 to 8% by weight, and (iii) from 45 to 50% by
weight of C.sub.6-C.sub.12 fatty acid(s), e.g., C.sub.6 and/or
C.sub.8 and/or C.sub.10 and/or C.sub.12 fatty acid(s), based on the
total weight of such ingredients (i), (ii), and (iii), wherein the
amounts of all such ingredients (i), (ii), and (iii) total to 100
weight percent. In various embodiments, as herein earlier
indicated, the herbicidal composition concentrate may comprise,
consist, or consist essentially of, such ingredients (i), (ii), and
(iii). In any of such embodiments, the concentrate may incorporate
emulsifiers, surfactants, stabilizers, pH modifiers, preservatives,
etc.
[0120] In other embodiments, the herbicidal composition concentrate
may contain (i) soy methyl ester in an amount in a range of from 46
to 48% by weight, (ii) sodium laurel sulfate in an amount of from 5
to 8% by weight, and (iii) from 46 to 48% by weight of C.sub.8
and/or C.sub.10 and/or C.sub.12 fatty acid(s), based on the total
weight of such ingredients (i), (ii), and (iii), wherein the
amounts of all such ingredients (i), (ii), and (iii) total to 100
weight percent.
[0121] In various embodiments of the diluted herbicidal
formulation, the concentration of the (iv) diluent may be in a
range of from 1 to 98% by weight, based on the total weight of the
ingredients (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv), wherein the amounts of all
such ingredients (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) total to 100 weight
percent. In other embodiments, the concentration of the (iv)
diluent may be in a range of from 5 to 95% by weight, or from 10 to
95% by weight, or from 15% to 85% by weight, or in other range, on
the same total weight basis, wherein the amounts of all ingredients
(i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) total to 100 weight percent.
[0122] In various embodiments, the herbicidal composition
concentrate may contain a small amount of diluent, in relation to
the amount of diluent that is subsequently added to the concentrate
to form the diluted herbicidal formulation.
[0123] Set out in Table 6 below is a listing of the ingredients and
amounts thereof in one illustrative embodiment of the herbicidal
composition concentrate, as well as an illustrative range of
amounts of such ingredients and the diluent in the diluted
herbicidal formulation.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Herbicidal Composition Concentrate
Containing Diluted Herbicidal Ingredients (i), (ii), and (iii)
Formulation (Weight (Weight percent based on percent based on total
INGREDIENT total weight of concentrate) weight of formulation) (i)
Soy Methyl Ester 47% 1% to 60% (ii) Sodium Lauryl Sulfate 6% 0.1%
to 20% (Standapol WAQ-LC, BASF CAS 68585-47-7) (iii) C.sub.8 and/or
C.sub.10 and/or C.sub.12 47% 1% to 60% Fatty Acid (iv) Diluent
(e.g., water) none 0 to 97.9% Other ingredients (emulsifiers, any
of such ingredients any of such ingredients may surfactants,
stabilizers, pH may optionally be present optionally be present
modifiers, preservatives, etc.)
[0124] The herbicidal composition concentrate may thus be diluted
with water or other diluent to constitute the herbicidal
formulation for use as a contact herbicide, penetrating herbicide,
and/or selective herbicide. In various embodiments, the herbicidal
composition concentrate may contain emulsifiers and/or surfactants
for dispersal in water or other diluent medium, as may be
appropriate for use in a specific application with specific spray
equipment. The herbicidal composition concentrate has been found to
be useful for selective weed control in amounts of from 1 to 4
gallons per 3 acres with 50 gallons of water as the diluent in the
applied diluted herbicidal formulation applied to such
weed-containing acreage.
[0125] In addition to spraying application, the herbicidal
compositions of the present disclosure may be administered to
specific ground areas, specific plants, or other loci containing or
subject to emergence of undesired vegetation. This may include
delivery of the composition to a specific locus by drip irrigation,
misting, nebulization, direct liquid application, or any other
delivery technique which is effective to bring the herbicidal
composition in contact with the unwanted vegetation so that it is
cidally effective for such vegetation.
[0126] In other specific applications, the herbicidal composition
concentrate may be used at full strength without (water) dilution,
or alternatively with water dilution of 4 ounces of concentrate per
gallon of water, to effectively kill undesired vegetation such as
grasses, woody brush, trees, and weeds. In applications in which
the weeds comprise Bermuda grass and/or the unwanted vegetation
comprises woody brush, diluted herbicidal formulations of 16 ounces
of the herbicidal composition concentrate per gallon of water may
be employed to effect total vegetation kill of such weeds and woody
brush, although higher dilutions may be employed to achieve longer
periods of vegetation control.
[0127] The concentrate compositions and diluted formulations of the
disclosure are highly effective when applied to grasses, woody
brush, trees, or weeds to be killed in a location containing same,
where the location receives 2 hours or more of daylight, and are
particularly cidally effective when applied prior to rain, at
temperatures above 76.degree. F. or otherwise at or above the
temperature at which the specific vegetation (weeds, woody brush,
trees, and grasses) conduct photosynthesis.
[0128] In various embodiments, the use of additional ingredients
such as potassium oleate and glycerol in the aqueous (e.g., water)
diluent assists in maintaining stability of the active ingredients
in the diluted formulation in which the active ingredients and
additional ingredients may be emulsified, and is particularly
useful for formulations for selective control of unwanted
vegetation, e.g., weed(s), woody brush, tree(s), etc. For use as an
aquatic herbicide, compositions of the present disclosure may
further include enzymes that are cidally effective against pond
algae as well as pond plants, weeds, woody brush, trees, and
grasses. Such enzymes may be of any suitable type, appropriate to
the particular end use of the composition, and may for example
include any one or more of amylase, cellulase, keratinase,
lifinase, lipase, pectinase, protease, xylanase, and other
enzymes.
[0129] Compositions of the present disclosure may be formulated to
be selective against woody brush and trees but not other
vegetation, e.g., in locations in which it is important to keep
existing grass but to remove such woody brush and trees. The
composition may thus be applied so that grasses will respond by
burning back but thereafter grow back at the treated location,
while the woody brush and trees at such location are killed.
[0130] Woody brush and trees as referred to herein encompass woody
stem plants and trees, and they sometimes are referred to in the
aggregate as woody plants. Woody plants, by definition, are plants
that have hard stems, thus the term, "woody", as compared, for
example, to "herbaceous" plants. Trees, which are further
characterized as deciduous and evergreen plants, are woody
plants.
[0131] The compositions of the present disclosure are readily made
by blending of ingredients under mixing conditions.
[0132] In compositions containing fatty acid(s), soy methyl ester,
and sodium lauryl sulfate, the fatty acid(s) are advantageously
blended with the soy methyl ester first and the resulting material
blend then is added to the sodium lauryl sulfate under mixing
conditions, e.g., sodium lauryl sulfate in a small amount of water
or other suitable diluent under high shear mixing. Other diluents
may be used, such as silicone or oils or alcohols. When the
concentrate is formed without any diluent, foaming may result. To
minimize such foaming behavior, the concentrate may be constituted
with any of suitable emulsifiers, defoamers, stabilizers, etc.,
such as lecithin, polysorbate 20, potassium oleate, glycerol
monostearate, and glycerin, being blended together under high shear
mixing with a water-based diluent to form a stabilized emulsion.
Such composition is formulated so that it is appropriate for use in
the specific application, and so that the composition satisfies the
viscosity and other requirements of the spray equipment or other
application devices that are utilized to administer the composition
to the locus in which weeds, woody brush, trees, and grasses are to
be eliminated. In various specific implementations, preservatives,
fragrances, pH modifiers, and other ingredients may also be added
to the composition.
[0133] Vegetation that may be controlled using the herbicidal
compositions of the present disclosure include, without limitation:
(a) woody plants, including, without limitation, Acacia, Alder,
Arrowwood, Aspen, Dogwood, Oaks, Thistleberry, Douglas fir, Osage
Orange, Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus), Ash, Elderberry, Pepper Vine,
Trumpet Creeper, Elm, Persimmon, Tulip Poplar, Bear Clover
(Bearmat), Gallberry, Persimmon, Beech, Gorse, Pine, Virginia
Creeper, Birch, Granjeno, Poison Ivy, Wax Myrtle, Blackberry,
Guajillo, Poison Oak, Wild Rose, Blackbrush, Guava, Poplar, Willow,
Black gum, Hawthorn, Salmonberry, Winged elm, Boxelder, Hazel,
Saltbush (Braccharis spp), Brazilian Pepper, Hickory, Saltbush
(silver myrtle), Buckthorn, Hornbeam, Salt Cedar, Cascara, Huisache
(suppression), Sassafras, Ceanothus, Kudzu, Scotch Broom, Cherry,
Locust, Sumac, Chinquapin, Madrone, Sweetbay, Magnolia, Choke
Cherry, Maples, Sweet Gum, Cottonwood, Milkweed Vine, Sycamore,
Crataegus (hawthorn), Mulberry, and Tan Oak; (b) weeds, including,
without limitation, Black Medic, Curly dock, Matchweed, Sulfur
Cinquefoil, Bull Thistle, Dandelion, Mustard, Sweet Clover,
Burdock, Dogfennel, Oxalis, Tropical Soda Apple, Canada Thistle,
Field Bindweed, Plantain, Vetch, Chicory, Goldenrod, Purple
Loosestrife, Wild Carrot (Queen Anne's Lace), Cinquefoil, Ground
Ivy, Ragweed, Wild Lettuce, Clover, Lambsquarters, Sericea
Lespedeza, Wild Violet, Creeping Beggarweed, Lespedeza, Smartweed,
and Yarrow; (c) grasses, including, without limitation, graminoids
species including Poaceae (also called Gramineae), sedges
(Cyperaceae), and rushes (Juncaceae) including, by common names,
Bermuda, Rye, Bluegrass, Fescue, Kikuyu, crabgrass, centipede,
Saint Augustine, Bahia, Johnson Grass, and Marsh grasses; (d) woody
brush weeds and plants, including annual weeds such as Annual
Broomweed (Amphiachyris dracunculoides), Bitter sneezeweed/Basin
sneezeweed (Helenium amarum), Buffalobur (Solanum rostratum), Bur
buttercup (Ranunculus testiculates), Camphorweed (Heterotheca
subaxillaris), Common Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium), Horseweed
(Marestail) (Conyza Canadensis), Lambsquarters Common (Chenopodium
album), Marshelder (Iva annua), Pigweed--Redroot (Amaranthus
retroflexus), Ragweed--Common (Ambrosia artemisiifolia),
Ragweed--Giant (Ambrosia trifida), Ragweed--Lanceleaf (Southern)
(Ambrosia bidentata), Smartweed--Pennsylvania (Polygonum
pennsylvanicum), Sunflower--Common (Helianthus annua), Western
Bitterweed (Hymenoxys odorata), Woolly Croton (Goatweed, Doveweed)
(flowers inconspicuous, usually clustered at branch tips; seeds
smooth, somewhat turtle-shaped), and Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea
solstitialis); (e) biennials/perennials, including, without
limitation, Absinth Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), Blue Vervain
(Verbena hastate), Broom Snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae), Chicory
(Cichorium intybus), Curly Dock (Rumex crispus), Curly Dock Gumweed
(Grindelia squarrosa), Dalmatian Toadflax (Linaria genistifolia),
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Dogfennel (Eupatorium
capillifolium), Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), Fringed
(Prairie) Sagewort (Artemisia frigida), Goldenrod (Solidago), Hairy
Goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa), Ironweed (Western) (Vernonia
baldwinii), Knapweed--Diffuse (Centaurea diffuse),
Knapweed--Russian (Acroptilon repens), Knapweed--Spotted (Centaurea
Stoebe), Larkspur--Geyer (Delphinim Geyeri), Larkspur--Plains
(Delphinim virescens), Larkspur--Tall (Delphinim exaltatum),
Locoweed (Lambert and Silky Crazyweed) (Oxytroplis sericea),
Milkweed (Asclepias spp), Mullein--Common (Verbascum thapsus),
Orange Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum), Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum
vulgare), Prairie Wild Rose (Rosa arkansana), Pricklypear Cactus
(Opuntia polyacantha), Ragweed--Bur (Ambrosia grayi),
Ragweed--Western (Ambrosia psilostachya), Rush Skeletonweed
(Chondrilla juncea), Sericea Lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata),
Silverleaf Nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifoilum), Spiny Aster
(Mexican Devil-Weed; Wolf Weed) (Chloracantha spinosa), Spurge
Leafy (Euphorbia esula L. Perennial), St. Johnswort (Hypericum
perforatum), Sulfur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta), Tansy--Common
(Tanacetum vulgare), Thistle--Bull (Cirsium vulgare),
Thistle--Canada (Cirsium arvense), Thistle--Musk (Carduus nutans),
Thistle--Plumeless (Carduus acanthoides), Thistle--Scotch
(Onopordum acanthium), Wild Carrot (Daucus carota), Wild Licorice
(Glycyrrhiza lepidota), Yankee weed (Rosin Weed) (Eupatorium
compositifolium), and Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vlugaris); (e) woody
plants/brush, including, without limitation: Blackberry (Rosaceae
family), Blackbrush (Rosaceae family), Bluewood (Brazil)
(Rhamnaceae family), Buckbrush (Rhamnaceae family), Catclaw Acacia
(Fabaceae family), Cenizo (Melastomataceae family), Chinese
Tallowtree (Euphorbiaceae family), Chokecherry, Creosotebush
(Zygophyllaceae family), Eastern Cottonwood (Salicaceae family),
Eastern Persimmon (Ebenaceae family), Eastern Redcedar
(Cupressaceae family), Green Ash (Oleaceae family), Guajillo
(Fabaceae family), Hawthorn (Rosaceae family), Hedge (Bois d'Arc,
Osage Orange) (Moraceae family), Hickory--Bitternut (Juglandaceae
family), Hickory--Black (Juglandaceae family), Honey Locust
(Fabaceae family), Huisache, Juniper--Blueberry (Ashe)
(Cupressaceae family), Juniper--Redberry (Cupressaceae family),
Live Oak (Fagaceae family), Lotebush (Rhamnaceae family), Louisiana
Wormwood (Artemisia ludoviciana), Macartney Rose (Rosaceae family),
Mesquite--Honey (glandulosa) (Fabaceae family), Mesquite--Western
Honey (torreyana) (Fabaceae family), Multiflora Rose (Rosaceae
family), Oak--Blackjack (Fagaceae family), Oak--Poison
(Anacardiaceae family), Oak--Post (Fagaceae family), Oak-Sand
Shinnery (Fagaceae family), Pinyon Pine (Pinaceae family), Picea
rubens (red spruce), Pinus clausa (sand pine), Pinus echinata
(shortleaf pine), Pinus elliottii (slash pine), Pinus palustris
(longleaf pine), Pinus pungens (Table Mountain pine), Pinus rigida
(pitch pine), Pinus strobus (eastern white pine), Pinus taeda
(loblolly pine), Pinus virginiana (Virginia pine), Poison Ivy
(Anacardiaceae family), Prairie Wild Rose (Rosaceae family),
Prickly Ash (Rutaceae family), Privet (Oleaceae family),
Rabbitbrush (Douglas) (Asteraceae family), Red Mulberry (Moraceae
family), Running Live Oak (Fagaceae family), Russian Olive
(Elaeagnaceae family), Sagebrush (Asteraceae family), Saltcedar
(Tamaricaceae family), Sand Sage (Asteraceae family), Shagbark
Hickory (Juglandaceae family), Siberian Elm (Ulmaceae family),
Skunkbrush (Anacardiaceae family), Smooth Sumac (Anacardiaceae
family), Spiny Hackberry (Granjeno) (Ulmaceae family), Sweetgum
(Hamamelidaceae family), Texas Persimmon (Ebenaceae family),
Twisted Acacia (Fabaceae family), Western Snowberry (Caprifoliaceae
family), Wild Plum (Rosaceae family), Willow Baccharis (Asteraceae
family), Winged Elm (Ulmaceae family), and Yaupon (Aquifoliaceae
family).
[0134] Compositions of the present disclosure have the further
advantage in application to ground areas or other loci containing
unwanted vegetation that they are pesticidal to pests such as fire
ants, so that such pests can be removed from the loci containing
unwanted vegetation contemporaneously with the herbicidal treatment
of the unwanted vegetation.
[0135] Compositions of the present disclosure display insect and
arthropod repellency characteristics, and may be usefully applied
to human skin, clothing, and animals to provide protection from
insects and arthropods.
[0136] The features and advantages of the disclosure are more fully
shown with regard to the following illustrative examples, wherein
all parts and percentages are by weight, unless otherwise expressly
stated.
Example 1
[0137] A selective herbicidal composition concentrate, Formula A,
was prepared, comprising the ingredients in the amounts set out
below.
TABLE-US-00007 Formula A: Selective Herbicide Concentrate Formula
Soy Methyl Ester 20.0% Capric Acid 10.0% Capryllic Acid 10.0%
Lauric Acid 5.0% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, 3.0% (Standapol WAQ-LC,
BASF CAS 68585-47-7) Glycerol Monostearate 0.3% Potassium Oleate
0.3% Glycerin 0.4% Water 51.0%
[0138] A trial of the diluted herbicidal formulation based on
Formula A was then conducted, as described below.
[0139] Trial with Selective Herbicidal Formulation (Formula a
Concentrate Diluted at a Ratio of 2 Gallons Formula a
Concentrate/50 Gallons Water)
[0140] Two gallons of the selective herbicide concentrate of
Formula A were mixed with 50 gallons of water into a 55 gallon
tractor sprayer with sprayers extended to each side to cover ground
to the width of the tractor with consistent spray. Temperature at
the time of application was 91.degree. F. with partly cloudy sky.
Spraying of 3 acres using the entire 52 gallons of mix was
completed at 11:30 AM. Within 4 hours, the Greenbrier and
sowthistle, spiny weeds were browning and tops turning over. Within
one week, the briers and thistle weeds were dead and the grass was
green and continued to grow healthy.
[0141] Trial with Selective Herbicidal Formulation (Formula a
Concentrate Diluted at a Ratio of 2 Gallons Formula a
Concentrate/28 Gallons Water
[0142] Two gallons of selective herbicide concentrate of Formula A
were mixed with 28 gallons of water into a 55 gallon tractor
sprayer with sprayers extended to each side to cover the ground to
the width of the tractor with consistent spray. Temperature was
91.degree. F. with partly cloudy sky. Spraying of 1.5 acres using
the entire 30 gallons of mix was completed by 11:30 AM. Within 1
day, the briers, thistles, dogfennel, horseweed, ragweed, ironweed,
horsenettle and prickly burweed were burned down and within 3 days
they were dead. The grass was burned down slightly within 1 day but
was green by 1 week and continued to grow.
Example 2
[0143] A natural selective herbicidal composition of a ready to use
formulation, Formula B, was prepared, comprising the ingredients in
the amounts set out below.
TABLE-US-00008 Formula B: Natural Selective Herbicide Ready to Use
Formula Soy Methyl Ester 5.0% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, 4.0%
(Standapol WAQ-LC, BASF CAS 68585-47-7) Lauric Acid 2.0% Glycerin
5.0% Potassium Oleate 4.0% Glycerol Monostearate 3.0% Water
77.0%
[0144] One gallon of the selective herbicide of Formula B was
sprayed directly on an area with briars, thistles and fescue grass
and shrubs and trees. Temperature was 91.degree. F. Within 1 day,
the briars and thistles started to discolor and by 1 week they were
dead. There was no difference seen in the other vegetation and the
grasses and other vegetation stayed green and thriving.
Example 3
[0145] A total vegetation kill herbicidal composition with
rainproof characteristics, Formula C, was prepared, comprising the
ingredients in the amounts set out below.
TABLE-US-00009 Formula C: Total Vegetation Kill with rainproof
characteristics, Ready To Use Formula Soy Methyl Ester 30.0% Capric
Acid 5.0% Capryllic Acid 5.0% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, 4.0%
(Standapol WAQ-LC, BASF CAS 68585-47-7) Lauric Acid 1.0% Peg40
Castor Oil 1.0% Polysorbate 20 0.9% Potassium Oleate 0.2% Sodium
Bicarbonate 0.3% Glycerol Monostearate 0.2% Citric Acid 0.2%
Glycerin 0.1% Sodium Benzoate 0.1% Water 52.0%
[0146] Three gallons of Formula C in a backpack sprayer were
directly applied on Johnson grass, fescue grass, crabgrass, woody
bush and tree. Temperature was 87.degree. F. and overcast with rain
30 minutes after spraying was completed. The rain lasted for 30
minutes, and the remainder of the day was overcast. The following
day was overcast, with intense rain storms lasting more than 4
hours, however, the sprayed vegetation was dark in color. The
vegetation areas that had been sprayed continued to die over the
next two days, and no regrowth was seen for 14 days when the
treated area was last monitored.
Example 4
[0147] A natural vegetation kill herbicidal concentrate
composition, Formula D, was prepared, comprising the ingredients in
the amounts set out below.
TABLE-US-00010 Formula D: Natural Vegetation Kill Concentrate
(kills grass at 8 oz/ gallon water dilution and woody brush at 16
oz/gallon water dilution) Soy Methyl Ester 47.0% C.sub.6, C.sub.8,
C.sub.10, C.sub.12 fatty acid 47.0% mixture, (LC-810L, Peter Cremer
CAS 67762-36-1) Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, 6.0% (Standapol WAQ-LC, BASF
CAS 68585-47-7)
[0148] Grass Trial with 8 Oz Formula D Concentrate Diluted with
Water to 1 Gallon Total
[0149] Using a hand-held pump-up sprayer, a 100 square foot section
of crabgrass was wetted with 25 oz of the diluted mixture. In
addition, a 100 square feet section of Bermuda grass was wetted
consistently with 50 oz of the diluted mixture. Brown-in was
observed within 1 hour and total kill in 1 day for both grass
sections. There was no regrowth within 14 days.
[0150] Woody Brush Area with 16 Oz Formula D Concentrate Diluted
with Water to 1 Gallon Ratio
[0151] The woody brush area contained wild blackberry briers,
greenbriers, thistles, bushes, small trees, grasses, and weeds and
vines, specifically including blackberry (Rubus pensilvanicu), musk
thistle (Carduus nutans L.), poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans),
honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), autumn olive (Elaeagnus
umbellate), pokeberry (Phytolacca sp), sweet gum (Liquidambar
styraciflua), pine tree (Pinus palustris), Johnson grass (Sorghum
halepense), tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), Japanese stilt
grass (Microstegium vimineum), ragweed (Ambrosia), and Greenbrier
(Smilax rotundifolia L). A hilly area of 2000 square feet was
sprayed using 4 gallons of diluted product (64 oz of Formula D
concentrate to 448 oz of water) in a hand-held pump-up sprayer, and
vegetation was wetted with 4 gallons of the diluted mixture. The
product was applied at 5 PM with little sun and temperature of
88.degree. F. After 15 hours, on the next morning, significant
brown-in was observed throughout all the vegetation and by 24 hours
total kill was observed. There was no regrowth within 28 days.
Example 5
[0152] A natural aquatic herbicidal composition, Formula E, was
prepared, comprising the ingredients in the amounts set out
below.
TABLE-US-00011 Formula E: Natural Aquatic Herbicide test in and
around Pond Soy Methyl Ester 41.0% C.sub.6, C.sub.8, C.sub.10,
C.sub.12 fatty acid 41.0% mixture, (LC-810L, Peter Cremer CAS
67762-36-1) Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, 4.5% (Standapol WAQ-LC, BASF CAS
68585-47-7) Glycerin 1% Enzymes: Pancreatic Amylase 2.5% Lipase,
Fungal 2.5% Cellulase 2.5% Subtilisin (proteolytic enzyme) 2.5%
Bacteria, Complex 2.5% (with Amylase and Proteinase CAS
068920-42-3)
[0153] One gallon of Formula E was broadcasted toward the center of
a pond with a heavy algae growth covering the top of the 1/2 acre
pond. 1.5 gallons of Formula E was sprayed with a pump-up
hand-sprayer around the pond on pond weeds, grasses, tree saplings
(including 4 feet pine trees and 3 feet cedar trees, among other
varieties of bushes and trees at the edge of the pond). All
vegetation was dead in 1 day. The algae turned white in one day and
started dropping to the bottom of the pond in 2 days. In one week,
the algae was cleared and no regrowth of vegetation occurred around
the pond. There was no evidence of fish, birds or frogs killed, and
fish, birds and frogs continued to inhabit the pond.
[0154] The efficacy of the herbicidal compositions of the present
disclosure are shown with reference to the accompanying figures
hereof.
[0155] FIG. 1 is a photograph of a woody brush area, prior to any
treatment.
[0156] FIG. 2 is a photograph of the woody brush area of FIG. 1,
one day after treatment of such area with a herbicidal composition
of the present disclosure.
[0157] FIG. 3 is a photograph of the woody brush area of FIG. 1,
one week after treatment of such area with a herbicidal composition
of the present disclosure.
[0158] FIG. 4 is a photograph of a woody tree, prior to any
treatment.
[0159] FIG. 5 is a photograph of the woody tree of FIG. 4, one day
after treatment of such tree with a herbicidal composition of the
present disclosure.
[0160] FIG. 6 is a photograph of the woody tree of FIG. 4, one week
after treatment of such tree with a herbicidal composition of the
present disclosure.
[0161] FIG. 7 is a photograph of Johnson grass, prior to any
treatment.
[0162] FIG. 8 is a photograph of the Johnson grass of FIG. 7, one
day after treatment with a herbicidal composition of the present
disclosure.
[0163] FIG. 9 is a photograph of the Johnson grass of FIG. 7, one
week after treatment with a herbicidal composition of the present
disclosure.
[0164] FIG. 10 is a photograph of crabgrass, prior to any
treatment.
[0165] FIG. 11 is a photograph of the crabgrass shown in FIG. 10,
one day after treatment with a herbicidal composition of the
present disclosure.
[0166] FIG. 12 is a photograph of the crabgrass shown in FIG. 10,
one week after treatment with a herbicidal composition of the
present disclosure.
[0167] FIG. 13 is a photograph of thistle weed, prior to any
treatment.
[0168] FIG. 14 is a photograph of the thistle weed shown in FIG.
13, one day after treatment with a herbicidal composition of the
present disclosure.
[0169] FIG. 15 is a photograph of the thistle weed shown in FIG.
13, one week after treatment with a herbicidal composition of the
present disclosure.
[0170] FIGS. 16-24 are compiled photographs illustrating the
treatment of various target vegetation with the Formula F
composition of the disclosure, as applied with a 100 gallons per
application spray wand applicator.
[0171] FIG. 25 is a composite of before and after photographs
illustrating the treatment of small briars with the Formulation G
composition of the disclosure.
[0172] FIG. 26 is a composite of before and after photographs
illustrating the treatment of large briars, ivy, and weeds with the
Formulation H composition of the disclosure.
[0173] FIG. 27 is a composite of before and after photographs
illustrating the treatment of grass with the Formulation H
composition of the disclosure.
[0174] As used herein, the term "MCT oil-based soap" refers to soap
formed from medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, which optionally
has been processed by pH modulation and/or acidulation to yield
free fatty acids. The MCT oil that is utilized to form the MCT
oil-based soap has a fatty acid composition in which the C.sub.8
(caprylic acid) and C.sub.10 (capric acid) fatty acids constitute
at least 75 weight percent of the total weight of the oil and may
constitute 100% of the total weight of the oil, or the C.sub.8 and
C.sub.10 fatty acids may constitute at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%,
97%, 98%, 99% and 99.5% of the total weight of the oil, wherein any
of the aforementioned weight percent values may constitute a weight
percent range bounded by lower and higher values selected from the
foregoing weight percentages, on the same total weight of the oil
basis.
[0175] The MCT oil that is utilized to form the MCT oil-based soap
may in some embodiments also contain any one or more of C.sub.6,
C.sub.9, and C.sub.12 fatty acids subject to the requirements
discussed in the preceding paragraph for the amount of C.sub.8 and
C.sub.10 fatty acids in the MCT oil.
[0176] An MCT oil that has been advantageously utilized for forming
MCT oil-based soap for herbicidal compositions of the present
disclosure is MCT (medium chain triglyceride) oil, commercially
available from J. Edwards International, Inc. having a fatty acid
composition of 2% caproic acid (C.sub.6 fatty acid), 65% caprylic
acid (C.sub.8 fatty acid), 45% capric acid (C.sub.10 fatty acid)
and 3% lauric acid (C.sub.12 fatty acid), having a saponification
value in a range of from 325 to 345 mg KOH/gm.
[0177] The present disclosure in various embodiments contemplates
herbicidal compositions and pest-control compositions comprising
coconut oil soap containing C.sub.6, C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and
C.sub.12 fatty acids, in which the total amount of C.sub.8 and
C.sub.10 fatty acids together may be less than in the MCT oil
utilized to form the MCT oil-based soap, e.g., from 25 weight
percent to less than 75 weight percent, based on total weight of
the coconut oil soap. The coconut oil soap may be utilized in
herbicidal compositions of the present disclosure, in combination
with MCT oil-based soap.
[0178] In various pest-control compositions of the present
disclosure, coconut oil soap may be used as an active insecticidal
or insect repellent agent, and may be utilized in combination with
MCT oil-based soap.
[0179] The MCT oil-based soap and the coconut oil soap when present
in compositions of the present disclosure may be formed by pH
modification and/or acidulation with suitable acid such as for
example citric acid or acetic acid, answer processing may be
carried out to form free fatty acids of appropriate carbon numbers
and relative amounts in relation to one another. Alternatively,
specific fatty acids can be added to the soap stock directly to
provide a desired free fatty acid content of various desired fatty
acid species.
[0180] Preferably, pH modification and/or acidulation is achieved
by citric acid or acetic acid in an amount that is in a range of
from 15% to 40% of the oil content by weight of the soap. For
example, a dilute aqueous solution of acetic acid, e.g., containing
5-10% acetic acid, can be utilized for pH modification and/or
acidulation.
[0181] The coconut oil soap when utilized in compositions of the
present disclosure may be of any suitable type and may for example
comprise potassium cocoate soap formed from a suitable soap stock
such as coconut oil or MCT oil.
[0182] In various embodiments, the present disclosure contemplates
limonene-free herbicidal compositions, and more particularly,
d-limonene-free herbicidal compositions. It recently has been shown
that the d-isomer of limonene causes male rat-specific kidney
toxicity (hyaline droplet nephropathy), with chronic exposure
causing a significant incidence of renal tubular tumors in male
rats, raising concern regarding its human safety and risk of, in
addition to established human physiological side effects of normal
sensitization, and irritated and bronchoconstrictive airway
effects. Further, d-limonene is flammable as a liquid and a vapor,
and is toxic to aquatic life. For such reasons, it may be desirable
in some applications to provide compositions of the present
disclosure that are free of limonene content therein, or that more
specifically are free of d-limonene content therein. In other
applications, the compositions may advantageously contain limonene,
or more specifically may advantageously contain d-limonene.
[0183] Relative to the use of MCT oil-based soap and/or coconut oil
soap, as well as fatty acids, in compositions of the present
disclosure, it is to be noted that such ingredients are employed in
the compositions of the present disclosure as active ingredients.
Thus, the use of soaps as active ingredients in the compositions of
the present disclosure is in opposition to the prevailing wisdom of
the art, which has regarded soaps as inert ingredients, e.g., in
the United States Environmental Protection Agency's "Inert
Ingredients Eligible for FIFRA 25 (b) Pesticide Products," revised
November, 2016, https://www
epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-11/documents/minrisk_inert_ingredient-
s_w_tolerances_2016-11-16.pdf, wherein soaps, as well as fatty
acids, are identified as inert ingredients.
[0184] In one fundamental aspect, the present disclosure provides
an herbicidal composition comprising MCT oil-based soap.
[0185] Such herbicidal composition in various embodiments may
further comprise free fatty acids including at least C.sub.8 and
C.sub.10 free fatty acids; for example, the herbicidal composition
may comprise: from 2 weight percent to 50 weight percent C.sub.8
free fatty acid; from 2 weight percent to 50 weight percent
C.sub.10 free fatty acid; and from 0 weight percent to 8 weight
percent C.sub.12 free fatty acid, based on the total weight of the
C.sub.8 free fatty acid, the C.sub.10 free fatty acid, and the
C.sub.12 free fatty acid, and wherein the weight percentages of the
C.sub.8 free fatty acid, the C.sub.10 free fatty acid, and the
C.sub.12 free fatty acid total to 100 weight percent. In various
embodiments, the herbicidal composition may be constituted, wherein
C.sub.8 free fatty acid and C.sub.10 free fatty acid together
comprise from 5 weight percent to 100 weight percent of the free
fatty acids in the herbicidal composition. In other embodiments of
the herbicidal composition, the composition may contain from 5 to
95 weight percent MCT oil-based soap, based on total weight of the
herbicidal composition.
[0186] The herbicidal composition as variously described above may
comprise MCT-based soap that is derived from coconut oil and/or
from any other sources, such as palm oil, canola oil, etc. The
herbicidal composition as variously described above may comprise
coconut oil soap containing C.sub.6, C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and
C.sub.12 fatty acids. The herbicidal composition as variously
described above may comprise from 1 to 60 weight percent of coconut
oil soap, based on total weight of the herbicidal composition.
[0187] Herbicidal compositions of the present disclosure, as
variously described above, may have a pH in a range of from 3 to
5.
[0188] Herbicidal compositions of the present disclosure, as
variously described above, may comprise free fatty acids that have
been formed by pH modification and/or acidulation of the MCT
oil-based soap. Additionally, or alternatively, herbicidal
compositions of the present disclosure, as variously described
above, may comprise fatty acids that are non-derived from the MCT
oil-based soap.
[0189] More generally, any of the herbicidal compositions of the
present disclosure, as variously described herein, may comprise one
or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of acetic
acid, soybean oil, soy methyl ester, citric acid, water,
emulsifier, essential oils, preservatives, glycerin, and sodium
bicarbonate. In various embodiments, the herbicidal compositions
may explicitly exclude any one or more of such ingredients, as may
be necessary or desirable in a given application of the herbicidal
composition.
[0190] In specific embodiments, the herbicidal composition may
comprise the MCT oil-based soap, C.sub.8 and C.sub.10 free fatty
acids, and citric acid, optionally with coconut oil soap containing
C.sub.6, C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and C.sub.12 fatty acids, and
optionally with one or more of soybean oil, soy methyl ester,
water, and emulsifier. The emulsifier when present may be of any
suitable type, and may comprise, for example, glycerol
monostearate, palmitic acid, sodium lauryl sulfate, or other
emulsifier species or combinations of different emulsifier species.
In general, sodium lauryl sulfate is a preferred emulsifier. Such
herbicidal composition may for example be formulated with from 0 to
60% by weight of the coconut oil soap, with C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and
C.sub.12 free fatty acids, wherein the C.sub.8 free fatty acid may
constitute from 2 to 50% by weight of the total free fatty acids,
the C.sub.10 fatty acid may constitute from 2 to 50% by weight of
the total free fatty acids, and the C.sub.12 free fatty acid may
constitute from 0 to 8% by weight of the total C.sub.8, C.sub.10,
and C.sub.12 free fatty acids, wherein the soybean oil may
constitute from 0 to 20% by weight, the soy methyl ester may
constitute from 0 to 40% by weight, citric acid may constitute 5 to
35% by weight, water may constitute from 0 to 50 weight percent,
and emulsifier may constitute from 0 to 10% by weight, wherein all
weight percents are based on total weight of the composition, and
wherein all weight percents total to 100 weight percent. The
herbicidal compositions of this paragraph may be utilized in
various herbicidal applications and/or in algicidal applications,
and such compositions also have pest control character, and thus
provide various multifunctional applications.
[0191] In other embodiments, the herbicidal composition may
comprise the MCT oil-based soap containing C.sub.8 and C.sub.10
fatty acids, free fatty acids comprising 2%-20% by weight capric
acid, 2%-20% by weight caprylic acid, and 0-8% by weight of lauric
acid, optionally with one or more of coconut oil soap containing
C.sub.6, C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and C.sub.12 fatty acids, in the amount
of 0-10% by weight, soybean oil in the amount of 0-20% by weight,
soy methyl ester in the amount of 0-40% by weight, water in the
amount of 0-80% by weight, emulsifier (e.g., sodium lauryl sulfate
in the amount of 0-10% by weight, glycerol monostearate in the
amount of 0-8% by weight, or palmitic acid in the amount of 0-2% by
weight), glycerin in the amount of 0-8% by weight, and
preservatives in the amount of 0-2% by weight, wherein all weight
percents are based on total weight of the composition, and wherein
all weight percents total to 100 weight percent. This herbicidal
composition is highly advantageous for aquatic herbicidal
applications, and additionally has pest control character.
[0192] In still other embodiments, the herbicidal composition may
comprise the MCT oil-based soap containing C.sub.8 and C.sub.10
fatty acids, in the amount of 20% to 90% by weight, and acetic acid
aqueous solution in an amount of 10 to 80% by weight, and
optionally 0-10% by weight of emulsifier, e.g. sodium lauryl
sulfate, wherein all weight percents are based on total weight of
the composition, and wherein all weight percents total to 100
weight percent. The acetic acid aqueous solution may contain any
suitable amount of acetic acid, and preferably is dilute,
containing 5-10% by weight acetic acid, based on weight of the
acetic acid aqueous solution. Such herbicidal composition is
particularly herbicidally effective for grass and broadleaf
plants.
[0193] In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method of
combating unwanted plants and/or algae in a locus containing same,
such method comprising applying to said unwanted plants or algae a
cidally effective amount of a herbicidal composition comprising an
MCT oil-based soap, wherein the composition does not contain
d-limonene.
[0194] The herbicidal composition in such method may comprise in
addition to the MCT oil-based soap, C.sub.8 and C.sub.10 free fatty
acids, and citric acid, optionally with coconut oil soap containing
C.sub.6, C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and C.sub.12 fatty acids, and
optionally with one or more of soybean oil, soy methyl ester,
water, and emulsifier, as described hereinabove.
[0195] In other embodiments, the method may comprise applying the
herbicidal composition to unwanted plants comprising aquatic
plants, in which the herbicidal composition comprises in addition
to the MCT oil-based soap, C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and C.sub.12 free
fatty acids, and optionally one or more of coconut oil soap
containing C.sub.6, C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and C.sub.12 fatty acids,
soybean oil, soy methyl ester, water, emulsifier, glycerin, and
preservative, as also described hereinabove.
[0196] In still other embodiments, the method may comprise applying
the herbicidal composition to unwanted plants comprising at least
one of grass and broadleaf plants, wherein the herbicidal
composition comprises, in addition to the MCT oil-based soap,
acetic acid, water, and optionally emulsifier, as described
hereinabove.
[0197] A further aspect of the disclosure relates to a method of
combating unwanted plants in a locus containing same, such method
comprising applying to said unwanted plants a cidally effective
amount of a herbicidal composition comprising an MCT oil-based
soap, wherein the unwanted plants comprise woody stem plants, and
prior to applying such herbicidal composition to the unwanted
plants, applying to the unwanted plants a woody stem penetrant
formulation comprising soy methyl ester and emulsifier. The woody
stem penetrant formulation may comprise as the emulsifier sodium
lauryl sulfate, glycerol monostearate, palmitic acid, or other
emulsifier species or combination of species.
[0198] The disclosure also contemplates insect control compositions
comprising coconut oil soap, e.g., a coconut oil soap containing
C.sub.6, C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and C.sub.12 fatty acids. The insect
control composition may in various embodiments comprise coconut oil
soap and free fatty acids. The insect control composition may
further comprise MCT oil-based soap in various embodiments. In
other embodiments, the insect control composition may comprise free
fatty acids including at least C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and C.sub.12 free
fatty acids, e.g., wherein the free fatty acids comprise: from 2
weight percent to 10 weight percent C.sub.8 free fatty acid; from 2
weight percent to 10 weight percent C.sub.10 free fatty acid; and
from 0 weight percent to 8 weight percent C.sub.12 free fatty acid.
In all insect control compositions described herein, as in the
previously described herbicidal compositions, all weight percents
are based on total weight of the composition, and all weight
percents of all ingredients of the composition total to 100 weight
percent.
[0199] In various embodiments, the insect control composition may
comprise any one or more of citric acid, water, emulsifier (e.g.,
sodium lauryl sulfate), essential oil(s) (e.g., one or more of
cedarwood oil, geranium oil, citronella, lemongrass oil, limonene,
citrus grasses, citrol, and citronellol), glycerol monostearate,
palmitic acid, preservative, and sodium bicarbonate, and the insect
control composition may in various embodiments explicitly exclude
one or more of such ingredients.
[0200] In various embodiments of such insect control composition,
the coconut oil soap may be present in an amount of 20-100% by
weight, based on weight of the composition.
[0201] The insect control composition in various embodiments
comprises the coconut oil soap and optionally further comprises one
or more of soybean oil, water, emulsifier, and essential
oil(s).
[0202] In various other embodiments, the insect control composition
comprises, in addition to the coconut oil soap, citric acid,
glycerol monostearate, and palmitic acid, and further optionally
comprises one of more of MCT oil-based soap, free fatty acids
including at least C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and C.sub.12 free fatty
acids, soybean oil, water, essential oil(s), preservative, and
sodium bicarbonate.
[0203] Thus, in particular embodiments, the insect control
composition may include, in addition to the coconut oil soap any
one or more of the optional ingredients of soybean oil, water,
emulsifier, and essential oil, wherein soybean oil when present may
be in an amount of 0-60% by weight, water when present may be
present in an amount of 0-80% by weight, emulsifier when present
may be present in an amount of 0-10% by weight, and essential
oil(s) when present may be present in an amount of 0-40% by weight,
wherein all weight percents are based on total weight of the
composition, and wherein all weight percents of all ingredients of
the composition total to 100 weight percent. In a specific
embodiment, the insect control composition may comprise coconut oil
soap in combination with emulsifier such as sodium lauryl sulfate
in an amount of 5-10% by weight, on the same composition weight
basis.
[0204] The insect control composition in still other embodiments
may comprise coconut oil soap, free fatty acids including at least
C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and C.sub.12 free fatty acids, citric acid,
glycerol monostearate and palmitic acid, optionally further
comprising MCT oil-based soap soybean oil, water, essential oil(s),
and sodium bicarbonate. In such embodiments, the coconut oil soap
may be present in an amount of 5-80% by weight, the MCT soap when
present may be present in an amount of 0-50% by weight, the free
fatty acids may comprise: from 2 weight percent to 10 weight
percent C.sub.8 free fatty acid; from 2 weight percent to 10 weight
percent C.sub.10 free fatty acid; and from 0 weight percent to 8
weight percent C.sub.12 free fatty acid, the soybean oil when
present may be present in an amount of 0-60% by weight, the citric
acid may be present in an amount of 1-20% by weight, water when
present may be present in an amount of 0-80% by weight, essential
oil(s) when present may be present in a total amount of 0-10% by
weight, glycerol monostearate may be present in an amount of 1-8%
by weight, palmitic acid may be present in an amount of 0.5-2% by
weight, sodium bicarbonate when present may be present in an amount
of 0-2% by weight, and preservative when present may be present in
any suitable amount.
[0205] The disclosure further contemplates a method of controlling
unwanted insects and/or arthropods in a locus containing or
susceptible to incursion of same, such method comprising applying
to the locus an insect controllingly effective amount of an insect
control composition of the present disclosure as variously
described hereinabove.
[0206] For example, the method may be conducted with an insect
control composition comprising coconut oil soap, and optionally
comprising one or more of soybean oil, water, emulsifier, and
essential oil(s). Such method is usefully employed to control
arthropods and insects in loci such as yards, gardens, homes,
buildings, livestock and pets and humans. In such compositions,
cedarwood oil and/or soybean oil may be utilized as pest-control
active ingredients.
[0207] In another illustrative example, the method may be conducted
with an insect control composition comprising coconut oil soap,
citric acid, glycerol monostearate, and palmitic acid, and further
optionally comprising one of more of MCT oil-based soap, free fatty
acids including at least C.sub.8, C.sub.10, and C.sub.12 free fatty
acids, soybean oil, water, essential oil(s), preservative, and
sodium bicarbonate. Such method may be used to control insects as
an insect repellent method in which the insect control composition
is applied to human skin, clothing, gear and objects in the locus
in which insect control is desired.
[0208] In these illustrative method examples, the amounts of the
various ingredients in the compositions may be as correspondingly
described hereinabove.
[0209] It will therefore be appreciated that the present disclosure
provides a wide variety of herbicidal and insect/pest control and
repellent compositions and methods. It is to be recognized that
coconut oil soap compositions of the present disclosure may be
constituted as non-phytotoxic compositions to control insects on
vegetation, while preserving the vegetation without negative
impact. In this respect, the phytotoxicity of compositions of the
present disclosure can be controlled based on the fatty acid
profiles and selection of the soap feedstock utilized to make the
composition. In this respect, coconut oil soap is not phytotoxic
per se, but with increasing concentrations of free fatty acids,
coconut oil soap-based compositions can be made more phytotoxic.
MCT oil-based soap, being phytotoxic, may be employed to impart a
desired phytotoxic character to specific compositions. It will be
appreciated that the compositions of the present disclosure may be
widely varied in phytotoxic or non-phytotoxic character, depending
on the specific soap feedstock and fatty acid profiles that are
employed.
[0210] Coconut oil soap as utilized in the various herbicidal and
insecticidal/pesticidal compositions described herein may be
manufactured according to the following illustrative procedure,
which can be correspondingly scaled to the volume requirements for
a given coconut oil soap product.
[0211] In an illustrative procedure, 1320 pounds of water is
introduced to a clean tank, together with 686 pounds of coconut
oil. The tank then is heated to 130.degree. F. with sweep mixing,
following which potassium hydroxide (KOH) is added in an amount of
194 pounds and heating is continued for two hours with sweep
mixing. Yield is 270 gallons of coconut oil soap.
[0212] In a corresponding method, MCT oil-based soap may be formed
by introducing 1320 pounds water to a clean tank, together with 641
pounds of MCT coconut oil. The tank is then heated to a temperature
of 130.degree. F. with sweep mixing, following which to hundred 39
pounds of potassium hydroxide (KOH) is added and heating at
130.degree. F. is continued for two hours with sweep mixing. Yield
is 270 gallons of MCT oil-based soap.
[0213] MCT triglyceride oils usefully employed for the compositions
of the present disclosure include Radiamuls MCT 2109K (commercially
available from Oleon NV, Ertvelde, Belgium), Masester E6000 US01-2
(commercially available from PT. Musim Mas, Medan, Indonesia), and
MCT Oil 60/40 (commercially available from J. Edwards
International, Inc.).
[0214] pH modification and/or acidulation may be carried out to
achieve effective free fatty acid content in soaps utilized in the
compositions of the present disclosure by a procedure such as the
following. The content of citric acid or acetic acid needed to
modify the soap content to the desired amount of free fatty acids
is calculated. The acid calculation can be estimated that 30% (a
range of 25 to 35% depending on the acid used and the final pH
desired) of the soap stock (the oil content used to make the soap).
Other acids can be used at a lower rate, however, citric acid and
acetic acid are preferred due to their low toxicity characteristics
in relation to animals and the environment, and the minimal risks
in processing associated with weak acids, as well as allowability
by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under
pesticide inert list 4A.
[0215] The acid is added to the soap under agitation until a
distinct separation of a water phase is achieved or until a desired
pH is reached. The water can be drawn off and discarded or used as
a fertilizer material (aqueous potassium citrate with glycerin) or
it can be emulsified using sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and/or other
emulsifier(s). MCT soap with acetic acid or vinegar remains a
solution, and can be used as an aqueous solution.
[0216] Soaps utilized in the herbicidal and insecticidal
compositions of the present disclosure may contain up to 5% by
weight glycerin, based on weight of the soap, as well as potassium
citrate and from 40 to 60 weight percent water, which may be
removed after pH modification and/or acidulation, so that the
resulting soaps contain free fatty acids.
[0217] Herbicidal compositions in accordance with the present
disclosure desirably have pH of 3-5. Insect repellent compositions
of the present disclosure desirably have a pH of 6-7, and
insecticidal soaps of the disclosed compositions desirably have pH
of 8-11. In the compositions of the present disclosure, soaps with
specific free fatty acid profiles and ranges of free fatty acid
concentrations are utilized along with synergistic oils to enable
rapid penetration of both vegetation and insects, as well as
removal of protective waxes and coatings that prevent penetration
of the free fatty acids into the cell structure.
[0218] Rather than a systemic mode of action, the orientation of
the present disclosure is to provide a non-systemic mode of action
whereby resistance cannot be built up by the target vegetation or
insects or arthropods over time, and with the objective that the
active ingredients and mechanism of penetration do not negatively
affect animals and the environment.
[0219] Insect control compositions of the present disclosure may
optionally include oils such as cedarwood oil, geranium oil,
geraniol, lemongrass oil, and citronella oil, e.g., in
concentrations of 0.5-5% by weight, based on the total composition
weight.
[0220] The present disclosure variously contemplates herbicidal
compositions including the following: (I) MCT soap with free fatty
acids C.sub.8 and/or C.sub.10 and/or C.sub.12; (II) coconut oil
soap with free fatty acids C.sub.8 and/or C.sub.10 and/or C.sub.12;
(III) MCT soap and coconut oil soap with free fatty acids C.sub.8
and/or C.sub.10 and/or C.sub.12; (IV) the foregoing compositions
with sodium lauryl sulfate added; (V) sodium laurel sulfate and
free fatty acids C.sub.8 and/or C.sub.10 and/or C.sub.12; (VI) all
of the foregoing with modified vegetable oil as a penetrant and
solvent for woody stem plants; and (VII) all of the foregoing with
added herbicidal actives, e.g., natural active ingredients such as
cedarwood oil.
[0221] In some instances, it may be desirable to utilize C.sub.9
fatty acid as a further ingredient in herbicidal compositions of
the present disclosure, since such ingredient is herbicidally
effective for certain weeds.
[0222] For a sustainable herbicide, it is imperative to develop an
effective herbicidal action that is not systemic, in order to
control vegetation without detrimental effects to the bee and
pollinator populations. Moreover, a sustainable choice also
provides a mode of action to which vegetation cannot adapt a
resistance and which is not detrimental to humans and animals. The
compositions of the present disclosure provide natural formulations
and employ natural compounds that are not deleterious to decimate
bee and pollinator populations. Compositions of the present
disclosure provide applications for recycling of sustainable
vegetable oils into effective vegetation control formulations that
variously provide selective or non-selective contact herbicides
with a non-systemic mode of action that are environmentally
benign.
[0223] MCT oils and/or coconut oil soap may be utilized to
supplement or alternatively to replace sodium lauryl sulfate and
modified vegetable oil ingredients in compositions of the present
disclosure. The herbicidal efficacy of herbicidal compositions of
the present disclosure may be augmented by utilizing other oils
known to possess herbicidal activity, such as cedarwood oil.
[0224] The vegetable fatty acid profiles and formulations and
methods described herein may also be employed in compositions
including other herbicidal actives in order to improve the effect
of such actives.
[0225] While the disclosure has been set forth herein in reference
to specific aspects, features and illustrative embodiments, it will
be appreciated that the utility of the disclosure is not thus
limited, but rather extends to and encompasses numerous other
variations, modifications and alternative embodiments, as will
suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the field of the
present disclosure, based on the description herein.
Correspondingly, the disclosure as hereinafter claimed is intended
to be broadly construed and interpreted, as including all such
variations, modifications and alternative embodiments, within its
spirit and scope.
* * * * *
References