Phosphate ester-based surfactant adjuvants and compositions containing same

A surfactant for increasing the bioefficacy of a herbicide, wherein said surfactant comprises (i) phosphate monoesters of tallow amine ethoxylates, alone or in combination with phosphate diesters of tallow amine ethoxylates, or (ii) alkoxylated phosphate monoesters of tallow amine ethoxylates, alone or in combination with alkoxylated phosphate diesters of tallow amine ethoxylates, where the monoesters (I) and the diesters (II) have the general formulae:

• 9
• where Ry and Rz are each independently hydrogen or R6, where R6 is a linear or branched chain alkyl with from about two to about six carbon atoms;
• and, Rx has the general formula:
• 10
• where R1 is a straight-chain or branched alkyl or alkenyl group with from about six to about twenty carbon atoms;
• R2, R3, R4, and R5 are each independently straight-chain or branched alkyl groups with from about two to about six carbon atoms;
• a,b,c, and d each independently vary from zero to about twenty;
• and the sum of a+b+c+d varies from about five to about eighty, subject to the proviso that when a equals 1, b is not zero.

A surfactant composition for increasing the bioefficacy of a herbicide that comprises:

• a. a surfactant comprising (i) phosphate monoesters of tallow amine ethoxylates, alone or in combination with phosphate diesters of tallow amine ethoxylates, or (ii) alkoxylated phosphate monoesters of tallow amine ethoxylates, alone or in combination with alkoxylated phosphate diesters of tallow amine ethoxylates,
• where the monoesters (I) and the diesters (II) have the general formulae:
• 11
• where Ry and Rz are each independently hydrogen or R6, where R6 is a linear or branched chain alkyl with from about two to about six carbon atoms;
• and, Rx has the general formula:
• 12
• where R1 is a straight-chain or branched alkyl or alkenyl group with from about six to about twenty carbon atoms;
• R2, R3, R4, and R5 are each independently straight-chain or branched alkyl groups with from about two to about six carbon atoms;
• a, b, c, and d each independently vary from zero to about twenty;
• and the sum of, a+b+c+d varies from about five to about eighty, subject to the proviso that when a equals 1, b is not zero;
• and
• b. a formulation aid.

A herbicide composition that comprises:

• a. a herbicidally-effective amount of glyphosate;
• and
• b. an effective bioefficacy-enhancing amount of a surfactant component, wherein the surfactant component comprises:
• (i) phosphate monoesters of tallow amine ethoxylates, alone or in combination with phosphate diesters of tallow amine ethoxylates, or (ii) alkoxylated phosphate monoesters of tallow amine ethoxylates, alone or in combination with alkoxylated phosphate diesters of tallow amine ethoxylates, where the monoesters (I) and the diesters (II) have the general formulae:
• 13
• where Ry and Rz are each independently hydrogen or R6, where R6 is a straight-chain or branched alkyl with from about two to about six carbon atoms;
• and, Rx has the general formula:
• 14
• where R1 is a straight or branched chain alkyl or alkyl group with from about six to about twenty carbon atoms;
• R2, R3, R4, and R5 are each independently straight or branched chain alkyl groups with from about two to about six carbon atoms;
• a, b, c, and d each independently vary from zero to about twenty;
• and the sum of a+b+c+d varies from about five to about eighty, subject to the proviso that when a equals 1, b is not zero.