Water-based microemulsions of a triazole fungicide

Abstract

Clear, stable, efficacious, aqueous microemulsions of an active triazole fungicide, e.g. penconazole, optionally with another agriculturally active chemical, are provided herein. The aqueous microemulsions are obtained by providing an inert matrix composition comprising a defined mixture of nonionic surfactants, including a C.sub.6 -C.sub.18 alkylpyrrolidone, e.g. octylpyrrolidone, an alkylphenol ethoxylated alcohol having an HLB.gtoreq.6, preferably 10-20, e.g. nonylphenol ethoxylated alcohol with 9 EOs, and an anionic surfactant selected from a salt of dodecyl sulfate, dodecylbenzene sulfonate, dodecyltoluene sulfonate and lignin sulfonate, preferably sodium dodecyl sulfate, and water, optionally with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylpyrrolidone, e.g. N-methylpyrrolidone, and water. The inert matrix composition is admixed with a triazole fungicide, present in a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylpyrrolidone, if not already present in the inert matrix composition, to form a microemulsion concentrate. Upon dilution with water, a stable, aqueous microemulsion is formed characterized by having a high loading of triazole fungicide e.g. 1-25% (before dilution), preferably about 14%.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.