# US 5,705,455 A · Synergistic herbicidal composition comprising vinegar and lemon juice > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,705,455 A - Document ID: US5705455A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/736,683 - Filed: 1996-10-25 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1992-08-06 - Assignees: Ecoval Inc. - Inventors: John S. Lojek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5705455A ## CPC - A01N 65/00: Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing material from algae, lichens, bryophyta, multi-cellular fungi or plants, or extracts thereof (containing compounds of determined constitution A01N27/00 - A01N59/00) - A01N 37/02: Saturated carboxylic acids or thio analogues thereof; Derivatives thereof - A01N 37/36: containing at least one carboxylic group or a thio analogue, or a derivative thereof, and a singly bound oxygen or sulfur atom attached to the same carbon skeleton, this oxygen or sulfur atom not being a member of a carboxylic group or of a thio analogue, or of a derivative thereof, e.g. hydroxy-carboxylic acids - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ## Abstract A herbicidal composition, which can be formulated for selective or total kill of vegetation of as a growth regulator, comprises a synergistic combination of acetic acid and citric acid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aqueous herbicidal composition for contact kill of vegetative growth, consisting essentially of acetic acid and citric acid in proportions which provide a synergistic herbicidal activity in comparison to the herbicidal activity of each of the acids alone. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 containing a weight ratio of acetic acid to citric acid of about 10:1 to about 0.5:1. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The composition of claim 2 wherein said weight ratio is about 4:1 to about 1:1. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 which, in use, contains up to about 10 wt % acetic acid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The composition of claim 4 wherein said acetic acid is present in an amount of from about 1 to about 5 wt %. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The composition of claim 5 wherein said citric acid is present in an amount of about 0.25 to about 5 wt %. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 formulated as concentrate for dilution for use. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein a wetting agent also is present in the composition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 in the form of a concentrate comprising: 500 mls of vinegar 250 mls of lemon juice 2300 mls of water. ### Claim 10 An aqueous composition for contact kill of vegetative growth, consisting essentially of: acetic acid in an amount of from about 2 to about 10 wt %, citric acid in an amount of from about 1 to about 6 wt %, said acetic acid and citric acid being present in a synergistic weight ratio of about 1:0.1 to about 1:0.8, said composition being in fully diluted form ready to apply to post-emergent vegetative growth by spraying onto the vegetative growth. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The composition of claim 10 which further contains up to about 0.5 wt % of a wetting agent. ### Claim 12 A method of controlling post-emergent vegetative growth, which comprises applying to said vegetative growth an aqueous herbicidal composition comprising acetic acid and citric acid, said citric acid being present in said composition in a herbicidal activity enhancing amount and said acetic acid and citric acid being present in said composition in proportions sufficient to achieve complete or selective kill of said vegetative growth. ### Claim 13 A method of regulating the growth of post-emergent vegetative growth, which comprises applying to said vegetative growth an aqueous composition comprising acetic acid and citric acid, said acetic acid and citric acid being present in said composition in proportions sufficient to achieve a desired degree of control to the growth of said vegetative growth.