Use of amine compounds with improved biodegradability as adjuvants for pesticides and fertilizers

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of an amino compound, which is an esteramine or an amidoamine surfactant with improved biodegradability, as an adjuvant for agrochemically active compounds such as pesticides or fertilizers. The adjuvant has Formula (I) where R1 is an aliphatic group containing 7-22 carbon atoms; EO is an ethyleneoxy group; Y is 0 or NH; R2 and R3 is independently CH2CH2OH or an alkyl group with 1-5 carbon atoms, preferably 1-3 carbon atoms; n is a number between 0-10; x is a number 0-1 provided that when Y is O, then x is 1, and when Y is NH, then x is O; and m is a number 2-6, preferably 2-3, provided that when Y is NH, then m is 3-6, preferably 3; or an adduct obtained by reacting one mole of the compound with 1-5 moles of an alkylene oxide having 2-3 carbon atoms. The esteramines are obtained from an ethoxylated alcohol that has been carboxymethylated and then esterified with a tertiary hydroxyamine (alkanolamine), and the amidoamines are obtained by reaction between a fatty acid or a fatty acid methyl ester and a diamine, such as N,N-bishydroxyethyl-1,3-propylenediamine.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.