US 9,309,462 B1Granted

Polymer-surfactant composition for soil and method of use

AssigneeFlo-Tec Automation Associates, Inc.

InventorsMichael A. Curtis, John G. Thomas

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Abstract

A composition comprising an ampholytic copolymer or terpolymer and a non ionic surfactant is shown useful in soil treatment, especially moisture and nutrient retention. The highly surface active compositions described herein self-assemble onto root zone plant surfaces and near-root soil, forming a moisture barrier that still permits root growth and oxygen flow. The inventive compositions increases the wettability of the soil allowing the soil to better absorb water at the beneficial root zone, and release it, along with essential nutrients, to the plant root structure. By targeting moisture retention in the root zone, the polymer decreases the migration potential to the root zone, producing higher irrigation efficiency for optimal plant growth with lower treatment levels. Different dilutions of the composition determine the final settling location of the composition, and the formation of the barrier. The compositions may be applied through known means, such as an irrigation system.

A method of treating soil, comprising

applying a composition to soil, wherein the composition comprises
an ampholytic copolymer formed from at least two monomer components or an ampholytic polymer formed from at least three monomer components, wherein the monomer components comprise:
monomer component (a), having formula (I)
H2C═CR1—CO—NH—R2—N+R3R4R5X− (I)
wherein R1 is H or an alkyl radical with 1 to 4 C atoms;
wherein R2 is a linear or branched alkylene radical with 1 to 12 C atoms;
wherein R3, R4 and R5 is H, an alkyl radical with 1 to 18 C atoms, or a phenyl radical, independently;
wherein X is an anion selected from the group consisting of halogen, sulfate, alkylsulfate, hydroxide, phosphate, acetate, and formate;
monomer component (b), having formula (II)
H2C═CR6—CO—NR7R8 (II)
wherein R6 is hydrogen or an alkyl radical with 1 to 4 C atoms;
wherein R7 and R8 are H, an alkyl radical with 1 to 4 C atoms or a C3-C6 cycloalkyl radical, independently;
where R7 and R8 do not simultaneously represent hydrogen;
monomer component (c) being an ethylenically unsaturated acid;
monomer component (d) being selected from the group consisting of C3-C6 singly ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, a half-ester of C3-C6 singly ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, a salt of C3-C6 singly ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, crotonic acid, a salt of crotonic acid, H2C═CR—CO—NH—CR′R″—CR′R″SO3H, and salts thereof;
wherein R, R′, and R″ are H or an alkyl(ene) radical with 1 to 4 C atoms, independently;
or
monomer component (e) being selected from the group consisting of 2-dimethylaminoethyl(meth)acrylate, 2-diethylamino-ethyl(meth)acrylate, 3-dimethylaminopropyl(meth)acrylamide, 3-dimethyl-amino-2,2-dimethylpropylacrylamide, derivatives thereof, 2-trimethyl-ammoniumethyl(meth)acrylate chloride, 3-diethylmethylammoniumpropyl-acrylamide chloride, and dimethyl diallylammonium chloride;
and
a non-ionic, hydrophilic ethoxylated alcohol surfactant.

17 more elements

Facts

Application

13/156,670Filed 9 Jun 2011 · us provisional application

Priority

9 Jun 2010

Granted

12 Apr 2016

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

C09K 17/22
Vinyl polymers: polyacrylates; Polymethacrylates
A01G 25/06
Watering gardens, fields, sports grounds or the like: watering arrangements making use of perforated pipe-lines located in the soil
C05G 3/50
Mixtures of one or more fertilisers with additives not having a specially fertilising activity: surfactants; Emulsifiers
C05G 3/70
Mixtures of one or more fertilisers with additives not having a specially fertilising activity: for affecting wettability, e.g. drying agents

Abstract

Claims11