Polyglycerol Esters as Adjuvants for Enhanced Pesticidal Activity
SourceRegulatory agencies, applicators, and the public are becoming more aware that pesticide inert ingredients are not entirely “inert.” There is an increasing demand for efficacious adjuvants derived from renewable resources and having more benign toxicological profiles. Biodegradable polyglycerol esters (PGEs), constructed from vegetable-based fatty acids and glycerin, have long been incorporated into personal care and food products as emulsifiers. Because these materials are approved in such sensitive markets, Evonik has undertaken the development of a series of formulated polyglycerol adjuvant blends for use in the agrochemical segment. Previously, we presented data confirming that these blends improved penetration for foliar uptake using confocal laser scanning microscopy. This presentation will review the field-trial performance of two polyglycerol blends, one hydrophilic and one lipophilic in character. Specifically, the efficacy of these materials as tank-side adjuvants combined with herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides will be compared against traditional nonionic additives. Wind tunnel data will also be presented to demonstrate the influence on formation of driftable fines during spray applications. PGEs are “tunable” across a wide range of hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values. This flexibility makes them useful as emulsifiers for oils, solvents, and liquid pesticides in agricultural formulations.