Title of Invention

OIL SUSPENSION CONCENTRATES COMPRISING DIFLUFENICAN

Abstract

Oil suspension concentrates comprising diflufenican and salts of certain polyvalent captions The present invention relates to formulations in the form of oil suspension concentrates and comprising a) diflufenican, b) one or more solvents from the group consisting of hydrocarbons and vegetable oils, c) one or more nonsurfactant salts of polyvalent cations, the solubility product of these salts in water being higher than that of calcium sulfate, d) one or more surfactants, and e) one or more thickeners. The oil suspension concentrates are suitable in the field of plant protection.

Full Text

Diflufenican-containing oil suspension concentrates The present invention relates to the field of plant protection formulations. The invention relates in particular to formulations in the form of oil suspension concentrates comprising the herbicidal active substance diflufenican. Herbicidal active substances are not generally used in their pure form. Depending on the field of use and the type of use, and on physical, chemical and biological parameters, the active substances are used in a mixture with standard auxiliaries and additives as active substance formulation. The combinations with additional active substances for broadening the spectrum of activity and/or for protecting crop plants (e.g., by safeners, antidotes) are also known. Formulations of herbicidal active substances should generally exhibit high chemical and physical stability, should exhibit good applicability and user friendliness and should exhibit a broad biological action with high selectivity. The herbicidal active substance diflufenican is provided in several types of formulations exhibiting various advantages and disadvantages according to intended purpose and conditions of use. Oil suspension concentrates comprising diflufenican and solvents from the group consisting of the hydrocarbons are known from WO 2005/011378. In practical application, however, it has been shown that these oil suspension concentrates, also known as CD formulations (oil dispersions), exhibit the disadvantage that, on diluting with water, depending on the quality of the water, poorly redispersible precipitates frequently occur, which precipitates lead to blockages of the spray nozzles. It is an object of the present invention to make available oil suspension concentrates for the active substance diflufenican which do not exhibit the abovementioned disadvantages. This object is achieved by diflufenican-comprising oil suspension concentrates to which certain salts are added. The present invention accordingly relates to oil suspension concentrates which comprise a) diflufenican, b) one or more solvents from the group consisting of hydrocarbons and vegetable oils, c) one or more nonsurfactant salts of polyvalent cations, the solubility product of these salts in water being higher than that of calcium sulfate, d) one or more surfactants, e) one or more thickeners. The dispersions according to the invention show outstanding storage stability and also, on diluting with soft water, do not tend to form poorly redispersible precipitates. The term "oil suspension concentrate" is understood to mean, within the meaning of the present invention, a suspension concentrate based on the solvents of component b) (hydrocarbons and/or vegetable oils). In this connection, one or more active substances are suspended in the solvents. Additional active substances may be dissolved therein. The herbicidal active substance diflufenican a) is present in the oil suspension concentrate according to the invention in suspended form. This means that the main part (in % by weight) of diflufenican is present undisclosed in finely divided form and a smaller part of diflufenican may be present dissolved. Preferably, diflufenican is suspended to more than 80% by weight, particularly preferably to more than 90% by weight, in the solvents b), in each case based on the total amount of diflufenican in the oil suspension concentrate according to the invention. The herbicidal active substance diflufenican present as component a) Is known and commercially available (see, e.g., 'The Pesticide Manual", 12th edition (2000), The British Crop Protection Council, pages 296-297). Diflufenican is generally present in the oil suspension concentrate according to the invention in a proportion of 0.5 to 50% by weight, preferably 2.5 to 50% by weight, the indication "% by weight", here and in the whole of the description, unless other/vise defined, being in this connection based on the relative weight of the respective component based on the total weight of the formulation. In a preferred embodiment, these oil suspension concentrates comprise a) 0.5 to 50% of diflufenican, b) 5 to 80% of one or more solvents, c) 0.1 to 15% of one or more nonsurfactant salts of polyvalent cations, d) 1 to 50% of one or more surfactants, e) 0.1 to 5% of one or more thickeners, f) 0 to 25% of additional auxiliaries and additives. In a particularly preferred embodiment, these oil suspension concentrates comprise a) 2.5 to 50% of diflufenican, b) 5 to 80% of one or more solvents, c) 0.1 to 15% of one or more nonsurfactant salts of polyvalent cations, d) 1 to 50% of one or more surfactants, e) 0.1 to 5% of one or more thickeners, f) 0 to 25% of additional auxiliaries and additives, g) 0 to 50% of one or more additional agrochemical active substances other than a). In a very particularly preferred embodiment, these oil suspension concentrates comprise a) 5 to 35% of diflufenican, b) 5 to 80% of one or more solvents, c) 0.5 to 15% of one or more nonsurfactant salts of polyvalent cations, d) 5 to 50% of one or more surfactants, e) 0.1 to 5% of one or more thickeners, f) 0 to 25% of additional auxiliaries and additives, g) 0 to 50% of one or more additional agrochemical active substances other than a). All % indications are percentages by weight. The term "polyvalent cations" is to be understood as meaning cations carrying more than one charge. Suitable cations are those of the metals of the second main group and subgroup and those of the third main group of the Periodic Table of the Elements. Particularly suitable are those of the alkaline earth metals, such as magnesium and calcium, in particular calcium. One or more hydrocarbons or one or more vegetable oils are present as component b) (see, e.g., Rompp Lexikon Chemie [Chemical Dictionary], 10th edition, volume 3, page 2202 (1997), Georg Thieme Vehag, Stuttgart/New York), preferably those which are liquid under standard conditions. The hydrocarbons can be acyclic (aliphatic) hydrocarbons or cyclic hydrocarbons, e.g. aromatic or alicyclic (cycloaliphatic) hydrocarbons. Examples of hydrocarbons b) are: 1) aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g., ■ monoalkyi- or polyalkyl-substituted (e.g., substituted one, two or three times by (Ci-Cio)alkyl groups) aromatic compounds, e.g. benzenes, such as toluene, xylenes, mesitylene, ethylbenzene, or ■ hydrocarbons with condensed aromatic ring systems, such as naphthalenes, e.g. l-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene or dimethylnaphthalene, or other condensed aromatic hydrocarbons, such as indane ortetralin, 2) cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons, e.g., saturated or unsaturated, optionally monolayer- or polyalkyl-substituted (e.g., substituted one, two or three times by alkyl groups) cycloaliphatic compounds, such as cycloalkanes, cycloalkenes or cycloalkynes, e.g. cyclohexane or methylcyclopentane, 3) aliphatic hydrocarbons, e.g., linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic compounds, preferably aliphatic compounds, e.g. alkanes, alkenes or alkynes, such as pentane, hexane, octane, 2-methylbutane or2,2,4-trimethylpentane. Mixtures of one or more aromatic hydrocarbons and/or of one or more cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons and/or of one or more aliphatic hydrocarbons can also be present as component b). Examples are mixtures of several aliphatic hydrocarbons, e.g. commercially available solvents of the EXXSOL®D series, ISOPAR® series or BAYOL® series, e.g. Bayol'‘82 (EXXONMOBIL CHEMICALS), or of the ISANE’IP series or HYDROSEAL®G series (TOTALFINAELF), or mixtures of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, e.g. commercially available solvents of the SOLVESSO® sehes, e.g, Solvesso®100, Solvesso®150 or Solvesso®200 (EXXONMOBIL CHEMICALS), of the SOLVAREX’/SOLVARO® series (TOTALFINAELF) or of the Caromax® series, e.g. Caromax®28 (Petrochem Cahess). Of the hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons are preferred, in particular saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as -alkanes, e.g. from the Bayol® series. Suitable vegetable oils are generally known and commercially available. The term "vegetable oils" is to be understood as meaning, within the meaning of the present invention, e.g., oils from oleaginous plant species, such as soybean oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, linseed oil, coconut oil, palm oil, thistle oil, walnut oil, peanut oil, olive oil or castor oil, in particular rapeseed oil, the term "vegetable oils" also being understood as meaning the transesterification products thereof, e.g. alkyl esters, such as rapeseed oil methyl ester or rapeseed oil ethyl ester. Examples of vegetable oils are Cio-C22-fatty acid esters of glycerol or glycol with Cio~C22-fatty acids, or CrC2o-alkyl Cio-C22-fatty acid esters, such as those which can be obtained, e.g., by transesterification of the abovementioned glycerol or glycol Cio-C22-fatty acid esters with CrC2o-alcohols (e.g., methanol, ethanol, propanoi or butanol). The transesterification can be carried out according to known methods, such as those which are described, e.g., in Rompp Chemie Lexikon [Chemical Dictionary], 9th edition, volume 2, page 1343, Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart. The vegetable oils can be present in the oil suspension concentrates according to the invention, e.g., in the form of commercially available vegetable oils, in particular rapeseed oils, such as rapeseed oil methyl ester, e.g. Phytorob®B (Novance, France), Edenor® MESU and Agnique®ME series (Cognis, Germany), Radia® series (ICI), Prilube® series (Petrofina), or biodiesel or in the form of commercially available formulation additives comprising vegetable oils, in particular those based on rapeseed oils, such as rapeseed oil methyl ester, e.g. Hasten® (Victorian Chemical Company. Australia, hereinafter referred to as Hasten, main constituent: rapeseed oil ethyl ester), Actirob®B (Novance, France, hereinafter referred to as ActirobB, main constituent: rapeseed oil methyl ester), Rako-Binol® (Bayer AG, Germany, hereinafter referred to as Rako-Binol, main constituent: rapeseed oil), Renol® (Stefes, Germany, hereinafter referred to as Renol, vegetable oil constituent: rapeseed oil methyl ester) or Stefes Mero® (Stefes, Germany, hereinafter referred to as Mero, main constituent: rapeseed oil methyl ester). Of the vegetable oils, rapeseed oil methyl ester is preferred. Examples of synthetic fatty acid esters are, e.g., those derived from fatty acids having an odd number of carbon atoms, such as C11-C21-fatty acid esters. Suitable nonsurfactant salts c) of polyvalent cations having a higher solubility product in water than that of calcium sulfate are, for example, the alkylcarboxylates, fluorides, chlorides, nitrates, nitrites, hydrogencarbonates or carbonates of calcium and magnesium. Particularly suitable are calcium acetate, calcium formate, calcium propionate, calcium fluoride, calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, calcium nitrite, calcium hydrogencarbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium acetate, magnesium formate, magnesium propionate, magnesium fluoride, magnesium chloride, magnesium nitrate, magnesium nitrite, magnesium hydrogencarbonate and magnesium carbonate. Very particularly suitable are calcium acetate, calcium formate, calcium propionate and calcium chloride. Suitable surfactants d) are, for example, nonaromatic-based surfactants, e.g. those based on heterocyclic compounds, olefins, aliphatic compounds or cycloaliphatic compounds, for example surface-active pyridine, pyrimidine, triazine, pyrrole, pyrrolidine, furan, thiophene, benzoxazole, benzothiazole and triazole compounds substituted with one or more alkyl groups and subsequently derivatized, e.g. alkoxylated, sulfated, sulfonated or phosphated, and/or aromatic-based surfactants, e.g. benzenes or phenols substituted with one or more alkyl groups and subsequently derivatized, e.g. alkoxylated, sulfated, sulfonated or phosphated. The surfactants d) are generally soluble in the solvent phase and are suitable for emulsifying or dispersing this, together with active substances dissolved therein, on diluting with water (for the spray mixture). Mixtures of nonaromatic and aromatic surfactants are also suitable. Examples of surfactants d) are listed below, in which EO is ethylene oxide units, PO is propylene oxide units and BO is butylene oxide units: d1) Cio-C24-Alcohols, which can be alkoxylated, e.g., with 1-60 alkylene oxide units, preferably 1-60 EO and/or 1-30 PO and/or 1-15 BO, in any sequence. The terminal hydroxyl groups of these compounds can be end group closed by an alkyl, cycloalkyi or acyl radical with 1-24 carbon atoms. Examples of such compounds are: Genapol’C, L, O, T, UD, UDD, X products from Clariant, Plurafac® and Lutensol®A, AT, ON,TO products from BASF, Marlipal®24 and 013 products from Condea, Dehypon® products from Henkel, Ethylan® products from Akzo-Nobel, such as Ethylan CD 120. d2) Anionic derivatives of the products described under b1) in the form of ether carboxylates, sulfonates, sulfates and phosphates and the inorganic (e.g., alkali metal and alkaline earth metal) and organic (e.g.. amine- or alkanolamine-based) salts thereof, such as GenapoPLRO, Sandopan® products, Hostaphat/Hordaphos'‘ products from Clariant. Copolymers consisting of EO, PO and/or BO units, such as, for example, block copolymers, such as the Pluronic® products from BASF and the Synperonic® products from Uniquema, with a molecular weight of 400 to 10’. Alkylene oxide adducts of d-Cg-alcohols, such as Atlox®5000 from Uniquema or Hoe®S3510 from Clariant. d3) Fatty acid and triglyceride alkoxylates, such as the Serdox®NOG products from Condea or alkoxylated vegetable oils, such as soybean oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, linseed oil, coconut oil, palm oil, thistle oil, walnut oil, peanut oil, olive oil or castor oil, in particular rapeseed oil, the term "vegetable oils" also being understood as meaning the transesterification products thereof, e.g. alkyl esters, such as rapeseed oil methyl ester or rapeseed oil ethyl ester, for example the Emulsogen® products from Clariant, salts of aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and olefinic carboxylic acids and polycarboxylic acids, and a-sulfofatty acid esters, as available from Henkel. d4) Fatty acid amide alkoxylates, such as the Comperlan products from Henkel or the Amam® products from Rhodia. Alkyleneoxy adducts of alkynediols, such as the SurfynoP products from Air Products. Sugar derivatives, such as amino- and amidosugars from Clariant, glucitols from Clariant, alkylpolyglycosides in the form of the APG® products from Henkel or such as sorbitan esters in the form of the Span® or Tween® products from Uniquema or cyclodextnn esters or ethers from Wacker. d5) Surface-active cellulose and algin, pectin and guar derivatives, such as the Tylose® products from Clariant, the Manutex® products from Keico and guar derivatives from Cesaipina. Alkylene oxide adducts based on polyols, such as the Polyglykol® products from Clariant. Surface-active polyglycerides and the derivatives thereof from Clariant. d6) Alkanesulfonates, paraffinsulfonates and olefinsulfonates, such as Netzer IS®, Hoe®S1728, Hostapur’OS, Hostapur®SAS from Clariant. d7) Alkylene oxide adducts of fatty amines, quaternary ammonium compounds with 8 to 22 carbon atoms (C8-C22), such as, e.g., the Genamin'‘C, L, 0, T products from Clariant. d8) Surface-active zwitterionic compounds, such as taurides, betaines and sulfobetaines in the form of Tegotain'‘ products from Goldschmidt, Hostapon’ and Arkopon’Y products from Clariant. d9) Surface-active compounds based on silicones or silanes, such as the Tegopren® products from Goldschmidt and the SE® products from Wacker, and also the Bevaloid®, Rhodorsii® and Silcolapse® products from Rhodia (Dow Corning, Reliance, GE, Bayer). d10) Per- or polyfluorinated suface-active compounds, such as the Fluowet® products from Clariant, the Bayowet® products from Bayer, the Zonyl® products from DuPont and products of this type from Daikin and Asahi Glass. d11) Surface-active sulfonamides, e.g. from Bayer. d12) Surface-active polyacrylic and polymethacrylic derivatives, such as the Sokalan® products from BASF. d13) Surface-active polyamides, such as modified gelatin or derivatized polyaspartic acid from Bayer and the derivatives thereof. d14) Surface-active polyvinyl compounds, such as modified polyvinylpyrrolidone, such as the LuviskoP products from BASF and the Agrimer® products from ISP, or derivatized poly(vinyl acetate)s, such as the Mowilith® products from Clariant, or poly(vinyl butyrate)s, such as the Lutonal® products from BASF, the Vinnapas® and the Pioloform® products from Wacker, or modified poly(vinyl alcohol)s, such as the MowioP products from Clariant. d15) Surface-active polymers based on maleic anhydride and/or reaction products of maleic anhydride, and also copolymers comprising maleic anhydride and/or reaction products of maleic anhydride, such as the Agrimer® VEMA products from ISP. d16) Surface-active derivatives of montan, polyethylene and polypropylene waxes, such as the Hoechst® waxes or the Licowet® products from Clariant, d17) Surface-active phosphonates and phosphinates, such as Fluowet® PL from Clariant. d18) Poly- or perhalogenated surfactants, such as, for example, Emulsogen® 1557 from Clariant. d19) Phenols, which may be alkoxylated, for example phenyl (CrC4)alkyl ethers or (poiy)alkoxylated phenols [= phenol (poly)alkylene glycol ethers], for example with 1 to 50 alkyleneoxy units in the (poly)alkyleneoxy part, the alkylene part preferably exhibiting 1 to 4 carbon atoms each time, preferably phenol reacted with 3 to 10 mol of alkylene oxide, (poly)alkylphenols or (poly)alkylphenol alkoxylates [- polyalkylphenol (poly)alkyiene glycol ethers], for example with 1 to 12 carbon atoms per alkyl radical and 1 to 150 alkyleneoxy units in the polyalkyleneoxy part, preferably tri(n-butyl)phenol orthisobutylphenol reacted with 1 to 50 mol of ethylene oxide, polyarylphenois or polyarylphenol alkoxylates [= polyarylphenol (poly)alkylene glycol ethers], for example tristyrylphenol polyalkylene glycol ethers with 1 to 150 alkyleneoxy units in the polyalkyleneoxy part, preferably tristyrylphenol reacted with 1 to 50 mol of ethylene oxide. d20) Compounds which are formally the reaction products of the molecules described under b20) with sulfuhc acid or phosphoric acid and the salts thereof neutralized with suitable bases, for example the acidic phosphohc ester of triethoxylated phenol, the acidic phosphoric ester of a nonylphenol reacted with 9 mol of ethylene oxide and the phosphoric ester, neutralized with triethanolamine, of the reaction product of 20 mol of ethylene oxide and 1 mol of tristyrylphenol. d21) Benzenesulfonates, such as alkyl- or arylbenzenesulfonates, e.g. (poly)alkyl-and (poly)arylben2enesulfonates which are acidic and neutralized with suitable bases, for example having 1 to 12 carbon atoms per alkyl radical or having up to 3 styrene units in the polyaryl radical, preferably (linear) dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid and the oil-soluble salts thereof, such as, for example, the calcium salt or the isopropylammonium salt of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid. Ethyleneoxy, propyleneoxy and butyleneoxy units, in particular ethyleneoxy units, are preferred for the alkyleneoxy units. Examples of surfactants from the group of the nonaromatic-based surfactants are the surfactants of the abovementioned groups d1)to d18), preferably of the groups d1), d2), d6)andd7). Examples of surfactants from the group of the aromatic-based surfactants are the surfactants of the abovementioned groups d19) to d21), preferably phenol reacted with 4 to 10 mol of ethylene oxide, available commercially, for example, in the form of the Agrisol® products (Akcros), triisobutylphenol reacted with 4 to 50 mot of ethylene oxide, available commercially, for example, in the form of the Sapogenat® T products (Clariant), nonylphenol reacted with 4 to 50 mol of ethylene oxide, available commercially, for example, in the form of the Arkopal® products (Clariant), tristyrylphenol reacted with 4 to 150 mol of ethylene oxide, for example from the Soprophor® series, such as Soprophor® FL, Soprophor® 3D33, Soprophor® BSU, Soprophor®4D-384, Soprophor® CY/8 (Rhodia), and acidic (linear) dodecylbenzenesulfonate, available commercially, for example, in the form of the Marlon® products (Huls). Preferred surfactants d) are, e.g., alkoxylated Cio-C24"alcohols (d1) and the anionic derivatives thereof (d2), such as sulfates, sulfonates and phosphates, alkoxylated vegetable oils (d3), alkoxylated phenols (d19) and the reaction products thereof with sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid (d20), and alkylbenzenesulfonates (d21). The standard thickeners e) and also auxiliaries and additives f) present in the oil suspension concentrates according to the invention are known to a person skilled in the art and are, for example, described in standard works: McCutcheon's "Detergents and Emulsifiers Annual", MC Publ. Corp., Ridgewood, N J.; Sisley and Wood, "Encyciopedia of Surface Active Agents", Chem. Publ.Co.Inc., N.Y,, 1964; SchOnfeldt, "Grenzflachenaktive Athylenoxidaddukte [Surface-active ethylene oxide adducts]", Wiss. Verlagsgesellschaft, Stuttgart, 1976; Winnacker-KQchler, "Chemische Technologie", volunne 7, C. Hauser-Verlag, Munich, 4th edition, 1986; Watkins, "Handbook of Insecticide Dust Diluents and Carriers", 2nd Ed., Darland Books, Caldwell, N.J.; H.v. Olphen, "Introduction to Clay Colloid Chemistry", 2nd Ed., J. Wiley & Sons, N.Y.; C. Marsden, "Solvents Guide", 2nd Ed,, Interscience, N.Y., 1963. Suitable thickeners are, for example: 1) modified natural silicates, such as chemically modified bentonites, hectorites, attapulgites, montmorillonites, smectites or other silicate minerals, such as Bentone® (Elementis), Attagel® (Engelhard), Agsorb® (Oil-Dri Corporation) or Hectorite© (Akzo Nobel), preferably Bentone®, 2) synthetic silicates, such as silicates of the Sipernat®, Aerosil® or Durosil® series (Degussa), of the CAB-0-SIL® series (Cabot) or of the Van Gel series (R.T, Vanderbilt), 3) thickeners based on synthetic polymers, such as thickeners of the Thixin® or Thixatrol® series (Elementis), and also Rhodopol® (Rhodia) and Kelzan® S (Keico Corp.). Examples of standard auxiliaries and additives f) which may also be present in the dispersions according to the invention are: thixotropic agents, wetting agents, antidrift agents, deposit builders, penetration agents, preservatives and antifreeze agents, antioxidants, fillers, carriers, dyes, fragrances, antifoaming agents, fertilizers, adjuvants, evaporation inhibitors and agents which influence the pH and the viscosity. Suitable antifreeze agents are those from the group of the ureas, diols and polyols, such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. Suitable antifoaming agents are those based on silicones. Suitable structure-imparting substances are those from the group of the xanthans. Suitable preservatives, dyes and aromatic pnnciples are knov’n to a person skilled in the art. The dispersions according to the invention can also comprise additional agrochemical active substances g), such as herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and safeners. These active substances are known to a person skilled in the art, for example from "The Pesticide Manual", 13th edition (2003), The British Crop Protection Council. Preference is given to herbicides from the series of the sulfonylureas, such as iodosuifuron-methyl (A1) and the sodium salt thereof (A2), mesosulfuron-methyl (A3) and the sodium salt thereof (A4), foramsulfuron (A5) and the sodium salt thereof (A6), flucarbazone (A7) and the sodium salt thereof (A8), propoxycarbazone (A9) and the sodium salt thereof (A10), ethoxysulfuron (A11) and the sodium salt thereof (A12), amidosulfuron (A13) and the sodium salt thereof (A14), and safeners, such as mefenpyr-diethyl (S1), N-({4-[(cyclopropylamino)carbonyl]phenyl}sulfonyl)-2-methoxybenzamide (S2), isoxadifen-ethyl (S3) and cloquintocet-mexyl (S4). N-({4-[(Cyclopropylamino)carbonyI]phenyI}sulfonyI)-2-methoxybenzamide (S2) is known, for example, from WO 99/16744. Mention may be made, as particularly preferred examples, of oil suspension concentrates according to the invention which comprise the components mentioned below, without the invention being limited thereby. In this connection, Bayol is a solvent from the Bayol® series, preferably Bayol®82 or Bayol®85. DFF is diflufenican. RME is rapeseed oil methyl ester. DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A1 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A2 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 "r RME + A3 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A4 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A5 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A6 + calcium formate •+- Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME DFF + Bayol®82 + RME DFF + Bayol®82 + RME DFF + Bayol®82 + RME DFF + Bayol®82 + RME DFF + Bayol®82 + RME DFF + Bayol®82 + RME DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A7 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; + A8 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; + A9 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; + A10 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 + A11 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 + A12 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 + A13 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 + A14 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A1 + S1 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A1 + S2 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A1 + S3 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A1 + S4 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A2 + S1 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A2 + S2 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A2 + S3 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A2 + 84 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A3 + S1 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A3 + S2 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A3 + S3 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A3 + S4 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A4 + S1 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A4 + S2 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A4 + S3 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A4 + S4 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A5 + SI + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A5 + S2 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A5 + S3 + ca DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A5 + 84 + ca cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 cium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A6 + S1 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A6 + S2 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A6 + S3 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A6 + S4 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A7 + S1 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A7 + S2 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A7 + S3 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A7 + S4 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A8 + S1 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A8 + S2 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A8 + S3 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A8 + S4 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A9 + S1 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A9 + S2 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A9 + S3 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A9 + S4 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A10 + S1 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A10 + S2 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A10 + S3 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A10 + S4 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + All + S1 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A11 + S2 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A11 + S3 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A11 + S4 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A12 + S1 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A12 + S2 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A12 + S3 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A12 + S4 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A13 + S1 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A13 + S2 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A13 + S3 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A13 + S4 + calcium formate + Bentone 34 DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A14 + S1 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A14 + S2 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A14 + S3 + calcium formate + Bentone 34; DFF + Bayol®82 + RME + A14 + S4 + Calcium formate + Bentone 34. The oil suspension concentrates according to the invention can be prepared by known processes, e.g. by mixing the components. Thus, e.g., the component b) can be introduced and the additional components a), d), c), e), f) and/or g) can be added Before addition of the other components, the component b) can optionally also be mixed with a thickener. The oil suspension obtained can subsequently, optionally after premilling, be subjected to fine milling. Standard mixing devices, which are optionally temperature-controlled, can be used for the preparation of the mixtures. High pressure homogenizers or mills operating according to the rotor-stator principle, e.g., can be used for the premilling, such as Ultra-Turrax homogenizers, e.g. from IKA, or toothed colloid mills, e.g. from Puck. Bead mills operating batchwise, e.g. from Drais, or bead mills operating continuously, e.g. from Bachofen, e.g., can be used for the fine milling. The preparation process can be adjusted according to the properties of the components used and also processing and safety requirements and for reasons of costs, and may optionally dispense with premilling or even with fine milling. The components a) to g) used for the preparation may comprise water as a minor constituent, which water is reencountered in the oil suspension concentrates according to the invention. The oil suspension concentrates according to the invention may accordingly comprise small amounts of water, generally from 0 to 5% by weight. For use, the oil suspension concentrates according to the invention can optionally be diluted in the usual way, e.g. using water, e.g. to give emulsions, suspensions, suspoemulsions or dispersions. It can be advantageous to add, to spray mixtures obtained, additional agrochemical active substances (e.g., tank mix partners in the form of appropriate formulations) and/or auxiliaries and additives standard for application, e.g. self-emulsifying oils, such as vegetable oils or paraffin oils, and/or fertilizers. Accordingly, another subject matter of the present invention is such liquid herbicidal compositions which can be obtained by diluting the oil suspension concentrates according to the invention. The herbicidal compositions according to the invention (subsequently always also comprising the oil suspension concentrates according to the invention) exhibit an outstanding herbicidal activity against a broad spectrum of economically important harmful monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. Even perennial weeds which sprout from rhizomes, root stocks or other perennial organs and which are difficult to combat are successfully included. In this connection, the compositions can be applied, e.g., in the presowing, preemergence or postemergence method. Specifically, mention may be made, by way of example, of some representatives of the mono- and dicotyledonous weed flora which can be controlled by the herbicidal compositions according to the invention, without the designation resulting in a limitation to certain species. In the case of the monocotyledonous weed species, Apera spica venti, Avena spp., Alopecurus spp., Brachiaria spp., Digitaria spp., Lolium spp., Echinochloa spp., Panicum spp., Phalahs spp., Poa spp., Setaria spp. and also Bromus spp., such as Bromus catharticus, Bromus secalinus, Bromus erectus, Bromus tectorum and Bromus japonicus, and Cyperus species from the group of the annuals and, in the case of the perennial species, Agropyron, Cynodon, Imperata and also Sorghum and even perennial Cyperus species, e.g., are successfully included. With dicotyledonous weed species, the spectrum of activity applies to species such as, e.g., Abutilon spp., Amaranthus spp., Chenopodium spp.. Chrysanthemum spp., Galium spp., such as Galium aparine, Ipomoea spp., Kochia spp., Lamium spp., Matricaria spp., Pharbitis spp.. Polygonum spp., Sida spp., Sinapis spp., Solanum spp,, Stellaria spp., Veronica spp. and Viola spp., Xanthium spp., in the case of the annuals, and Convolvulus, Cirsium, Rumex and Artemisia with the perennial weeds. Harmful plants occurring under the specific cultivation conditions in rice, such as, e.g,, Echinochloa, Sagittaria, Alisma, Eleocharis, Scirpus and Cyperus, are likewise combated in an outstanding fashion by the compositions according to the invention. If the herbicidal compositions according to the invention are applied to the soil surface before germination, then either the emergence of the weed seedlings is completely prevented or the weeds grow until they have reached the cotyledon stage but then their growth ceases and finally, after 3 to 4 weeks have elapsed, they completely die. On application of the herbicidal compositions according to the invention to the green parts of the plants in the postemergence method, a drastic halt in growth likewise occurs very quickly after the treatment and the weed plants stay in the growth stage present at the time of application or completely die after a certain time, so that in this way competition by weeds, which is harmful for the crop plants, is eliminated very early and with lasting effect. The herbicidal compositions according to the invention are distinguished by a rapidly commencing and longlasting herbicidal action. The resistance to rain of the active substances in the herbicidal compositions according to the invention is generally good. A particular advantage is crucially that the dosages of herbicidal compounds which are used in the herbicidal compositions and which are effective can be adjusted to such a low value that their soil action is optimally low. Accordingly, not only is their use finally possible in sensitive crops but groundwater contamination is virtually avoided. A substantial reduction in the amount of the active substances which has to be expended is made possible by the active substance combination according to the invention. The properties and advantages mentioned are of use in the practical combating of weeds in order to keep agricultural crops free from undesirable competing plants and accordingly to safeguard and/or to increase the yields in terms of quality and quantity. The technical standard is, with regard to the properties described, clearly exceeded by these new compositions. Although the herbicidai compositions according to the invention exhibit an outstanding herbicidai activity with regard to mono- and dicotyledonous weeds, crop plants of economically important crops, e.g. dicotyledonous crops, such as soya, cotton, rape, sugar beet, or gramineous crops, such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, millet, rice or corn, are only insignificantly damaged or completely undamaged. The present compounds, for these reasons, are very well suited to the selective combating of undesirable plant growth in agriculturally useful plants or in ornamental plants. In addition, the herbicidai compositions according to the invention exhibit outstanding growth-regulatory properties in crop plants. They intervene in a regulatory manner in the plants' metabolism and can accordingly be used for the selective influencing of plant contents and for making it easier to harvest, such as, e.g., by controlling desiccation and stunted growth. Furthermore, they are also suitable for the general control and inhibition of undesirable vegetative growth, without in this connection killing the plants. Inhibition of vegetative growth plays a major role in many mono-and dicotyledonous crops since lodging can be reduced or completely prevented through this. Because of their herbicidai and plant-growth-regulatory properties, the herbicidai compositions according to the invention can also be used for combating harmful plants in crops of known genetically modified plants or genetically modified plants still to be developed. The transgenic plants are generally distinguished by particular advantageous properties, for example by resistance to certain pesticides, mainly certain herbicides, resistance to plant diseases or causative agents of plant diseases, such as certain insects or microorganisms, such as fungi, bacteria or viruses. Other particular properties relate, e.g., to the harvested crops with regard to amount, quality, storability, composition and special ingredients. Thus, transgenic plants with increased starch content or modified quality of the starch or those with a different fatty acid composition of the harvested crops are known. Preference is given to the use of the compositions according to the invention in economically important transgenic crops of useful and ornamental plants, e.g. of gramineous crops, such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, millet, rice and corn, or also crops of sugar beet, cotton, soya, rape, potato, tomato, peas and other kinds of vegetable. Preferably, the compositions according to the invention can be used as herbicides in crops of useful plants which are resistant to the phytotoxic effects of the herbicides or which have been made resistant by genetic engineering. When the herbicidal compositions according to the invention are used in transgenic crops, effects often occur, in addition to the effects with regard to harmful plants to be observed in other crops, which are specific for the application in the respective transgenic crop, for example a modified or specially broadened weed spectrum which can be combated, modified amounts to be expended which can be used for the application, preferably good ability to be combined with the herbicides to which the transgenic crop is resistant, and influencing of growth and yield of the transgenic crop plants. Another subject matter of the present invention is furthermore a process for the combating of undesirable plant growth (e.g., harmful plants, such as monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous weeds or undesirable crop plants), preferably in plant crops such as cereals (e.g., wheat, barley, rye, oats, rice, corn, millet), sugar beet, sugar cane, rape, cotton and soya, particularly preferably in monocotyledonous crops, such as cereals, e.g. wheat, barley, rye, oats, hybrids thereof, such as triticale, hce, corn and millet, one or more herbicidal compositions according to the invention being applied to the plants (e.g., harmful plants), plant parts, the seed (e.g., plant seeds) or the area on which the plants are growing (e.g., the area under cultivation). The plant crops can also be modified by genetic engineering or obtained by mutation selection and are preferably tolerant to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors. The oil suspension concentrates of the present invention exhibit an outstanding chemical stability during preparation and storage and are in particular also suitable for combinations of active substances with different physicochemical properties. In addition, the oil suspension concentrates exhibit outstanding physical stability, good applicability and user friendliness, and high biological effectiveness and selectivity. The following connparative example is intended to illustrate the invention without having a limiting nature. Explanation: Bentone® 34 = Modified sheet silicate, Elementis Edenor® MESU = Rapeseed oil methyl ester, Cognis Emulsogen® EL-400 = Polyethoxylated castor oil with 40 ethylene oxide units, Clariant Triton® GR-7M E = Di(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate, sodium salt, in aromatic solvent, Dow Chemicals Bayol® 82 = Paraffin oil (Exxon) Genapol*’ X060 methyl ether = Isotridecyl alcohol with 6 ethylene oxide units, end-closed with methyl (Clariant) Exemplary embodiment 1 according to the invention: a) 14.85% Diflufenican b) 6.00% EdenorME SU b) 0.20% Propylene carbonate b) 33.50% Bayol 82 c) 3.50% Calcium formate d) 19.80% Genapol X 060 (methyl ether) d) 15.00% Triton GR-7M E d) 5.00% Emulsogen EL 400 e) 2.00% Bentone 34 f) 0.15% Sodium carbonate 33.5 g of Bayol® 82 were introduced into a vessel and 2.0 g of Bentone® 34 were added. After mixing with an Ultra-Turrax®, 0.2 g of propylene carbonate was added and brought to the gelled state using the Ultra-Turrax® at high shear forces. 6 g of Edenor® MESU were then added and again incorporated using high shear forces. Subsequently, 15 g of Triton® GR7ME and 5 g of Emulsogen® EL400 were added / and again incorporated using the Ultra-Turrax . 19.8 g of Genapor X 060 methyl ether, 0.15 g of sodium carbonate, 3.5 g of calcium formate and then premilled diflufenican were subsequently added portionwise while mixing with the Ultra-Turrax® until completely incorporated. An oil suspension concentrate was obtained and was subsequently run through a Dynomill® mill with a rotational speed of ca. 3000 rpm and an outlet temperature of 25"30°C. After milling, the oil suspension concentrate was subsequently stirred for 20 minutes and then filled to containers. Comparative example 2 (without calcium formate): a) 14.85% Diflufenican b) 6.00% EdenorlVlE SU b) 0.20% Propylene carbonate b) 37.00% Bayol 82 d) 19.80% Genapol X 060 (methyl ether) d) 15.00% Triton GR-7M E d) 5.00% Emulsogen EL 400 e) 2.00% Bentone 34 f) 0.15% Sodium carbonate The oil suspension concentrate prepared for comparison purposes was prepared analogously to example 1 but 37.0 g of Bayol 82 and no calcium formate were used. Application test: Redispersibility Water with a defined water hardness (20 and 100 ppm; prepared from Capac standard water D (342 ppm) by diluting with deionizer water) and the oil suspension concentrate 1 according to the invention or the comparative example 2 are used to prepare, at ambient temperature, 250 ml each of a 0.34% or 1.22% mixture in a 250 ml graduated measuring cylinder. The mixtures are mixed thoroughly by 30 manual inversions (1 inversion = rotation by 180’ and back). The mixtures are subsequently left standing for 24 h. 30 inversions are now again carried out and, after 30 min, the mixtures are rated for sediment formation: in the case of the oil suspension concentrate 1 according to the invention, no settling (sediment formation) is observed, i.e. the oil suspension concentrate 1 according to the invention form is completely redispersible. On the other hand, in the case of comparative example 2;, significant sediment formation occurs, i.e. comparative example 2 is not completely redispersibie. Formulation Concentration Water hardness Result according to example 1 0.34 % 20 redispersibie 2 0.34 % 20 not redispersibie 1 0.34 % 100 redispersibie 2 0.34 % 100 not redispersibie 1 1.22 % 20 redispersibie 2 1.22 % 20 not redispersibie 1 1.22 % 100 redispersibie 2 1.22 % 100 not redispersibie What is claimed is: 1. An oil suspension concentrate which comprises: a) diflufenican, b) one or more solvents from the group consisting of hydrocarbons and vegetable oils, c) one or more no surfactant salts of polyvalent captions, the solubility product of these salts in water being higher than that of calcium sulfate, d) one or more surfactants, and e) one or more thickeners. 2. An oil suspension concentrate as claimed in claim 1, which comprises, as component, one or more solvents from the group consisting of acyclic hydrocarbons, cyclic hydrocarbons and vegetable oils. 3. An oil suspension concentrate as claimed in claim 1 or 2, which comprises a) 0.5 to 50% of diflufenican, b) 5 to 80% of one or more solvents, c) 0.1 to 15% of one or more no surfactant salts of polyvalent cations, d) 1 to 50% of one or more surfactants, e) 0.1 to 5% of one or more thickeners, f) 0 to 25% of additional auxiliaries and additives. 4. An oil suspension concentrate as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 3, which comprises a) 2.5 to 50% of diflufenican, b) 5 to 80% of one or more solvents, c) 0.1 to 15% of one or more nonsurfactant salts of polyvalent cations, d) 1 to 50% of one or more surfactants, e) 0.1 to 5% of one or more thickeners, f) 0 to 25% of additional auxiliaries and additives, and g) 0 to 50% of one or more additional agrochemical active substances other than a). 5. An oil suspension concentrate as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 4, which comprises a) 5 to 35% of difiufenican, b) 5 to 80% of one or more solvents, c) 0.5 to 15% of one or more nonsurfactant salts of polyvalent cations, d) 5 to 50% of one or more surfactants, e) 0.1 to 5% of one or more thickeners, f) 0 to 25% of additional auxiliaries and additives, g) 0 to 50% of one or more additional agrochemical active substances other than a). 6. An oil suspension concentrate as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 5, which comprises, as additional agrochemical active substance, a herbicide from the group consisting of iodosulfuron-methyl, idosulfuron-methyl sodium salt, mesosulfuron-methyi, mesosuifuron-methyl sodium salt, foramsulfuron, foramsulfuron sodium salt, flucarbazone, flucarbazone sodium salt, propoxycarbazone, propoxycarbazone sodium salt, ethoxysulfuron, ethoxysulfuron sodium salt, amidosulfuron and amidosulfuron sodium salt. 7. An oil suspension concentrate as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 6, which comprises, as additional agrochemical active substance, a safenerfrom the group consisting of mefenpyr-diethyl, N-({4-[(cyclopropylamino)carbonyl]phenyl}-sulfonyl}-2-methoxybenzamide, isoxadifen-ethyl and cloquintocet-mexyl. 8. A process for the preparation of an oil suspension concentrate as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 7, which comprises mixing and optionally milling the components. 9. A process for combating undesirable plant growth, which comprises applying an effective amount of an oil suspension concentrate as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 7 to the plants, parts of the plants, the seed or the area on which plants grow. 10. The use of an oil suspension concentrate as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 7 for combating undesirable plant growth. 11. The use of an oil suspension concentrate as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 7 for preparing a herbicidal composition. 12. The use as claimed in claim 10 or 11, the herbicidal composition being a suspension, suspoemulsion or dispersion. 13. A liquid herbicidal composition, which can be obtained by diluting an oil suspension concentrate as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 7. 14. A liquid herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 13, the herbicidal composition being an emulsion, suspension, suspoemulsion or dispersion. 15. A liquid herbicidal composition, which comprises a) diflufenican, b) one or more solvents from the group consisting of hydrocarbons and vegetable oils, c) one or more nonsurfactant salts of polyvalent cations, the solubility product of these salts in water being higher than that of calcium sulfate, d) one or more surfactants, e) one or more thickeners. 16. A liquid herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 15, which additionally comprises, as additional agrochemical active substance, a herbicide from the group consisting of iodosulfuron-methyl, idosulfuron-methyl sodium salt, mesosulfuron- methyl, mesosulfuron-methyl sodium salt, foramsulfuron, foramsulfuron sodium salt, flucarbazone, flucarbazone sodium salt, propoxycarbazone, propoxycarbazone sodium salt, ethoxysulfuron, ethoxysulfuron sodium salt, amidosulfuron and amidosulfuron sodium salt. 17. A liquid herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 15 or 16, which additionally comprises, as additional agrochemical active substance, a safenerfrom the group consisting of mefenpyr-diethyl, N-({4-[(cyclopropylamino)carbonyl]phenyl}sulfonyl)- 2-methoxybenzamide, isoxadifen-ethyl and cloquintocet-mexyl. 18. A liquid herbicidal composition as claimed in any of claims 15 to 17, which additionally comprises water. 19. A process for combating undesirable plant growth, which comprises applying an effective amount of a herbicidal composition as claimed in one or more of claims 13 to 18 to the plants, parts of the plants, the seed or the area on which plants grow. 20. The use of a herbicidal composition as claimed in one or more of claims 13 to 18 for combating undesirable plant gravity.

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1715-CHENP-2008 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 04-10-2013.pdf

1715-CHENP-2008 AMENDED CLAIMS 04-10-2013.pdf

1715-CHENP-2008 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 27-08-2013.pdf

1715-CHENP-2008 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 29-01-2013.pdf

1715-CHENP-2008 FORM-3 04-10-2013.pdf

1715-CHENP-2008 FORM-3 27-08-2013.pdf

1715-CHENP-2008 PCT NOTIFICATION 04-10-2013.pdf

1715-CHENP-2008 POWER OF ATTORNEY 04-10-2013.pdf

1715-CHENP-2008 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED 04-10-2013.pdf

1715-chenp-2008-abstract.pdf

1715-chenp-2008-claims.pdf

1715-chenp-2008-correspondnece-others.pdf

1715-chenp-2008-description(complete).pdf

1715-chenp-2008-form 1.pdf

1715-chenp-2008-form 26.pdf

1715-chenp-2008-form 3.pdf

1715-chenp-2008-form 5.pdf

1715-chenp-2008-pct.pdf