Title of Invention

"NOVEL PESTICIDE AND/OR GROWTH REGULATING COMPOSTIONS WITH PARTICULAR NON-IONIC SURFACTANT"

Abstract A pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals, wherein it comprises A) one or more pesticidal and/or growth-regulating active materials for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals, with the exception of diniconazole; B) a specific nonionic surface-active agent comprising two different chemical components Bi) the molecular mass of which is between 200 and 3000 g/mol, preferably between 300 and 1000 g/mol; B2) the dynamic tension of which, measured in water at a concentration of 0.4 g per liter and at a frequency of 10Hz, is between 35 and 73 mN/m; B3) and each comprising B3(i) a hydrophobic part chosen from the following groups: C13 oxo alcohols; a-isodecyl-w-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol; linear C12-C14 alcohols; linear C16-C18 alcohols; lauryl alcohol; myristyl alcohol; do- and/or tetradecanols; distyrylphenol-di (1-phenylethyl)phenols; nonylphenols; acetylenediols, in particular 2,4,7,9-tetramethyldeca-5-yne; tridecyl alcohols; and the molar mass of which is between 100 and 1500 g/mol, preferably between 150 and 400 g/mol; B3 (ii) a hydrophilic part chosen from a poly(oxy-l, 2-ethanediyl) radical and/or a poly(oxy-l, 2-propanediyl) radical, the molar mass of which is between 80 and 2000 g/mol, preferably between 100 and 900 g/mol; and such that B4) the difference in molar masses of the hydrophobic parts of these two chemical components is less than 140 g/mol; and that B5) the difference in molar masses of the hydrophilic parts of these two chemical components is less than 360 g/mol.
Full Text FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
[39 OF 1970]
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See Section 10; rule 13]
"NOVEL PESTICIDE AND/OR GROWTH REGULATING COMPOSTIONS WITH PARTICULAR NON-IONIC SURFACTANT'
AVENTIS CROPSCIENCE S.A., a French body corporate of 55 Avenue Rene Cassin CP 106, F-69266 Lyon Cedex 09, FRANCE
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

various compounds, such as, for example, fillers, stabilizing agents, emulsifying agents or surface-active agents, or other adjuvants or additives, are generally added thereto.
5 In formulations or compositions of this type,
said surface-active agents are generally chosen for their emulsifying and/or dispersing and/or stabilizing properties, for example to make possible improved behavior on storage.
10 One field in which said surface-active agents
can play a predominant role, when employed in compositions, is that of the application, in particular by spraying, of these compositions.
Nevertheless, and despite the use of surface-
15 active agents, the application of said compositions often comes up against the problem of the more or less wetting nature of the composition to be applied.
Likewise, another problem frequently encountered during the application of compositions, for
20 example by spraying, is the tendency of the droplets of said compositions applied to rebound from or to ricochet off the application surface and thus to result in a waste of composition and in a dispersion of composition in the environment, a dispersion to be
25 avoided for easily understandable ecological reasons and for just as understandable economic reasons.
Thus, one object of the present invention is to provide compositions which employ one or more

pesticidal and/or growth-regulating active materials for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals and which have a high wetting nature.
Another object of the present invention is to 5 provide compositions which employ one or more
pesticidal and/or growth-regulating active materials and which make possible an application, in particular by spraying, of the most effective.
An additional object of the present invention
10 is to provide compositions which are of use in the fields of agriculture and/or of public or domestic hygiene and which have a reduced dynamic tension, which notion will be expanded upon subsequently.
Another object of the present invention is to
15 provide compositions which are of use in the fields of agriculture and/or of public or domestic hygiene and which have a substantially improved bioavailability of the pesticidal and/or growth-regulating active material employed.
20 An additional object of the present invention
is to provide pesticidal and/or growth-regulating compositions which employ a specific nonionic surface-active agent, it being possible for said compositions in particular to show good stability during long
25 periods of storage and, thus, to make it possible for the active material employed to remain highly effective.
Another object of the present invention is to

provide protection and/or treatment methods, in
particular for the protection and/or treatment of crops
and/or seeds, employing the compositions according to
the invention.
5 An additional object of the present invention
is to provide such methods with improved performances which make possible a reduction in the amount of active material applied, a particularly advantageous asset for easily understandable ecological reasons.
10 Another object of the present invention is to
provide a specific nonionic surface-active agent comprising several chemical components, said surface-active agent having a particularly advantageous wettability.
15 Another object of the present invention is to
provide a specific nonionic surface-active agent which exhibits a reduced dynamic tension.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a specific nonionic surface-active agent
20 which can, for example, be advantageously employed in the presence of ionic substances, either anionic or cationic substances.
It has now been found that these objectives can be achieved in all or part by virtue of the various
25 aspects of the present invention, in particular by
means of compositions according to the invention, or by means of a specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention, or via a process for

employing said compositions or said surface-active agent; likewise, other subject matters or advantages of the present invention may become apparent during the detailed description to come of the various aspects of 5 said invention.
An essential and very particularly preferred aspect of the present invention relates to pesticidal and/or growth-regulating compositions for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals, of use in 10 particular in the fields of agriculture and/or of
public or domestic hygiene, characterized in that they comprise
A) one or more pesticidal and/or growth-regulating
active materials for harmful plants and/or insects
15 and/or animals;
B) a specific nonionic surface-active agent
comprising two different chemical components
Bj) the molecular mass of which is between 200
and 3 000 g/mol, preferably between 300 and
20 1 000 g/mol;
B2) the dynamic tension of which, measured in
water at a concentration of 0.4 g per liter
and at a frequency of 10 Hz, is between 35
and 73 mN/m;
25 B3) and each comprising
B3(i) a hydrophobic part chosen from the following groups: C13 oxo alcohols; a-isodecyl-a-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol;

linear C12-C14 alcohols; linear C16-C18
alcohols; lauryl alcohol; myristyl
alcohol; do- and/or tetradecanols;
distyrylphenol-di(1-phenylethyl)phenols;
5 nonylphenols; acetylenediols, in
particular 2,4,7,9-tetramethyldeca-5-
yne; tridecyl alcohols; and the molar
mass of which is between 100 and
1 500 g/mol, preferably between 150 and
10 400 g/mol;
B3(ii) a hydrophilic part chosen from a
poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) radical and/or
a poly(oxy-1,2-propanediyl) radical, the
molar mass of which is between 80 and
15 2 000 g/mol, preferably between 100 and
900 g/mol; and such that
B4) the difference in molar masses of the
hydrophobic parts of these two chemical
components is less than 140 g/mol; and that
20 B5) the difference in molar masses of the
hydrophilic parts of these two chemical components is less than 360 g/mol. Preferably, the active material or materials employed in the compositions according to the invention 25 are present in amounts generally of between 0.0001 and 99%, preferably between 0.5 and 7 0%, by weight of said compositions.
Other advantageous forms of compositions


according to the invention are the compositions in the dilute form; preferably, these dilute compositions comprise between 0.0001 and 10% of active material. Other even more advantageous forms of 5 compositions according to the invention are the
compositions in the concentrated forms; preferably, these concentrated compositions comprise between 15 and 99% of active material.
In a particularly advantageous way, the 10 specific nonionic surface-active agent employed in the compositions according to the invention is present in amounts generally of between 1 and 99.9999%, preferably between 5 and 80%, by weight of said compositions. Very advantageously, the two chemical 15 components comprised by the specific nonionic surface-active agent employed within the compositions according to the invention are generally present in respective amounts such that the molar ratio of said amounts is between 1/99 and 99/1, preferably between 25/75 and 20 75/25.
However, a molar ratio of said amounts of between 40/60 and 60/40 is generally preferred.
Throughout the present text and unless otherwise specified, the amounts of the various 25 constituents employed are expressed as percentage by weight.
For greater clarity of the present account, various terms or expressions employed will now be

defined.
Thus, within the meaning of the present text, the following are generally understood
- by surface-active agent or compound, a
5 compound, a mixture of compounds, an association or a combination of compounds which can have surface-active and/or wettability properties of use in particular for modifying, decreasing, increasing or controlling the surface tension of a composition according to the 10 invention, as well as for modifying, decreasing,
increasing or controlling the wetting nature of such a composition;
- by surface tension or static surface
tension of a composition according to the invention,
15 the tension which can exist between the liquid surface of such a composition and the gas, generally air, surrounding and/or surmounting said surface; thus, the surface of said liquid acts as if it were a taut skin or as if such a taut skin existed at the liquid/gas or
20 liquid/solid interface;
- by wetting nature or wettability property,
expressions employed without distinction to describe
the compositions according to the invention in the
continuation of the present text, the ability of a
25 droplet of composition, deposited on the surface of a solid, to spread to a greater or lesser extent according to whether said composition wets or does not wet the solid;

- by dynamic tension or dynamic surface
tension, the ability of a liquid composition, in
particular of a composition according to the invention
in combination with a liquid carrier, to make possible,
5 in particular during the spraying of such a liquid composition, the faster or slower migration of said composition according to the invention to the water/air interface of the droplets formed; said dynamic tension or dynamic surface tension advantageously having a low 10 value, a guarantee in particular of a reduction in the losses of liquid composition applied, for example by spraying, said losses being generally due to the rebound of the droplets from the application surface;
- by bioavailability of the active material
15 employed in a composition according to the invention,
the available nature of said active material which renders it as effective as possible in its pesticidal and/or growth-regulating role for harmful plants and/or insects or animals; thus, for a fixed amount of active
20 material, the biological activity of the latter can vary very widely according to said bioavailability of this active material in the composition employed.
Generally, surface-active agents or compounds are chemical molecules, the structures of which
25 generally comprise two parts with antagonistic
properties with respect to the surrounding environment. Thus, said molecules generally comprise a part referred to as hydrophobic, as having little affinity for water,

and a part referred to as hydrophilic, thus described for its high affinity for water. As said hydrophilic part can sometimes carry an electric charge, the surface-active agent is then often described as anionic 5 or cationic and, if appropriate, as nonionic surface-active agent when said hydrophilic part does not carry any ionic chemical group.
Preferably and according to requirements, the nature of the diseases to be treated, of the harmful
10 insects and/or animals and/or plants to be combated, destroyed or eradicated, according to the degrees of infestation by these pests, the climatic and/or edaphic conditions, the compositions according to the invention can comprise several pesticidal and/or growth-
15 regulating active materials for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals in combination, in particular of the following types: fungicide and/or insecticide and/or acaricide and/or rodenticide and/or nematocide and/or repellent for harmful insects and/or animals
20 and/or growth regulator for plants and/or insects,
and/or one or more active materials of herbicide type.
Generally, the pesticidal and/or growth-regulating active material or materials which the compositions according to the invention can comprise
25 are those cited in any general work on plant protection, for example L'Index Phytosanitaire (published by the technical department of the Association de Coordination Technique Agricole

[Agricultural Technical Coordination Association] or
A.C.T.A.) or The Pesticide Manual (of the British Crop
Protection Council, edited by Clive Tomlin) or
alternatively The Electronic Pesticide Manual, version 5 1.0 (of the British Crop Protection Council, edited by
Clive Tomlin).
Mention may be made, among the insecticidal,
acaricidal or nematocidal active materials which can be
employed, alone or in combination with other active 10 materials, in particular pesticides, in the
compositions according to the invention, of Abamectin;
Acephate; Acetamiprid; oleic acid; Acrinathrin;
Aldicarb; Alanycarb; Allethrin [(1R)-isomers];
ct-Cypermethrin; Amitraz; Azadirachtin, Azamethiphos; 15 Azinphos-ethyl; Azinphos-methyl; Bacillus
thuringiensis; Bendiocarb; Benfuracarb; Bensultap;
Beta-cyfluthrin; Beta-cypermethrin; Bifenthrin;
Bioallathrin; Bioallethrin (S-cyclopentenyl isomer);
Bioresmethrin; Borax; Buprofezin; Butocarboxim; 20 Butoxycarboxim; piperonyl butoxide; Cadusafos;
Carbaryl; Carbofuran; Carbosulfan; Cartap; Cartap
hydrochloride; Chlordane; Chorethoxyfos; Chlorfenapyr;
Chlorfenvinphos; Chlorfluazuron; Chlormephos;
Chloropicrin; Chlorpyrifos; Chlorpyrifos-methyl; 25 mercurous chloride; Coumaphos; Cryolite; Cryomazine;
Cyanophos; calcium cyanide; sodium cyanide;
Cycloprothrin; Cyfluthrin; Cyhalothrin; Cypermethrin;
Cyphenothrin [(1R)-trans-isomers]; Dazomet; DDT;

Deltamethrin; Demeton-S-methyl; Diafenthiuron;
Diazinon; ethylene dibromide; ethylene dichloride,
Dichlorvos; Dicrotophos; Diflubenzuron; Dimethoate;
Dimethylvinphos; Diofenolan; Disulfoton; DNOC; DPX-5 JW062 and DP; Empenthrin [(EZ)-(1R)-isomers];
Endosulfan; ENT 8184; EPN; Esfenvalerate; Ethiofencarb;
Ethion; Ethiprole with the chemical name 5-amino-
3-cyano-l-(2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-
4-ethylsulfinylpyrazole; Ethoprophos; Etofenprox; 10 Etrimfos; Famphur; Fenitrothion; Fenobucarb;
Fenoxycarb; Fenpropathrin; Fenthion; Fenvalerate;
Fipronil; Flucycloxuron; Flueythrinate; Flufenoxuron;
Flufenprox; Flumethrin; Fluofenprox; sodium fluoride;
sulfuryl fluoride; Fonofos; Formetanate; Formetanate 15 hydrochloride; Formothion; Furathiocarb; Gamma-HCH;
GY-81; Halofenozide; Heptachlor; Heptenophos;
Hexaflumuron; sodium hexafluorosilicate; tar oils;
petroleum oils; Hydramethylnon; hydrogen cyanide;
Hydroprene; Imidacloprid; Imiprothrin; Isazofos; 20 Isofenphos; Isoprocarb; methyl isothiocyanal;
Isoxathion; lambda-Cyhalothrin; pentachlorophenyl
laurate; Lufenuron; Malathion; MB-599; Mecarbam;
Methacrifos; Methamidophos; Methidathion; Methiocarb;
Methomyl; Methoprene; Methoxychlor; Metolcarb; 25 Mevinphos; Milbemectin; Monocrotophos; Naled; nicotine;
Nitenpyram; Nithiazine; Novaluron; Omethoate; Oxamyl;
Oxydemeton-methyl; Paecilomyces fumosoroseus;
Parathion; Parathion-methyl; pentachlorophenol; sodium

pentachlorophenoxide; Permethrin; Phenothrin
[(1R)-trans-isomer]; Phenthoate; Phorate; Phosalone;
Phosmet; Phosphamidon; phosphine; aluminum phosphide;
magnesium phosphide; zinc phosphide; Phoxim; 5 Pirimicarb; Pirimiphos-ethyl; Pirimiphos-methyl;
calcium polysulfide; Prallethrin; Profenofos;
Propaphos; Propetamphos; Propoxur; Prothiofos;
Pyraclofos; Pyrethrins (chrysanthemates, pyrethrates,
pyrethrum); Pyretrozine; Pyridaben; Pyridaphenthion; 10 Pyrimidifen; Pyriproxyfen; Quinalphos; Resmethrin;
RH-2485; Rotenone; RU 15525; Silafluofen; Sulcofuron-
sodium; Sulfotep; Sulfuramide; Sulprofos;
Tafluvalinate; Tebufenozide; Tebupirimfos;
Teflubenzuron; Tefluthrin; Temephos; Terbufos; 15 Tetrachlorvinphos; Tetramethrin; Tetramethrin
[(1R)-isomers]; Theta-cypermethrin; Thiocyclam;
Thiocyclam hydrogen oxalate; Thiodicarb; Thiofanox;
Thiometon; Tralomethrin; Transfluthrin; Triazamate;
Triazophos; Trichlorfon; Triflumuron; Trimethacarb; 20 Vamidothion; XDE-105; XMC; Xylylcarb; Zeta-
cypermethrin; ZXI 8901; the compound with the chemical
name 3-acetyl-5-amino-l-[2,6-dichloro-
4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-methylsulfinylpyrazole. Mention may be made, among the fungicidal 25 active materials which can be employed, alone or in
combination with other active materials, in particular
pesticides, in the compositions according to the
invention, of Azaconazole; Azoxystrobin; Benalaxyl;

DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to novel 5 pesticidal and/or growth-regulating compositions for
harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals employing
it
a specific nonionic surface-active agent; said compositions are of use in particular in the fields of agriculture and/or of public or domestic hygiene via 10 treatment or protection processes; said surface-active agent as such also forming part of the present invention; as well as said treatment or protection processes.
A great many pesticidal and/or growth-15 regulating active materials or substances for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals, of use in particular in the fields of agriculture and/or of public or domestic hygiene, are known, for example from patents or patent applications EP-418 016, 20 US-5 304 566, US-3 716 600, WO/05050, EP-201 852,
US-3 845 172, and the like.
However, most of the time, said active materials cannot be employed alone or pure, in particular for obvious reasons of concentration, of 25 ease of handling or of applicational restrictions.
Said active materials are therefore generally combined or mixed with other substances to form formulations or compositions, that is to say that

Benomyl; Bromuconazole; Captafol; Captan; Chloroneb;
Chlorotalonil; Cymoxanil; Cyproconazole;
Difenoconazole; Dimethomorph; Diniconazole; Dodemorph;
Dodine; Epoxyconazole; Etaconazole; Famoxadone with the 5 chemical name 5-methyl-5-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-
3-(phenylamino-2,4-oxazolidinedione); Fenamidone with
the chemical name 4-methyl-2-methylthio-4-phenyl-
l-phenylamino-2-imidazoline-5-one and its 4-S
enantiomer; Fenarimol; Fenbuconazole; Fenpropidin; 10 Fenpropimorph; Fluazinam; Flucaconazole; Fludioxonil;
Flusilazole; Flusulfamide; Flutolanil; Flutriafol;
Flusilazole; Folpel; Fosetyl-Al; its salts and
phosphorous acid and its salts; Guazatine;
Hexaconazole; Ipconazole; Iprodione; Iprovalicarb; 15 Kresoxim-methyl; Mancozeb; Maneb; Mepanipyrim;
Metalaxyl; Metalaxyl-M; Metconazole; Metiram; Metiram-
zinc; Oxadixyl; Penconazole; Pencycuron; Prochloraz;
Procymidone; Propamocarb; Propiconazole; Pyrimethanyl;
Quinoxyfen; Tebuconazole; Tetraconazole; Thiram; 20 Triadimefon; Triadimenol; Tricyclazole; Tridemorph;
Trifloxystrobin; Triticonazole; Zineb and Ziram; the
compounds with the chemical name methyl (E,E)~
2-(2-(l-(l-(2-pyridyl)propyloxyimino)-
1-cyclopropylmethyloxymethyl)phenyl)-3-ethoxypropenate 25 and 3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-4-chloropyrazole.
Mention may be made, among the herbicidal
active materials which can be employed, alone or in
combination with other active materials, in particular

pesticides, in the compositions according to the
invention, of Acetochlor; Aclonifen; Acifluorfen;
Alachlor; Asulam; Atrazine; Benfluralin; Bifenox;
Bromoxynil; Carbetamide; Chlortoluron; Cinosulfuron; 5 Clodinafop; Diflufenican; Dimefuron; Dinoterb;
Florasulam; Fluazolate; Flucarbazone; Flufenacet;
Flupyrsulfuron; Flurtamone; Glufosinate; Glyphosphate;
Imazamox; Imazaquin; Imazethapyr; Iodosulfuron;
Ioxynil; Isoproturon; Isoxachlortole; Isoxaflutole; 10 MCPA; Metobromuron; Metolachlor; Metosulam; Oxadiargyl;
Oxadiazon; Paraquat; Pendimethalin; Phosphonothrixin;
Pretilachlor; Primisulfuron; Propaquizafop; Propazine;
Pyribenzoxim; Pyridafol; Quizalofop; Sulfentrazone;
Thenylchlor; Thiazopyr; Trifluralin.
15 In the compositions according to the
invention, the active material or materials can exist
in various physical forms, in particular in the solid
form, as well as in the liquid or semi-liquid form. In addition to the active material or 20 materials and the specific nonionic surface-active
agent as described above, the compositions according to
the invention can comprise an inorganic or organic
carrier; preferably, this carrier is in the liquid
form.
25 However, solid carriers can advantageously he
employed in combination or in association with the
compositions according to the invention; mention may
particularly be made, among these said solid carriers,

of clays; natural or synthetic silicates; silicas;
resins; waxes; or solid fertilizers.
For the account of the present invention,
inorganic or organic liquid carrier is understood to 5 mean both a solvent employed alone and a combination of
several solvents. Such a combination then being
composed of a solvent and of one or more cosolvents
which are miscible or immiscible with one another.
Use may advantageously be made, as solvents 10 employed in the compositions according to the
invention, of water and/or organic solvents.
It should be noted that the compositions
according to the invention which make use of water as a
liquid carrier exhibit the advantage of substantially 15 reducing the toxicity and/or flammability restrictions
which compositions making use of organic liquid
carriers may sometimes be subject to.
However, and. depending upon the qualities
desired for the compositions according to the 20 invention, the latter can advantageously make use of
organic solvents; thus, said organic solvents
optionally employed for the compositions according to
the invention can be protic or aprotic organic
solvents, among which may be mentioned ketones; for 25 example isobutyl Ketone or cyclonexanone; amides, such
as dimethylformamide or N,N-dimethylacetamine; cyclic
solvents, such as N-methylpyrrolidone,
N-octylpyrrolidone, N-dodecylpyrrolidone,

N-octylcaprolactone, N-dodecylcaprolactone or y-butyrolactone; or other solvents, such as dimethyl sulfoxide; or aromatic hydrocarbons, such as xylene; or esters, such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether 5 acetate, dibutyl adipate, hexyl acetate, heptyl
acetate, tri(n-butyl) citrate, diethyl phthalate, or dimethyl esters of a fatty acid, in particular adipic acid or succinic acid; or alcohols, including ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, n-amyl
10 alcohol, isoamyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol or 1-methoxy-2-propanol, and the like.
For the compositions according to the invention making use thereof, the amount of solvent can vary from 0.1 to 99.5%, preferably from 15 to 80%, by
15 weight of said compositions.
For the compositions according to the invention which employ a solvent and one or more cosolvents, the relative amounts of these said solvents and cosolvents vary in proportions of the
20 solvent/cosolvent ratio ranging from 99/1 to 50/50.
The compositions according to the invention advantageously adopt fairly numerous and varied forms; mention may in particular be made, as liquid forms, of solution concentrates; soluble concentrates;
25 emulsifiable concentrates; emulsion concentrates; or suspension concentrates; or, as solid forms, of granules; dispersible granules; powders; or wettable powders.

In addition, and according to requirements or the nature of the disease to be treated, of the harmful plants, insects and/or animals to be combated, destroyed or eradicated, or according to the extents of
5 infestation by these pests, or according to the
climatic and/or edaphic conditions, the compositions according to the invention can comprise any other standard substance for the formulation of compositions of use in the fields of agriculture and/or of public or
10 domestic hygiene.
Mention may be made, among these compounds, as examples, of adjuvants, anticaking agents, coloring agents, thickening agents, antifoaming compounds, detergent agents, such as salts of alkaline earth
15 metals, dispersing agents, basifying agents, such as bases, adhesion agents, emulsifying agents, stabilizing agents, oxidizing agents, such as free radical scavengers or catalytic destroyers of hydroperoxides, or else reducing agents, corrosion inhibitors,
20 antifreeze agents or other surface-active agents or alternatively any other substance specific to a particular use of the compositions according to the invention, in particular dispersing agents or suspending agents.
25 More generally, the compositions according to
the invention can comprise any solid or liquid additive which corresponds to the usual techniques for formulating and which is acceptable, in particular, for

uses in the fields of agriculture and/or of public or domestic hygiene.
These additives can be present, in the compositions according to the invention, in amounts of 5 between 0 and 95% by weight of said compositions. According to other advantageous forms of compositions according to the invention, the various compositions according to the invention which have just been described can also take the form of mixtures 10 prepared at the time of use, commonly described as tank mixes.
These compositions according to the invention
in the form of tank mixes are usually in the form of
dilute insecticidal compositions.
15 Generally, these compositions according to
the invention referred to as tank mixes are mixed or prepared directly in the tank of the application device.
Another, very particularly advantageous, 20 aspect of the present invention relates to a specific nonionic surface-active agent as such, said surface-active agent is, in a very particularly preferred way, characterized in that it comprises two chemical components 25 1) the molecular mass of which is between 200 and 3 000 g/mol, preferably between 300 and 1 000 g/mol; 2) the dynamic tension of which, measured in water

at a concentration of 0.4 g per liter and at a frequency of 10 Hz, is between 35 and 73 mN/m;
3) and each comprising
3(i) a hydrophobic part chosen from the following groups: C13 oxo alcohols; a-isodecyl-w-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol; linear C12-C14 alcohols; linear C16-C18 alcohols; lauryl alcohol; myristyl alcohol; do- and/or tetradecanols; distyrylphenol-di-(1-phenylethyl)phenols; nonylphenols; acetylenediols, in particular 2,4,7,9-tetramethyldeca-5-yne; tridecyl alcohols; and the molar mass of which is between 100 and 1 500 g/mol, preferably between 150 and 400 g/mol;
3(ii) a hydrophilic part chosen from a poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) radical and/or a poly(oxy-1,2-propanediyl) radical, the molar mass of which is between 80 and 2 000 g/mol, preferably between 100 and 900 g/mol; and such that
4) the difference in molar masses of the hydrophobic parts of these two chemical components is less than 140 g/mol; and that
5) the difference in molar masses of the hydrophilic parts of these two chemical components is less than 360 g/mol.
The various definitions expanded upon above

in the introduction to the present account can be taken up for the description of said specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention, as well as for said chemical components of said surface-5 active agent, in particular as regards the dynamic tension of said chemical components.
Quite advantageously, the hydrophilic part of the two chemical components which the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention
10 comprises can be chosen from ethoxylated and/or propoxylated functional groups. Said chemical components are then defined by the presence, within their chemical structure, of radicals of ethoxyl type and/or of propoxyl type, respectively represented by
15 the formulae (I) and (II) below.

According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, said chemical components of the specific nonionic surface-active agent can also be composed of 20 hydrocarbonaceous chains comprising from 8 to 100, preferably from 12 to 50, carbon atoms, it being possible for said chains to be linear or branched.
Said hydrocarbonaceous chains of these chemical components can also comprise radicals of 25 ethoxyl type and/or of propoxyl type, usually in a

number of between 2 and 60, preferably between 5 and 30.
Advantageously, said chemical components generally have a dynamic tension of between 2 and 5 120 mN/m, preferably between 10 and 90 mN/m, the most appropriate unit of measurement for these quantities being the thousandth of a newton per meter; said dynamic tension of said chemical components of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the
10 invention usually being measured at 10 Hz, in dilution in water at a concentration of 0.4 g per liter.
Mention may be made, as examples of compounds which may be chosen as chemical components of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the
15 invention, of polyoxyethylenated and/or
polyoxypropylenated tristyrylphenol derivatives and/or polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated distyrylphenol derivatives and/or compounds of polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated
20 tri(1-arylalkyl)phenol type, for example of polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated tri(1-phenylethyl)phenol or tri(1-phenylmethyl)phenol type; of polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated di(1-arylalkyl)phenol type, for example of
25 polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated
di(1-phenylethyl)phenol or di(1-phenylmethyl)phenol type; of polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated alkylphenol type, for example of polyoxyethylenated

and/or polyoxypropylenated nonylphenol type or of polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated octylphenol type; of polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated fatty alcohol type, in particular
5 said fatty alcohols comprising C4 to C30
hydrocarbonaceous chains, preferably C6 to C20 hydrocarbonaceous chains, and carrying functional groups of ethoxyl and/or propoxyl type; of linear alcohol type; of ethylenediol ethoxylate type; of
10 polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated isodecyl alcohol type; of silicone polyether type; of silicone compound type; or of polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated tridecyl alcohol type.
Very advantageously, the two chemical
15 components which the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention comprises are generally present in respective amounts such that the molar ratio of said amounts is between 1/99 and 99/1, preferably between 25/75 and 75/25.
20 However, preference is generally given to a
molar ratio of said amounts of between 40/60 and 60/40.
Furthermore, and according to requirements, the application conditions targeted or according to the targeted wettability and/or spreading properties, or
25 according to the associated compounds, or according to the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention itself, said surface-active agent according to the invention can be employed alone or a

carrier, in particular an inorganic or organic liquid
carrier, can be added thereto.
However, solid carriers can advantageously be
employed in combination or in association with the 5 specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the
invention; mention may particularly be made, among
these said solid carriers, of clays; natural or
synthetic silicates; silica; resins; waxes; or solid
fertilizers.
10 Very advantageously, said carrier is as
described above.
In particular, said inorganic or organic
liquid carrier can just as easily be a solvent employed
alone as a combination of several solvents. Such a 15 combination then being composed of a solvent and of one
or more cosolvents which are miscible or immiscible
with one another.
Use may advantageously be made, as solvents
optionally employed with the specific nonionic surface-20 active agent according to the invention, of water
and/or organic solvents.
Said optionally employed organic solvents can
then be protic or aprotic organic solvents, among which
may be mentioned ketones; for example isobutyl ketone 25 or cyclohexanone; amides, such as dimethylformamide or
N,N-dimethylacetamine; cyclic solvents, such as
N-methylpyrrolidone, N-octylpyrrolidone,
N-dodecylpyrrolidone, N-octylcaprolactone,

N-dodecylcaprolactone or Y-butyrolactone; or other solvents, such as dimethyl sulfoxide; or aromatic hydrocarbons, such as xylene; or esters, such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, dibutyl 5 adipate, hexyl acetate, heptyl acetate, tri(n-butyl) citrate, diethyl phthalate, or dimethyl esters of a fatty acid, in particular adipic acid or succinic acid; or alcohols, including ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, n-amyl alcohol,
10 isoamyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol or 1-methoxy-2-propanol, and the like.
Even if the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention has been described by some of its advantageous or preferred forms, in
15 particular by the presence of two different chemical components, said surface-active agent according to the invention can also comprise one or more other additional chemical components as described above.
The qualities of wettability of the specific
20 nonionic surface-active agent according to the
invention can advantageously be employed in numerous fields and particularly advantageously in fields requiring the application of active materials or compounds to solid surfaces, as well as in fields
25 requiring efficient spreading of an active material or of any other compound, as well as for fields requiring good quality of dispersion of active compounds or materials, in particular within a large volume of

surrounding liquid.
More generally, the fields which make possible advantageous use of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention can be
5 classified into two families, on the one hand fields requiring the application or the spreading, in particular of a liquid, to or over a solid surface, on the other hand fields for which active materials or products, compositions or formulations which have to
10 have a high wetting nature are employed.
Thus, mention may very particularly be made, among said fields for which the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention can advantageously be employed, in combination with an
15 active material or any other compound, or within an application process comprising the preparation at the time of use of the composition or formulation to be applied, of the fields of agriculture and/or of public or domestic hygiene but also the fields of ceramics; of
20 printing; of textiles; of the paper industry; of detergency; of cosmetics; of body hygiene and of beauty; of galenicals, in particular pharmaceutical or veterinary products; and the like.
Likewise, mention may be made of numerous
25 active principles, materials or products, compositions or formulations which can advantageously be used in combination with the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention, for example

pesticidal and/or growth-regulating compounds; paints or other coatings; pigments or colorants, in particular inks, paints or varnishes; dyes; adhesives; detergents; shampoos, soaps or other beauty products; 5 pharmaceutical or veterinary products; and the like. Furthermore, the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention can, in a particularly advantageous way, be employed to make possible the preparation of compositions or
10 formulations based on an active material which has low solubility in water and thus to significantly reduce the use, and consequently the dispersion into the environment, of organic solvents or products.
An additional aspect of the present invention
15 lies in the use of the pesticidal and/or growth-regulating compositions for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals according to the invention, as described and defined above, in treatment and/or protection methods or processes of use in particular in
20 the field of agriculture, for example for the treatment or protection of crops, and/or in the field of public or domestic hygiene.
Thus, and in particular according to the pesticidal and/or growth-regulating active material or
25 materials used, said compositions can be employed to protect, treat, combat, destroy or eradicate diseases or harmful fungi, plants, insects or animals. An essential characteristic of said

protection and/or treatment methods, in particular for
the protection and/or treatment of crops, is to employ
an effective and non-phytotoxic amount of a composition
according to the invention.
5 The expression effective and non-phytotoxic
amount is understood to mean an amount of the composition according to the invention which is sufficient to make it possible to protect, treat, combat, destroy or eradicate diseases or harmful fungi,
10 plants, insects or animals present or capable of
appearing on crops and which does not result, for the said crops, in any significant symptom of phytotoxicity.
Such an amount is capable of varying within
15 wide limits, in particular according to the disease or harmful fungi, plants, insects or animals to be combated, destroyed or eradicated, according to the type of crop to be treated or protected, or according to the climatic or edaphic conditions, or according to
20 the active material or materials present in the composition according to the invention used.
Nevertheless, when employed in such protection and/or treatment methods, the compositions according to the invention are generally applied, in
25 particular by spraying, in amounts of between 0.0001 and 20 kg, preferably between 0.002 and 2 kg, per hectare of crop to be treated and/or protected.
As regards the treatments of seeds, the

amounts of compositions according to the invention employed are usually between 0.01 and 250 kg/T of seeds; a person skilled in the art will know how to adapt said proportions, in particular according to the 5 type or the size of the seeds, or according to the type of treatment envisaged or of protection envisaged.
Advantageously, and as regards their use in the processes according to the invention which have just been described, the compositions according to the
10 invention can form the subject of quite a number of application techniques; in particular, said compositions can be applied by dipping, covering or coating, or by spraying or by fogging, and the like. As regards the various ways of applying the
15 compositions according to the invention which can be envisaged, mention may in particular be made of simultaneous, separate, alternating or sequential applications; the methods of applications of the processes according to the invention then comprising
20 technical stages of the same nature as those which were described above.
Generally, the methods or processes for the protection and/or treatment of crops according to the invention which employ the compositions according to
25 the invention do so by application, particularly by spraying, to the aerial parts of said crops, it being possible for said aerial parts to be, without distinction, the leaves or the stems.

Nevertheless, many other application techniques can be employed for the application of said compositions according to the invention; there is in particular fogging but also application by dipping in 5 said compositions; or by coating or by covering by means of a composition according to the invention.
Due to the very large number of active materials capable of being employed in the compositions according to the invention, the latter can in fact be
10 employed in processes for the treatment or protection of numerous types of crops.
Mention may be made, as examples, and without implied limitation, of crops which can be protected and/or treated using compositions according to the
15 invention, of rice, cereals, in particular wheat,
maize, rye, triticale or barley, fruit trees, the vine, oleaginous plants, including rape and sunflower, peas, market gardening crops, the Solanaceae, in particular potatoes, as well as cotton, flax, beetroot and
20 ornamental plants and forest trees.
The methods or processes for the treatment and/or protection of plant propagation products, and the resulting plants, against diseases or harmful fungi, plants, insects or animals also form part of the
25 present invention, said methods generally being
characterized in that said products or plants to be treated and/or protected are coated, in all or part, with an effective and non-phytotoxic dose of a

composition according to the invention, or any other biological propagation material.
Mention may in particular be made, among said products for the propagation of the plants concerned, 5 of seeds, tubers or in-vitro plants.
Said methods for the treatment or protection of plant propagation products according to the invention give particularly satisfactory results when they are applied to seeds, in particular in that they 10 can make possible a substantial reduction in the amount of active material used.
Another characteristic of the treatment and/or protection methods according to the invention is to be able to be employed in the field of public or 15 domestic hygiene, particularly by application of an effective amount of a pesticidal and/or growth-regulating composition according to the invention.
It being possible for said application to give particularly satisfactory results when it employs 20 amounts of said compositions of between 0.00001 g and 500 g, preferably between 0.001 g and 200 g, of composition according to the invention per 100 m2 of surface area to be treated and/or protected.
Very advantageously, and according to an 25 additional aspect of the present invention, the
specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention can be employed in treatment and/or protection methods, alone or in combination with a

carrier as described above, in particular during the preparation at the time of use of compositions according to the invention.
Thus employed, said specific nonionic 5 surface-active agent is generally used in amounts of between 0.0001 and 99%, preferably between 1 and 90%, by weight of composition or of product which may be associated with it or with which it may be mixed. It goes without saying that, even if the
10 various aspects of the present invention have been able, in some cases, to be described by specific characteristics or else according to advantageous or preferred forms, it should be noted that the account of said aspects by said specific characteristics or under
15 advantageous or preferred forms is given only by way of example and that numerous alternative forms of the details of said aspects of the invention, in particular of preparation, of use or of combination, can be envisaged without departing either from the spirit or
20 from the scope of said invention.
Examples making possible a better illustration of the various aspects of the present invention will form the subject of the final elaboration of the present description; said examples
25 are under no circumstances to be regarded as limiting the scope of said invention.
The object of examples la to If is to illustrate various specific forms of pesticidal

compositions according to the invention, on the one hand in the form of specific compositions according to the invention which are in the liquid form and, on the other hand, of specific compositions which are in the 5 solid form. Some of these specific compositions employ insecticidal active materials and others herbicidal active materials or fungicidal active materials. Example la: It is the intention of this example to
10 illustrate an insecticidal composition according to the invention in the form of a soluble concentrate.
The procedure for the preparation of this specific insecticidal composition is as follows: 167 g of product sold under the trade name Rhodasurf 870
15 [poly(oxy-l,2-ethanediyl)(a-isodecyl-to-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol)] and 167 g of product sold under the name Rhodasurf LA30 [poly (oxy-l, 2-ethanediyl) (linear C12-C14 alcohol, such as lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol and do- and tetradecanol)] are mixed in 500 ml of
20 N,N-dimethylacetamide and then 167 g of an insecticidal compound with the chemical name 5-amino-3-cyano-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-4-ethylsulfinylpyrazole are added. Example lb:
25 The intention of this example is to
illustrate an insecticidal composition according to the invention in the form of a suspension concentrate. During a first stage and by means of an appropriate

disperser, 8 g of a wetting agent, in the form of a polyethoxylated fatty alcohol, 15 g of a salt of a polyethoxylated tristyrylphenol phosphate, as dispersing agent, with 50 g of propylene glycol, as 5 antifreeze agent, and 1 g of a silicone antifoaming agent, 400 g of an insecticidal compound with the chemical name 5-amino-3-cyano-l-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-4-ethylsulfinylpyrazole, are mixed in 400 g of water.
10 During a second stage, the mixture obtained
is milled for the purpose of reducing the particle size thereof to a mean diameter of approximately 2 µm. Finally, during a third stage, 4 g of a silicone antifoaming agent, 60 g of a thickening and
15 biocidal compound in the form of a solution comprising 2% of xanthan and of a biocidal agent, and, finally, 168 g of a nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention comprising equimolar amounts of the products sold under the names Rhodasurf BO/327
20 [poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)/poly(oxy-
1, 2-propanediyl) (linear C12-C14 C12-C14 alcohol, such as lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol and do- and tetradecanol)] and Rhodasurf 860/P [poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) (C13 oxo alcohol, such as cc-isodecyl-w-
25 hydroxyisodecyl alcohol)] are added. Example lc:
The intention of this example is to illustrate an insecticidal composition according to the

invention which is colored, in particular for the treatment of seeds; said composition is in the form of a suspension concentrate.
The preparation is carried out as for 5 example lb, the insecticidal compound being replaced by an identical amount of another insecticidal compound with the chemical name 3-acetyl-5-amino-1-[2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-(methylsulfinyl)pyrazole and, during the third stage, 10 20 g of a pigment powder based on Red 112 being added thereto.
Example Id:
The intention of this example is to illustrate a liquid fungicidal composition according to 15 the invention in the form of a suspension concentrate, colored for seed treatment.
During a first stage, 2 g of a wetting agent, in the form of a polyethoxylated fatty alcohol, are mixed, in 381.7 g of water, with 70 g of a 20 polyethoxylated tristyrylphenol phosphate salt, as dispersing agent, with 80 g of propylene glycol, as antifreeze agent, and 1 g of a silicone antifoaming agent, 45 g of a fungicidal compound with the chemical name methyl (E,E)-2-(2-(1-(1-(2-pyridyl)-25 propyloxyimino)-1-cyclopropylmethyloxymethyl)phenyl)-3-ethoxypropenoate.
During a second stage, the mixture obtained is milled for the purpose of reducing the particle size

thereof to a mean diameter of approximately 2 µm. Finally, during a third stage, 300 g of water, 100 g of a pigment powder based on Red 112, 4 g of a silicone antifoaming agent, 125 g of a thickening 5 and biocidal compound in the form of a solution
comprising 2% of xanthan and of a biocidal agent, and, finally, 40 g of a nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention comprising equimolar amounts of the products sold under the names Rhodasurf 870
10 [poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)-C13 oxo alcohol and poly(oxy-1, 2-ethanediyl) -a-isodecyl-a)-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol] and Rhodasurf 860/P [poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)(C13 oxo alcohol and a-isodecyl-'to-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol)] are added.
15 Example le:
The intention of this example is to illustrate a colored liquid fungicidal composition according to the invention which is in the form of a soluble concentrate for seed treatment.
20 300 g of Guazatine, a fungicidal compound
known as such and defined as a mixture of the reaction products of carbamonitrile and of polyamines mainly comprising octamethylenediamine, iminodi(octamethylene-diamine) and octamethylenebis(iminooctamethylene)-
25 diamine, 300 g of propylene glycol, as antifreeze
agent, 60 g of pigment powder based on Red 112, 1 g of a silicone antifoaming agent and 40 g of surface-active agent according to the invention, comprising equimolar

amounts of the product Rhodasurf 860VP [poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) (C13 oxo alcohol and a-isodecyl-co-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol)] and of the product Rhodasurf 870 [poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)(C13 oxo alcohol, 5 such as a-isodecyl-Q)-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol)], are mixed in 175 g of water. Example If:
The intention of this example is to illustrate a solid insecticidal composition according 10 to the invention which is in the form of a soluble powder.
350 g of surface-active agent according to the invention, in the form of 200 g of product J?hodasurf 870 [poly (oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) (C13 oxo alcohol 15 and cc-isodecyl-a)-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol)] and 150 g of product Rhodasurf LA30 [poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)(linear C12-C14 alcohol and lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol and do- and tetradecanol)], are adsorbed on 350 g of precipitated silica and then 100 g of sodium 20 lignosulfonate, as solid carrier, and 200 g of
Fipronil, an insecticidal compound with the chemical
name 5-amino-3-cyano-l-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethyl-
phenyl)-4-trifluoromethylsulfinylpyrazole, are added
with mixing.
25 The object of examples 2a to 2i which will
follow is to illustrate various specific processes for treatment or protection according to the invention by means of pesticidal compositions according to the

invention.
Example 2a:
The intention of this example is to illustrate a specific process for application by foliar 5 spraying of an insecticidal composition according to the invention.
This example also makes possible a perfect illustration of the ability of the pesticidal compositions according to the invention to make 10 possible effective and advantageous wetting of the leaves of the treated plants.
This wetting nature of said compositions is evaluated by contact angle measurements.
The contact angle, expressed in degrees, is 15 an important characteristic of a liquid which makes it possible in particular to measure the wetting nature of said liquid applied to a solid surface, particularly in that the value of this contact angle, measured for a droplet of said liquid, decreases in proportion as the 20 wetting power of the liquid increases. Said
measurements can be carried out by means of any
apparatus known for such usages and under conditions
which a person skilled in the art will know how to
determine easily.
25 For the purpose of carrying out these contact
angle measurements, a liquid insecticidal composition according to the invention is prepared by mixing 1 g of a solid composition according to example If with one

liter of water.
In the same way, a control insecticidal
composition not comprising surface-active agent
according to the invention is prepared.
5 The measurement proper of the contact angles
is carried out by depositing, by spraying, a droplet of 2 jil of liquid composition to be characterized on a leaf of wheat, of Scypion variety, grown in a climate-controlled chamber for 14 days at 10°C and by then
10 measuring the contact angle which the droplet forms with the solid surface of the leaf.
The control insecticidal composition has a contact angle measured at 102°, whereas the insecticidal composition according to the invention,
15 comprising the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention, has a contact angle of 50.3°, a value testifying in an exemplary way to the particularly advantageous wetting nature of said insecticidal composition according to the invention.
20 Example 2b:
The intention of this example is to illustrate a specific process for application, by foliar spraying, of a herbicidal composition according to the invention, said herbicidal composition according
25 to the invention being prepared at the time of use. This example also makes possible a perfect illustration of the ability of this specific herbicidal composition according to the invention to make possible

effective and advantageous wetting of the leaves of the treated plants.
During a first stage, a herbicidal composition in the form of a soluble concentrate, and 5 known per se, is prepared. For this, 8 g of a wetting agent in the form of a polyethoxylated fatty alcohol, 20 g of a salt of a polyethoxylated tristyrylphenol phosphate, as dispersing agent, 50 g of propylene glycol, as antifreeze agent, 1 g of a silicone 10 antifoaming agent and 500 g of Diflufenican, with the chemical name 2',4'-difluoro-2-(a,a,a-trifluoro-m-tolyloxy)nicotinanilide, as herbicidal compound, are mixed in 400 g of water.
A second stage consists in milling the 15 mixture obtained above in order to reduce the particle size thereof in order to obtain a mean diameter of the particles of approximately 2µm.
Finally, during a third stage, 4 g of a silicone antifoaming agent and 60 g of a thickening and 20 biocidal compound, in the form of a solution comprising 2% of xanthan and of a biocidal agent, are added.
Finally, and at the time of use, a herbicidal composition according to the invention is prepared by mixing 1 g of the composition thus obtained with one 25 liter of water and with 1 g of surface-active agent
according to the invention comprising equimolar amounts of the products sold under the names Rhodasurf 870 and Rhodasurf 860/P [poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)(C13 oxo

alcohol and a-isodecyl-a)-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol)].
The contact angle measurements are carried out as for example 2a by measuring the contact angle of droplets of the herbicidal composition according to the 5 invention prepared at the time of use and of droplets of a control composition not comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention.
The contact angle measurements are carried
10 out on leaves of catchweed, also known as Gallium aparine.
The control herbicidal composition has a contact angle measured at 93.5°, whereas the herbicidal composition according to the invention, comprising the
15 specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention, has a contact angle of 48.3°, a value testifying in an exemplary fashion to the particularly advantageous wetting nature of said insecticidal composition according to the invention.
20 Example 2c:
The intention of this example is to illustrate a specific process for insecticidal treatment by foliar spraying of an insecticidal composition according to the invention.
25 This example also makes possible a good
illustration of the particularly satisfactory biological effectiveness of such a composition according to the invention, in particular for combating

the pest Rhopalosiphum padi. Three plots of 30 m2 are prepared and seeded with wheat of the variety Triticum aestivum:
Furthermore, an insecticidal composition according to the invention is prepared by repeating example lb and by using Cypermethrin as active material.
In the same way, a control insecticidal composition not comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention and comprising Cypermethrin as active material is prepared.
21 days after emergence, composition according to the invention is applied to plot No. 1 and control composition is applied to plot No. 2, these applications being by foliar spraying and at 10 g of active material per hectare; plot No. 3 is not treated in order to act as reference.
The number of Rhopalosiphum padi insects still present on the wheat leaves three and eight days after treatment is then counted; the results are collated in table 1 below.

Number of insects per leaf still present 3 days after treatment Number of insects per leaf still present 8 days after treatment
Plot No. 1 2.4 1.9
Plot No. 2 4.6 4.3
Plot No. 3 5.4 4.9
Table 1

Example 2d:
The intention of this example is to illustrate another specific process for insecticidal treatment by foliar spraying of an insecticidal 5 composition according to the invention.
This example itself also makes possible a good illustration of the particularly satisfactory biological effectiveness of such a composition according to the invention, in particular for combating 10 the pest Rhopalosiphum padi.
The procedure for this example is as for
example 2c but using a composition comprising
Imidacloprid as insecticidal active material rather
than Cypermethrin.
15 The results obtained are collated in table 2
below.

Table 2 Example 2e:

Number of insects per leaf still present 3 days after treatment Number of insects per leaf still present 8 days after treatment
Plot No. 1 1.05 1.3
Plot No. 2 4.6 3.8
Plot No. 3 5.4 4.9
20 The intention of this example is to
illustrate a specific process for application by foliar spraying of an insecticidal composition according to the invention.

This example also makes possible a perfect illustration of the ability of this specific insecticidal composition according to the invention to make possible effective and advantageous wetting of the 5 leaves of the treated plants.
For the preparation of the specific
insecticidal composition according to the invention
which has to be sprayed, 1 g of composition according
to example If is mixed with one liter of water.
10 A control insecticidal composition not
comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention is prepared in the same way.
The contact angle measurements are carried
out using the conditions of example 2a.
15 The control insecticidal composition has a
contact angle measured at 110°, whereas the insecticidal composition comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention has a contact angle measured at 51°, a value testifying in an 20 exemplary fashion to the particularly advantageous wetting nature of said insecticidal composition according to the invention. Example 2f:
The intention of this example is to 25 illustrate a specific process for application by foliar spraying of a liquid insecticidal composition according to the invention.
This example illustrates the ability of an

insecticidal composition according to the invention to be advantageously retained at the surface of the leaf of the treated plant after spraying.
For the preparation of the specific liquid 5 and colored insecticidal composition according to the invention which has to be sprayed, 1 g of a composition according to example If is mixed in one liter of water while adding an additional coloring ingredient in the form of 0.5 g of carmoisine, a substance known for its
10 coloring properties.
A control liquid and colored insecticidal composition not comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention is prepared in the same way.
15 After spraying, the amount of insecticidal
composition according to the invention and of control insecticidal composition which is retained on the leaves of the treated plants is evaluated. Colorimetric quantitative determination is used for this and the
20 volume of each composition present per gram of treated plant then analyzed is measured.
These measurements produce the following results: the plants treated by means of the insecticidal composition according to the invention
25 retain 10.2 M1 of composition per gram of treated plant; whereas the plants treated by means of the control insecticidal composition retain only 4.4 /il of composition per gram of treated plant.

These results therefore make possible an illustration of the advantage of using such an insecticidal composition according to the invention for making possible greater retention of said composition
5 on the surface of the treated plant leaf and thus making possible a higher productivity and a higher effectiveness of the insecticidal active material employed, as well as an advantageous reduction in the amount of composition needlessly spread or lost to the
0 surroundings, in particular by rebound from the surface of the leaf at the time of spraying. Example 2g:
The intention of this example is to illustrate a specific process for application of an
5 insecticidal composition according to the invention for the coating of seeds.
This example also illustrates the advantageous ability of a specific insecticidal composition according to the invention to make possible
0 highly satisfactory coating of said seeds. For this, use is made of an insecticidal composition according to example lc and of a control insecticidal composition not comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention.
5 For the preparation of the composition
according to the invention to be applied, 31 ml of a composition according to example lc are mixed with 69 ml of water.

In the same way, 31 ml of a control
insecticidal composition not comprising specific
nonionic surface-active agent according to the
invention are mixed with 69 ml of water.
5 After preparation of these two compositions,
the latter form the subject of a comparison of their ability to make possible efficient coating by application to wheat seeds of the variety Rubeins. Thus, 8 ml of each insecticidal composition are applied
10 using a Hege bowl, a device known for making possible the treatment of seeds, to two batches of 1 kg of said seeds. The proportions thus employed correspond to the application of 2.5 1 of composition according to example lc per tonne of seeds to be treated or
15 protected. After application to the seeds, the statistical distribution of each of these two insecticidal compositions to be evaluated is studied by following the recommendations of the CIPAC MT175 standard described in the work CIPAC Handbook, vol. F:
20 Physico-chemical methods for technical and formulated pesticides, edited by W. Dobrat and A. Martijn.
The evaluation technique employed leads to a coefficient of variation which describes, for each of the two insecticidal composition employed, the
25 uniformity of the distribution over the seeds. Thus,
the lower this coefficient, the better the distribution of the composition over all the treated seeds, making possible greater effectiveness of the amount of active

material employed in the composition used.
Thus, as regards the insecticidal composition according to the invention, said coefficient of variation is 30%, while it is 53% for the control 5 insecticidal composition not comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention.
Thus, the ability which the surface-active agent which is a subject matter of the invention has to 10 make possible better wetting and better coating of the treated seeds is fully assessed. Example 2h:
The intention of this example is to illustrate a specific process for application of a 15 fungicidal composition according to the invention for the coating of seeds.
This example also illustrates the
advantageous ability of a specific fungicidal
composition according to the invention to make possible
20 highly satisfactory coating of said seeds. For this,
use is made of a fungicidal composition according to
example Id and of a control fungicidal composition not
comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent
according to the invention.
25 The procedure is as for example 2g as regards
the application and measurement conditions.
The following results were obtained: with the fungicidal composition according to the invention, the

coefficient of variation is 28%, while it is 50% for
the control fungicidal composition not comprising
specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the
invention.
5 Yet again, the ability which the surface-
active agent which is a subject matter of the invention has to make possible better wetting and better coating of the treated seeds, in particular of part the uniformity of this coating, is thus fully assessed.
10 Example 2i:
The intention of this example is to illustrate another specific process for application of a fungicidal composition according to the invention for the coating of seeds.
15 This example also illustrates the
advantageous ability of a specific fungicidal composition according to the invention to make possible highly satisfactory coating of said seeds. For this, use is made of a fungicidal composition according to
20 example Id and of a control fungicidal composition not comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention.
The procedure is as for example 2g as regards the application and measurement conditions.
25 The following results are obtained: with the
fungicidal composition according to the invention, the coefficient of variation is 11%, while it is 25% for the control fungicidal composition not comprising

specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention.
Yet again, the ability which the surface-active agent which is a subject matter of the invention 5 has to make possible better wetting and better coating of the treated seeds is thus fully assessed.
Examples 3a to 3e, for the purposes of making possible a better illustration of the aspect of the present invention relating to the specific nonionic 10 surface-active agent as such, will now be expanded upon.
Examples 3a to 3e
The intention of these examples is therefore to illustrate five specific nonionic surface-active 15 agents according to the invention.
For the preparation of said specific nonionic surface-active agents, the first chemical component is mixed with the second chemical component according to the directions given in table 3 below.

Amount and name of the first chemical component Amount and name of the second chemical component
Example 3a 403 g of hexa(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) -a-isodecyl-co-hydroxy) isodecyl alcohol 621 g of deca(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) -oc-isodecyl-oo-hydroxy) isodecyl alcohol



Example 3b 403 g of hexa(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)-a-isodecyl-(0-hydroxy) isodecyl alcohol 500 g of tetra(oxy-l,2-ethanediyl)-tri(oxy-1,2-propanediyl)-do- and tetradecanol alcohol



Example 3c 962 g of pentadeci(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)-distyryl-phenol-(1-phenylethyl)-phenol 836 g of tetradeci(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)-nonyl-phenol



Example 3d 621 g of deca(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)-a-isodecyl-(D-hydroxy) isodecyl alcohol 332 g of tri(oxy-l,2-ethanediyl)-do- and tetradecanol alcohol



Example 3e 666 g of deci(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)-deca-5-yndiol 322 g of tri(oxy-l,2-ethanediyl) -cc-isodecyl-co-hydroxy) isodecyl alcohol



Table 3
Examples 4e to 4f which follow will make possible an illustration of specific processes for employing the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention.
These examples will further make possible an illustration of the particularly advantageous properties of wettability and of coating provided by these specific nonionic surface-active agents.

Examples 4a to 4e
The intention of these examples is to illustrate processes for employing five specific nonionic surface-active agents according to the 5 invention in wetting processes by application, to wheat leaves, of solutions comprising said surface-active agents.
For this, contact angle measurements are carried out by following the preparation, application 10 and measurement conditions of example 2a.
Thus, for each of said examples 4a to 4e, three solutions, comprising one liter of water with one gram respectively of surface-active agent according to the invention, of the first chemical component of said 15 surface-active agent and of the second component of said surface-active agent, are prepared by simple mixing.
The measurements carried out starting from the two chemical components of the surface-active agent 20 according to the invention thus make possible an
illustration of the particularly advantageous results obtained by virtue of the use of the specific surface-active agent according to the invention.
The surface-active agents according to the 25 invention which are employed, and the results of the various measurements, are collated in table 4.

Solution employed Contact angle measured
Example 4a 1 g of specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3a 42.9°
Solution
comprising, in one liter of water,



1 g of the first chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3a 82.7°

1 g of the second chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3a 50.3°
Example 4b 1 g of specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3b 40.6°
Solution
comprising, in one liter of water



1 g of the first chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3b 82.7°

1 g of the second chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3b 45.3°
Example 4c 1 g of specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3c 99.2°
Solution
comprising, in one liter of water



1 g of the first chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3c 114.7°

1 g of the second chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3c 106.3°

Example 4d 1 g of specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3d 31.2°
Solution
comprising, in one liter of water



1 g of the first chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3d 50.3°

1 g of the second chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3d 50.2°
Example 4e 1 g of specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3e 25.1°
Solution
comprising, in one liter of water



1 g of the first chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3e 114.1°

1 g of the second chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3e 25.3°
Table 4
These examples therefore clearly show the advantage in employing a specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention in wetting processes by comparison with one or other of the chemical components which said surface-active agent comprises. Example 4f
The intention of this example is to illustrate a process for employing a specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention in a

pigment treatment process.
The pigment treatment process is advantageously employed for the treatment of seeds. This example also makes it possible to 5 illustrate the ability of said surface-active agent to advantageously make possible a uniform distribution of the colorant employed.
First of all, a pigment dispersion is prepared, by simple mixing, comprising 125 g of a
10 nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3a; 650 g of water; 2 g of a silicone antifoaming agent; 50 g of propylene glycol as antifreeze agent; 50 g of kaolin as solid carrier; 50 g of a pigment powder based on Red 112; 60 g of a thickening and biocidal compound
15 in the form of a solution comprising 2% of xanthan and of a biocidal agent; 30 g of a binder in the form of a latex; and 5 g of polyethoxylated tristyrylphenol salt as dispersing agent.
In the same way, a control pigment dispersion
20 is prepared comprising 775 g of water; 2 g of a
silicone antifoaming agent; 50 g of propylene glycol as antifreeze agent; 50 g of kaolin as solid carrier; 50 g of a pigment powder based on Red 112; 60 g of a thickening and biocidal compound in the form of a
25 solution comprising 2% of xanthan and of a biocidal
agent; 30 g of a binder in the form of a latex; and 5 g of polyethoxylated tristyrylphenol salt as dispersing agent.

Subsequently, two batches of 1 kg of seeds
are each treated separately by means of 2 ml of each of
the two pigment dispersions which have just been
prepared.
5 The application and measurement conditions,
and the devices employed, are similar to those of example 2g.
Finally, the result is a coefficient of variation of 63% for the control pigment dispersion, 10 while the coefficient of variation resulting from the treatment by means of the pigment dispersion comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention is 35%.
Thus, this particularly advantageous result, 15 obtained during the use of said surface-active agent according to the invention, clearly shows the ability of the latter to make possible better coating of the treated seeds.
Furthermore, this specific surface-active 20 agent according to the invention can be used in combination with other substances of any type, in particular pesticides, in order to improve the wetting or coating characteristics thereof.
Furthermore,, during such a combination with a 25 pesticidal substance, such a pigment dispersion
comprising said surface-active agent according to the invention significantly improves the perception of the quality of the plant-protection treatment associated

WE CLAIM:
1. A pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals, wherein it comprises
A) one or more pesticidal and/or growth-regulating active materials for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals, with the exception of diniconazole;
B) a specific nonionic surface-active agent comprising two different chemical components
Bi) the molecular mass of which is between 200 and 3000 g/mol, preferably between 300 and 1000 g/mol;
B2) the dynamic tension of which, measured in water at a concentration of 0.4 g per liter and at a frequency of 10Hz, is between 35 and 73 mN/m;
B3) and each comprising
B3(i) a hydrophobic part chosen from the following
groups: C13 oxo alcohols; a-isodecyl-w-hydroxyisodecyl
alcohol; linear C12-C14 alcohols; linear C16-C18
alcohols; lauryl alcohol; myristyl
alcohol; do- and/or tetradecanols; distyrylphenol-di (1-phenylethyl)phenols; nonylphenols; acetylenediols, in particular 2,4,7,9-tetramethyldeca-5-yne; tridecyl alcohols; and the molar mass of which is between 100 and 1500 g/mol, preferably between 150 and 400 g/mol;
B3 (ii) a hydrophilic part chosen from a poly(oxy-l, 2-ethanediyl) radical and/or a poly(oxy-l, 2-propanediyl)

radical, the molar mass of which is between 80 and 2000 g/mol, preferably between 100 and 900 g/mol; and such that
B4) the difference in molar masses of the hydrophobic parts of these two chemical components is less than 140 g/mol; and that
B5) the difference in molar masses of the hydrophilic parts of these two chemical components is less than 360 g/mol.
2. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active material or materials are present in amounts of between 0.0001 and 99%, preferably between 0.5 and 70%, by weight.
3. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the specific nonionic surface active agent is present in amounts of between 1 and 99.9999%, preferably between 5 and 80%, by weight.
4. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals as claimed in one or other of claims 1 to 3, wherein the chemical components are present in respective amounts such that the molar ratio of said amounts is between 1/99 and 99/1, preferably between 25/75 and 75/25, more preferably still between 40/60 and 60/40.
5. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals as claimed in one or other of claims 1 to 4, wherein it comprises an inorganic or

organic carrier, preferably, in amounts of between 0.1 to 99.5%, preferably between 15 and 80%, by weight.
6. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals as claimed in claim 6, wherein the carrier is in the liquid form.
7. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals as claimed in either of claims 5 and 6, wherein the carrier is water.
8. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals as claimed in either of claims 5 and 6, wherein the carrier is an organic solvent chosen from ketones, such as isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone; amides, such as dimethylformamide or N,N-dimethylacetamine; cyclic solvents, such as N-methylpyrrolidone, N-octylpyrrolidone, N-dodecylpyrrolidone, N-octylcaprolactone, N-dodecylcaprolactone or y- butyrolactone; or other solvents, such as dimethyl sulf oxide; or aromatic hydrocarbons, such as xylene; or esters, such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, dibutyl adipate, hexyl acetate, heptyl acetate, tri(n-butyl) citrate, diethyl phthalate, or dimethyl esters of a fatty acid; or alcohols, including ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, n-amyl alcohol, isoamyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol or l-methoxy-2-propanol.
9. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals as claimed in claim 5, wherein the carrier is in the solid form.
10. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals as claimed in either of claims 5 and 9, wherein the carrier is chosen from clays; natural or synthetic silicates; silicas; resins; waxes; or solid fertilizers.

11. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals as claimed in one or other of claims 1 to 10, wherein it is in the dilute form and/or comprises between 0.0001 and 10% of active material.
12. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals as claimed in one or other of claims 1 to 11, wherein it is in the concentrated form and/or comprises between 55 and 99% of active material.
13. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals as claimed in one or other of claims 1 to 12, wherein it comprises one or more additives in amounts of between 0 and 60% by weight.
14. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals as claimed in claim 13, wherein the additives are chosen from adjuvants; anticaking agents; coloring agents; thickening agents; antifoaming agents; detergent agents, such as salts of alkaline earth metals; dispersing agents; basifying agents such as bases; adhesion agents; emulsifying agents; stabilizing agents; oxidizing agents such as free radical scavengers or catalytic destroyers of hydroperoxides; reducing agents; corrosion inhibitors; antifreeze agents; other surface-active agents; dispersing agents; or suspending agents.
Dated this 1st day of April, 2002.
[RANJNAMEHTA-DUTT]
OF REMFRY & SAGAR
ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANTS

Documents:

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-cancelled pages)-(12-7-2007)f.pdf

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-claims(granted)-(12-7-2007).doc

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-claims(granted)-(12-7-2007)f.pdf

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-correspondence(19-7-2007).pdf

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-correspondence(ipo)-(19-7-2007).pdf

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-form 1(12-7-2007).pdf

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-form 1(28-3-2002).pdf

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-form 13(12-7-2007).pdf

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-form 18(30-11-2005).pdf

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-form 2(granted)-(12-7-2007).doc

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-form 2(granted)-(12-7-2007).pdf

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-form 3(12-7-2007).pdf

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-form 5(12-7-2007).pdf

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-form-pct-ipea-409(19-7-2007).pdf

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-form-pct-isa-210(19-7-2007).pdf

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-petition under rule 137(12-7-2007).pdf

in-pct-2002-00384-mum-power of authority(12-7-2007).pdf


Patent Number 211422
Indian Patent Application Number IN/PCT/2002/00384/MUM
PG Journal Number 45/2007
Publication Date 09-Nov-2007
Grant Date 29-Oct-2007
Date of Filing 28-Mar-2002
Name of Patentee AVENTIS CROPSCIENCE S.A.
Applicant Address 55 AVENUE RENE CASSIN CP 106, F-69266 LYON CEDEX 09, FRANCE.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 FRANCOIS FARRE LIEU-DIT "LES CHOPINES", F-69480 LUCENAY, FRANCE.
2 CHRISTIAN SEGAUD 14, AVENUE AMPERE, F-69370 SAINT DIDIER AU MONT D'OR, FRANCE.
3 ROBERT ZERROUK 11 CHEMIN DES BATISTONS, CIDEX 229, F-06330 ROQUEFORT-LES-PINES, FRANCE.
PCT International Classification Number A01N25/30
PCT International Application Number PCT/FR00/02977
PCT International Filing date 2000-10-26
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 99/13842 1999-10-29 France