Ethox Chemicals is pleased to announce a new line of patented dispersant chemistries specifically designed for use in challenging oil-based applications. Due to the limited availability of suitable dispersant options for use in oil-based agricultural formulas, Ethox is adapting its patented maleated natural oil dispersant chemistry for the agricultural sector. These dispersants, which have shown excellent performance characteristics in areas such as cosmetics, oil field, and paints, are now being applied to the difficult problems of dispersing multiple agricultural actives into single formulas.
Until very recently, only a very limited number of chemistries have been employed for use as dispersants in oils. In cases where their performance is limited, there are few options available for turning failure into success. In the past, Ethox Chemicals has used maleated oil derivatives with great success in areas such as cosmetics skin care formulations, inks, paints for aircraft coatings, and oil-based dispersants for use in oil field applications. These dispersants proved to be remarkably versatile and effective in these areas, often enabling formulas with higher solids content, lower viscosities, and superior stability compared to those made with more conventional dispersants.
As an initial proof of concept, the maleated dispersant JT-85 was used to create a 40wt% mesotrione oil dispersion. Due to mesotrione’s low solubility in water and high propensity to degrade when dissolved, JT-85 represents an excellent case where an anhydrous oil dispersion is greatly preferred over an aqueous system. Dispersing mesotrione in oil can be a challenging proposition, but at a relatively low rate of only seven percent, JT-85 was able to make a stable oil dispersion. By comparison, more typical dispersant chemistries such as EO/PO block copolymers, tristyrenated phenol alkoxylates, acrylate comb polymers, alcohol ethoxylate phosphates, and sulfates all failed to produce viable formulas. Our expectation is that this is the first of many examples of maleated dispersants—enabling the production of new and challenging dispersant formulations.
If the improved ability to formulate oil dispersions is of interest to your organization, contact agtech@ethox.com for samples and further information.