Pesticide adjuvants, also known as pesticide adjuvants, are auxiliary substances added during the processing or use of pesticide formulations to improve their physicochemical properties. These adjuvants themselves usually do not possess or only have extremely low biological activity, but they can significantly affect the control effect of pesticides, enhance efficacy, prolong shelf life, improve safety, and improve the physical and chemical properties of pesticides. With the widespread application and development of pesticide additives, their types are becoming increasingly diverse and their functions are becoming more refined.
According to their main functions, pesticide adjuvants can be roughly divided into the following categories:
1、 Auxiliary agents that help disperse raw materials
The main function of these additives is to better disperse the active ingredients of pesticides in the medium for processing and use, improve the uniformity and stability of the pesticide, and ensure the full efficacy of the drug.
Table 1: Adjuvants for dispersing active ingredients
| Types of additives |
Common types |
Main applications |
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Clay, kaolin, diatomaceous earth, pyrophyllite, talc powder, calcium carbonate, etc
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Production of powders, wettable powders, granules, and water dispersible granules
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Clay, diatomaceous earth, fertilizers, etc
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Production of powders, wettable powders, granules, water dispersible granules, and fertilizers
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Xylene, toluene, benzene, methanol, ethanol, acetone, vegetable oil, etc
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Production of liquid formulations such as emulsions and soluble agents
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Polyoxyethylene ethers, polyethylene glycol esters, ionic surfactants, etc
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Production of emulsion, water emulsion, and microemulsion
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Sodium lignosulfonate, naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensate (NNO), etc
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Production of wettable powders, water dispersible granules, and water suspensions
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1. Fillers and Carriers: in compliance withTable 1 As shown, fillers are used to dilute raw materials and improve their physical state, while carriers further have adsorption or carrying effects, commonly used in solid formulations and fertilizers.2. Solvents: in compliance withTable 1 As shown, it is used for dissolving and diluting active ingredients, facilitating processing and use, and is commonly used in liquid formulations.3. Emulsifiers: in compliance withTable 1 As shown, it belongs to surfactants and is used to stably disperse immiscible liquids to formemulsionIt is an important component of emulsifiers, water-based emulsions, etc.4. Dispersants: in compliance withTable 1 As shown, it is also a surfactant used to prevent solid particles fromCondensation in liquid systems to maintain uniform dispersion of drugs, mainly used in wettable powders, water dispersible granules, etc.2、 Adjuvants that help to exert or prolong the efficacy of drugs
These types of additives can enhance the efficacy of pesticides, improve prevention and control effects, or prolong the duration of efficacy, reduce the frequency of application, and increase the utilization rate of pesticides.
Table 2: Adjuvants that help to exert or prolong drug efficacy
| Types of additives |
Common types |
major role |
|
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Enhanced phosphorus, enhanced ether (PBO), etc
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Improve pesticide toxicity, enhance control effectiveness, and delay drug resistance
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Antioxidants, anti hydrolysis agents, anti photolysis agents, etc
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Extend the shelf life of pesticides to prevent the decomposition and failure of active ingredients
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Anti caking agent, anti settling agent, thickener, etc
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Improve the physical stability of the formulation and maintain a uniform dispersion state
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Embedded materials, adsorbent materials, reactive materials, etc
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Control pesticide release rate, extend shelf life, and reduce pesticide application frequency
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1. Synergists: in compliance withTable 2 As shown, it has low or no activity, but can significantly improve the toxicity and efficacy of pesticides, especially in the prevention and control of resistant pests, which is of great significance.2. Stabilizers: in compliance withTable 2 As shown, it includes chemical stabilizers and physical stabilizers, which are respectively used to prevent the decomposition of active ingredients and improve the physical state of the formulation, extending the service life of the drug.3. Slow release agents:in compliance withTable 2 As shown, by controlling the release rate of pesticides, the efficacy can be prolonged, the number of pesticide applications can be reduced, and the utilization rate of pesticides can be improved.3、 Enhancing the penetration and spreading of drugs as additives
These types of adjuvants can help drugs spread better on the surface of plants or pests, increase the contact area between the drug and the target, and promote the penetration of the drug into the interior of plant leaves or the surface of pests, thereby improving the absorption and utilization efficiency of the drug.
Table 3: Enhancing the penetration and spreading of additives
| Types of additives |
Common types |
major role |
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Polyoxyethylene alkylphenol ether, polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ether, sodium alkyl sulfate, etc
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Reduce the surface tension of the drug solution, increase its wettability and distribution on the target surface
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Organic silicon penetrant, vegetable oil penetrant, azone, etc
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Promote the penetration of pesticides through the barriers of plants or pests, improve their absorbency and conductivity
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Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), sodium polyacrylate, mineral oil, resin, etc
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Enhance the adhesion of the drug to the target surface and improve its resistance to rainwater erosion
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1. Wetting Agents:in compliance withTable 3 As shown, by reducing the surface tension of the drug solution, the wettability and distribution of the drug solution on the target surface are improved, and the contact area between the drug and the target is increased.2. Penetrants: in compliance withTable 3 As shown, it can promote the penetration of pesticide active ingredients through the surface barrier of plants or pests, and improve the systemic absorption and conductivity of the pesticide.3. Adhesives: in compliance withTable 3 As shown, increasing the adhesion ability of the drug on the target surface, improving the resistance of the drug to rainwater erosion and wind erosion, and prolonging the efficacy.4、 Additives that enhance safety
These types of additives aim to improve the safety of pesticide use, reduce potential hazards to operators, non target organisms, and the environment, and enhance the friendliness of pesticide use.
Table 4: Additives for Improving Safety
| Types of additives |
Common types |
major role |
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Polymer thickeners, vegetable oils, special surfactants, etc
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Reduce spray drift, improve target deposition rate and reduce environmental pollution
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Organic silicone defoamers, polyether defoamers, alcohols, fatty acid esters, etc
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Inhibition or elimination of foam generated during the production and use of reagents
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1. Anti drift Agents: in compliance withTable 4 As shown in, by changing the physical properties of spray droplets, the generation of small droplets can be reduced, spray drift can be reduced, target deposition rate can be improved, and environmental pollution can be reduced.2. Defoamers/Antifoaming Agents: in compliance withTable 4 It is used to restrain or eliminate the foam generated in the process of pesticide production and use to ensure the smooth production and application.summarize
There are various types of pesticide additives with different functions, playing an indispensable role in modern agricultural production. As shown in the table above, they improve the physical and chemical properties of pesticides, enhance their efficacy, prolong their shelf life, and enhance safety, thereby improving the overall utilization efficiency and control effect of pesticides. With the continuous development of agricultural technology and the increasing demand for environmental protection, higher requirements have been put forward for the research and development of pesticide additives. In the future, more attention will be paid to the development of efficient, multifunctional, and environmentally friendly green pesticide additives to promote the sustainable development of agriculture in China.
