IMCD: Sustainable Solutions Without Compromise

IMCD is a global leader in the distribution and formulation of speciality chemicals and ingredients, providing solutions to its partners.

Now, more than ever, there is growing emphasis on creating optimised, high-performance agrochemical formulations with a focus on sustainability and reduced environmental impact.  Increased environmental awareness has led to revolutionary changes in the way society perceives agriculture and farming.  To satisfy the ever-growing needs to feed the planet, there has been a shift towards cooperation and collaboration with nature.  This has practical implications for the agrochemical industry, which now takes things such as protection of natural ecosystems, habitats, and biodiversity seriously.

Whether you look at the upcoming ECHA microplastic regulations or fertiliser directives, or at the trends in the US, the outcome is clear – the agrochemical industry will have to resign from certain chemistries and look to products with sustainable, renewable, biodegradable, natural and non-hazardous qualities.

The world is navigating the complexity of sustainability, which can mean many things:

• Readily biodegradable
  

• Biobased
  

• Naturally derived
  

• Renewable raw materials
  

• Decarbonisation
  

• Non-toxic
  

• Eco friendly
  

• Responsible sourcing
  

• Microplastic free
  

• Non-hazardous    
  

At IMCD, we proactively embrace these trends, partnering with leading industry suppliers that offer unique and innovative portfolios of formulation ingredients. This includes bio-based rheology modifiers; greener solvents; biodegradable surfactants; adjuvants for ‘smart’ pesticide delivery; naturally derived polymers; microplastic-free seed coating polymers; and greener preservatives.

The agrochemical formulator's goal is to create differentiated, market-leading formulations that allow the active ingredient to reach its target with maximum efficacy and with minimum impact on the environment.  This has inspired speciality chemical manufacturers to develop the next generation of sustainable ingredients. Here, we introduce just a selection of the products available on the market today.  

Lower your carbon footprint with microfibrillated cellulose from Borregaard

One such company leading the way in sustainability is Borregaard, with their innovative, unique form of high purity cellulose called EXILVA^®.  Exilva is an innovative microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) as shown in figure 1, derived from wood (sustainably managed) and is therefore of natural origin, sustainable, non-hazardous, fully biodegradable and 100% biobased.

Exilva provides improved performance in anti-settling and anti-sedimentation through improved yield stress.  Versatility and flexibility in formulations is achieved through its robustness to shear, pH, salt (see figure 2), electrolytes and temperature.  Due to its high efficiency, robustness in harsh environments and its multifunctional characteristics, Exilva is suitable for a wide range of products and industries.

Furthermore, Exilva is an excellent film former and can therefore be used as a seed treatment additive for enhancing biobased binders and their properties, avoiding any issues with microplastics.  It has also been studied for uptake enhancement (proven data for herbicides) so can also be considered for use as an adjuvant with humectant properties.

Figure 1.  SEM image of Exilva’s microfibrillated cellulose.

Figure 2. Flow curve: Exilva vs. xanthan gum (both at 0.3 wt% use level) with 35 wt% calcium chloride in water.  Exilva has higher viscosity at low shear and is more shear thinning.

Figure 3. Visual effect of suspending power of Exilva in a high salt environment compared to xanthan gum.  Image taken after day 1 shows how effectively Exilva keeps the solids suspended.

Achieving stability with biodegradable surfactants from Nouryon

Of course, in addition to rheology modifiers, the surfactant system plays a vital role in the stability and performance of a dispersion.  A recent innovation from Nouryon is their biodegradable dispersant, Agrilan^® 1015, for use in aqueous dispersions such as SC and SE.  

Agrilan 1015 offers a unique patent-protected technology with tapered hydrophobic linking between the hydrophobic and hydrophilic moiety.  It outperforms traditional dispersant chemistries such as TSP (tristyryl phenol-based derivatives) in critical tests such as particle size growth (see figure 4), suspensibility and viscosity.  It provides formulators with a sustainable solution for aqueous dispersions without compromising performance.

Figure 4. Diuron 300 g/L SC: particle size growth after storage at 54°C for 2 weeks.

Additionally, Nouryon produces surfactants that are suitable for use in biological formulations.  A series of co-formulants/adjuvants were identified as interesting candidates for the formulation design of microbial pesticides.  Of note are Agrilan 1015 and Adsee™ AMP 40, as described in table 1.  These have good compatibility with the microorganisms used during testing (MIC), indicating that they can be used in biological formulations. 

Table 1. Suggested products for biopesticide formulation

High performance naturally derived polymers from Ashland

Cotton and wood-derived cellulose ethers (HEC, HPMC, CMC, HPC, EC) from Ashland offer formulators a wide range of nature-based options for thickening, rheology modification, suspending and film formation.  They have a natural origin content of up to 85%, and biodegradable options are available.  The starting material for the manufacture of cellulose ethers is highly purified cellulose, as shown in figure 5.

Cellulose ethers have a great number of valuable properties, which find application in numerous crop protection and seed coating application areas.  Depending on the functionality required, formulators can use cellulose ethers in aqueous suspensions and emulsions (SC, EC) and solid formulations (WDG, WP, SP).

Figure 5. Synthesis routes of cellulose ether chemistry.

The future of biobased seed coatings is here – Amulix^® from Covestro

Coating seeds (figure 6) is an important topic for the agricultural sector. The current practice of using fossil-based synthetic coatings with limited biodegradability is not sufficient anymore. The use of high-quality seed coatings with respect for nature is more crucial than ever. This is where Covestro-Amulix comes in.

Figure 6. Examples of Amulix coated seeds.

The main features of Amulix are:

• Biobased coatings
  

• Microplastic-free coatings
  

• Biodegradable coatings
  

• Safe to seed
  

• Great dust control
  

• VOC free
  

Higher seed performance – Amulix doesn’t use toxic ingredients which is safer for the seeds and improves compatibility with the seed skin.

Optimising impact – Amulix is compatible with plant protection products, biologicals, and microorganisms.  On top of this, the seed coatings ensure low dust-off and are safe for the environment.

Enhanced processing – Amulix seed coatings are easy to apply. The coating sticks to the seeds and not to the coating machine, which results in easy and fast cleaning of the machinery.

Improved drying process – Due to the relatively fast drying process, less (or no) heating is required.  This will increase the production capacity and lower both the energy consumption and stress on the seeds.

To summarise, Amulix solutions are set to revolutionise the agricultural sector and drive the seed industry into the 21st century.

The first eco-friendly antifoams from Wacker

Antifoams, most commonly silicone based, are essential for most agrochemical formulation types. High-efficiency antifoam agents provide effective, long-lasting foam control during the production and application of plant protection agents. Specific silicone surfactants optimise the distribution of the protection agent on the plant. Wacker, a leading manufacturer of silicone-based antifoam agents, has now developed an eco-friendly antifoam emulsion: SILFOAM^® eco SRE.

In manufacturing Silfoam eco SRE, 100 % of the fossil-based raw materials are replaced by sustainable certified renewable raw materials (biomethanol) in the value chain, based on a REDcert² biomass balance approach audited by TÜV NORD.

Silfoam eco SRE is a low-viscosity emulsion and a useful auxiliary for combating foam generated in surfactant-containing formulations such as plant protection agents.

Enhanced delivery using naturally occurring cyclodextrins from Wacker

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are a naturally occurring group of cyclic oligosaccharides, consisting of six or more 1-4 linked α-anhydroglucose moieties. Wacker is the only global producer of all three native cyclodextrins (α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin and γ-cyclodextrin). These are marketed as CAVAMAX^® products. On top of this, Wacker also manufactures and offers chemically modified cyclodextrin derivatives, which are marketed under the tradename CAVASOL^®.

Cyclodextrins resemble a hollow truncated cone or bucket, and it is this three-dimensional structure (figure 7) that makes them interesting and can open a world of opportunities. Some of the various applications of cyclodextrins are:

• Increased bioavailability
  

• Controlled release (figure 8)
  

• Solubility
  

• Stabilisation against light, UV radiation, heat/cold, oxidation
  

• Emulsifying effect (emulsion stabilisation and compatibilisation)
  

• Masking
  

• Reduction of volatility
  

• Selective extraction

Figure 7. Cyclodextrin structure.

Figure 8. Controlled release of rosemary oil in water at 40°C.
Graphic: Wacker Chemie AG

It is clear to see that manufacturers recognise the importance of providing the agrochemical industry with the tools to move away from outdated chemistries with increasing restrictions on use, for applications that demand minimal environmental impact. With our knowledge, formulation expertise and comprehensive portfolio, IMCD can support every agrochemical formulator’s journey into sustainability.  

″We partner with leading industry suppliers that offer unique, sustainable, and innovative portfolios of formulation ingredients.″

Michal Archman
International Product Manager
Director Agrochemicals

This article will be published in AgroPages '2022 Formulation & Adjuvant Technology ' magazine to be published this May.

If you'd like to join this magazine to promote your products and solutions. Pls contact Grace Yuan via: grace@agropages.com