FORMULATIONS

Liquid Formulations: 

EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES (EC) 

- 3 Components:

- Liquid active ingredient

- One or more petroleum-based solvents

- Mixing agent 

Advantages:

- Easy to handle

- Little agitation required

- Not abrasive

- Does not plug nozzles

- Leaves little visible residue 

Disadvantages:

- Mixing errors are possible

- May cause unwanted harm to plants

- Dermal absorption

- Harms rubber and plastic, gaskets, paint finishes

- Flammable, corrosive 

SOLUTIONS (S) 

- Contains: 1) active ingredient, 2) solvent, 3) other ingredients

- Active ingredient readily dissolves in solvent

- Solution does not settle out or separate

 

READY-TO-USE (RTU) 

- Contain small % of active ingredient

- Requires no dilution or further mixing

- Easy to use

 

CONCENTRATE SOLUTIONS ( C) 

- Require water or oil or diesel solvent to dilute (sometimes water)

- No agitation required

 

ULTRA-LOW-VOLUME (ULV) 

- High % of active ingredient

- Little or no dilution used, easy to handle, store, transport

- Not abrasive, does not plug nozzles

- Little visible residue

- High drift hazard

- Specialized equipment necessary

- Dermal absorption

- Corrosive

FLOWABLES (F or L) 

- Some active ingredients are insoluble solids in suspension with water or other liquid

- Seldom clog nozzles, easy to handle

- Requires moderate agitation

- Leaves visible residue

 

AEROSOLS (A) 

- Ready to use, easily stored, convenient

- Retain potency

- Limited uses - primarily small scale applications

- Inhalation hazard

- Drift

 

INVERT EMULSIONS 

- Requires emulsifier that allows pesticide to be mixed with large volume of petroleum-based carrier

- Commonly used in right-of-way vegetation control

 

Dry formulations: 

DUSTS (D) 

- Low % active ingredient

- Ready to use, no mixing, o moisture required

- Simple equipment, can be used indoors

- Drift hazard, even distribution is difficult

- Residue can wash off target, does not stick well to surfaces

- Eye, nose, throat, skin irritant

 

BAITS (B) 

- Ready to use

- Can control placement better, attracks pest to bait

- Hazard for children, domestic animals, non-target wildlife

- Pest may prefer crop instead of bait

 

GRANULES (G) 

- Ready to use, simple to apply

- No drift, low hazard to applicator

- Slow breakdown provides longer term effect, “slow release”

- Does not stick to non-level surfaces, may need water

 

WETTABLE POWDERS (WP) 

- Does not dissolve in water

- Stores, handles, and mixes easily

- Less non-target hazard

- Less dermal, eye absorption EXCEPT - inhalation hazard while mixing

- Requires constant agitation

- Abrasive, clogs nozzles,

- Leaves visible residue

 

FUMIGANTS 

- Toxic to wide range of pests

- Can penetrate cracks

- Single treatment usually effective

- Requires closed environment

- Highly toxic

- Requires specialized equipment

 

ADJUVANTS 

- Chemical mixed with pesticide to increase effectiveness or safety

- Surfactants (surface active)