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VIEWPOINT
Adjuvants can be spreaders, stickers,
that the pesticide is distributed evenly and activators, or even drift control agents.
delivered properly for end use. TOFA and
TO also soften the waxy leaf surface to
improve penetration of the active ingredient.

What’s the difference between TOFA and TO? At Ingevity Corp., a rain fastness
lab test was carried out to evaluate the
A major difference between TOFA and TO is the rosin content. While TOFA consists performance of a terpene resin-based
of 1 to 5 percent rosin, TO usually has about 10 to 28 percent rosin. This composition sticker-spreader in the presence of an
difference can be utilised to tailor physical and performance properties, such as viscosity herbicide formulation. The level of active
and emulsion stability. In general, higher amounts of rosin lead to slightly higher viscosity of ingredient that remains on the surface
the compound and improved emulsification of the formulation. The agrochemical industry after the rain was determined was
typically uses TOFA. However, TO allows better emulsion stability, particularly under hard characterised by percent retention. A strip
water conditions (see Figure 2 below). of parafilm with a fixed surface area was
TOFA can also be esterified using methanol or other alkyl alcohols. TOFA esters selected to mimic the hydrophobic leaf
have a lower freezing point, compared to the acids that allow TOFA esters to be utilized surface. Rain was simulated by dipping
as solvents in both adjuvants and pesticides. TOFA esters have lower volatile organic the strip multiple times into water. The
compound (VOC) values than some petroleum-based solvents. Alternatively, TOFA can be addition of sticker-spreader to pesticide
ethoxylated and act as a non-ionic surfactant. Hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) values increased the retention by 30 percent,
can be varied by altering molar ratios of ethoxylate. thus increasing the pesticide’s efficacy
TOFA and TO aren’t the only “green” chemistries derived from the pine tree (see Figure 3 below).
Another important intermediate derived from the pine tree pulping process is turpentine.
It can be distilled and polymerized to yield terpene resin, which is sticky in nature and can
“Green” and effective
provide adhesion properties to pesticides. It acts as a glue between the pesticides and the
leaf surfaces. Due to the hydrophobicity of this sticky terpene resin, surfactants must be Bio-based chemistry can and does
formulated with this sticker to render an emulsifiable product. In the adjuvant space, these work. It is possible to ensure efficiency
surfactants are also known as spreaders. from naturally-sourced ingredients. From
Your active ingredients must stick TO emulsifiers to penetrants to terpene-
One of the challenges in pesticide application is that the active ingredients are washed based stickers, bio-based products
off from the leaf surface, which reduces efficacy. This occurs, as most spray solutions or provide significant benefits. If you’re ready
suspensions are water-based and have low affinity to waxy or hydrophobic leaf surfaces. to take the leap into the world of bio-based
Therefore, spray solutions or suspensions can easily bead up and run off under physical chemistry, contact us at chemicals@
forces, such as irrigation and rain. A sticker-spreader is a type of adjuvant developed to ingevity.com so we can pair you up
improve retention of pesticides on foliage, especially under rainy conditions. with the right chemistry for your unique
formulation.

Figure 3. Percent retention of an herbicide and

Figure 2. Emulsion stability of crop oil concentrates in hard water (1000 ppm) with TOFA and TO herbicide with sticker-spreader

www.agropages.com 2017 Formulation & Adjuvant Technology 19