Pesticide adjuvants are auxiliary substances added during the processing or use of pesticide formulations to improve the physical and chemical properties of the agents, also known as pesticide additives. Adjuvants themselves have basically no biological activity, but they can affect the control effect. With the widespread use and development of pesticide adjuvants, their types are constantly increasing, so choosing which adjuvant has become the second major choice problem for farmers besides choosing pesticides.
1、Additives that help disperse the original drug
Fillers and carriers
In the processing of solid pesticide formulations, solid inert mineral, plant-based, or artificially synthesized substances are added to adjust the content of the finished product or improve its physical state. Fillers are used to dilute the technical material and increase its dispersibility, while carriers also have the function of adsorbing or carrying active ingredients. Commonly used ones include clay, diatomaceous earth, kaolin, and pottery clay. Fillers are generally neutral inorganic substances, such as clay, pottery clay, kaolin, diatomaceous earth, pyrophyllite, and talcum powder. Their functions are, first, to dilute the technical material, and second, to adsorb the technical material. They are mainly used in the production of powders, wettable powders, granules, water-dispersible granules, etc. The currently popular pesticide-fertilizer products use fertilizers as carriers for pesticides, combining pesticides and fertilizers into one to achieve pesticide-fertilizer integration.
Solvent
Organic substances used to dissolve and dilute the active ingredients of pesticides, making them easy to process and use. Common ones include xylene, toluene, benzene, methanol, petroleum ether, etc. They are mostly used in the processing of emulsifiable concentrates. They are required to have strong dissolving power, low toxicity, high flash point, non-flammability, low cost, and wide availability.
Emulsifier
Surfactants that can stably disperse one of two originally immiscible liquids (such as oil and water) as extremely small droplets in the other liquid to form an opaque or translucent emulsion are called emulsifiers. Common ones include: esters or ethers containing polyoxyethylene groups (such as castor oil polyoxyethyl ether, alkylphenyl polyethyl ether, etc.), Turkey red oil, diglycerol laurate sodium, etc. They are mostly used in the processing of emulsifiable concentrates, emulsion in water, and microemulsions.
Dispersant
Surfactants in pesticide formulation processing that can prevent the aggregation and agglomeration of solid particles in solid-liquid dispersion systems, keeping them uniformly dispersed in liquids for a long time. Examples include sodium lignosulfonate and NNO. They are mainly used in the processing of wettable powders, water-dispersible granules, and aqueous suspensions.
2、Helpful for exerting the effect of medicine
Synergist
Compounds that have no biological activity themselves but can inhibit detoxifying enzymes in organisms. When mixed with certain pesticides, they can significantly enhance the toxicity and efficacy of pesticides. Examples include sulfoxide and piperonyl butoxide. They are of great significance for controlling resistant pests, delaying the development of resistance, and improving control efficiency.
Stabilizer
To improve the stability of pesticides, they can be divided into two types according to their different functions. One is physical stabilizers, which enhance the physical stability of formulations, such as anti-caking agents and anti-settling agents. The other is chemical stabilizers, which can inhibit or slow down the decomposition of the active ingredients of pesticides, such as antioxidants and anti-photolysis agents.
sustained-release agent
The main function of slow-release agents is to extend the duration of pesticide efficacy. Their mechanism of action is the same as that of slow-release fertilizers: the agent is slowly released within an appropriate time to exert its medicinal effect. There are two types of slow-release agents. One type works through physical methods such as embedding, masking, and adsorption; the other type functions through chemical reactions between the pesticide and the slow-release agent.
3、Additives that enhance the penetration and spreading of pharmaceuticals
Humectant
Also known as wetting and spreading agents, they are a type of surfactant that significantly reduces the surface tension of solutions, increases the contact of liquids with solid surfaces, or enhances the wetting and spreading on solid surfaces. They quickly wet pesticide particles, strengthen the ability of pesticide solutions to wet and spread on the surfaces of plants, pests, etc., increase the uniformity of pesticides, improve the efficacy of pesticides, and at the same time reduce the risk of phytotoxicity. Examples include lignosulfonates, saponin, sodium lauryl sulfate, nekal, polyoxyethylene alkyl aryl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, etc. They are mainly used in the processing of wettable powders, water-dispersible granules, aqueous solutions, and aqueous suspensions, as well as spray adjuvants.
Penetrant
Surfactants that can promote the effective ingredients of pesticides to enter plants and harmful organisms are mostly used in the preparation of high-permeability pesticide formulations. Examples include penetrant T and fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether.
Adhesive
Adhesives are additives that can enhance the adhesion ability of pesticides to solid surfaces. They make the pesticides more resistant to rain washing and improve the persistence of pesticides. For example, an appropriate amount of mineral oil with high viscosity is added to powders, and an appropriate amount of starch paste, gelatin, etc., are added to liquid pesticides.
4、Additives that improve safety
Anti-drift agent
Solid inert mineral, plant-based, or artificially synthesized substances added during the processing of solid pesticide formulations to adjust the content of the final product or improve its physical state. Fillers are used to dilute the original pesticide and increase its dispersibility, while carriers also have the function of adsorbing or carrying active ingredients. Commonly used ones include clay, diatomaceous earth, kaolin, pottery clay, etc.
Defoamer (antifoaming agent)
As the name suggests, it refers to additives that inhibit the formation of foam or eliminate existing foam in products, such as emulsified silicone oil, high-carbon alcohol fatty acid ester complexes, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene pentaerythritol ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropyl alcohol amine ether, polyoxypropylene glycerol ether, polydimethylsiloxane, etc.
Post time: Mar-04-2026