WO1996037101A1

WO1996037101A1 - Herbicide formulations and methods for their preparation

Info

Publication number: WO1996037101A1
Application number: PCT/FI1996/000283
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pontus Harju-Jeanty; Torbjörn Ahlskog
Original assignee: Kemira Agro Oy
Priority date: 1995-05-24
Filing date: 1996-05-23
Publication date: 1996-11-28
Also published as: AU5695496A; FI952546A0

Abstract

The invention relates to herbicide formulations in a suspension emulsion form, which contain oil, water, a carbamoyloxyphenyl carbamate herbicide and a dispersing agent for this herbicide, the dispersing agent being a graft copolymer of alkylphenolethoxylate and polyalkyleneglycoletheracryl, and an emulsion-dispersion stabilizer, which is alkylsulfosuccinate. The invention also relates to methods for preparing these formulations.

Description

Herbicide Formulations and Methods for their Preparation

The invention relates to herbicide formulations and methods for their prepatation, and in particular to suspension-emulsion formulations which are stable to break¬ down and sedimentation due to mechanical strain, and which contain at least one herbicidal active ingredient known per se, such as carbamoyloxyphenyl carbamates.

Herbicide formulations can be divided into two principal categories, solid and liquid formulations. The desired formulation type depends on the solubility properties of the active ingredient and on the biological efficacy of the formulation. Certain active ingredients are so insoluble that true liquid formulations sufficiently concentrated for practical purposes cannot be produced.

In cases such as these, the only option is to produce solid formulations, or suspensions of solid active ingredient, which have been slurried in water or some other carrier liquid.

Most advantageous for the user and the environment would be a true aqueous solution, but the poor solubility or dispersion of the active ingredient in water often presents an obstacle to the use of this form of product.

When the active ingredient is insoluble in water, organic solvents may need to be added. In such instances, emulsifiers are often added so as to form emulsion- concentrates. Such emulsion concentrates have several drawbacks, such as the toxicity of organic solvents, and the propensity of the active ingredient to crystalise.

Because of these drawbacks, formulations where the active ingredients are not in dissolved form are preferable, since they reduce problems of toxicity, inflammability, packaging material and storage. However, often the biological efficacy of such formulations is low, due to the poor penetrating and translocating properties, particularly in the case of foliage-acting herbicides. Hydrolytic decomposition is often another disadvantage. An active ingredient in molecular form is capable of penetrating through wax and cuticle layers much more effectively than is a solid particle. For this reason any undissolved particles of the active ingredient must be as finely ground as possible, and their penetration and translocation must be improved by means of oils, addition of organic solvents, and surfactants. Air-jet and pearl mills are used for grinding in order to obtain a maximally finely divided active ingredient, preferably in the order of 1-5 nun, for ensuring biological efficacy and also for improving storage stability in suspension concentrates.

In order to prevent sedimentation in slurry formulations, it is necessary to add various auxiliary agents, such as dispersing and suspending agents, and often wetting agents, anti-freeze agents, anti-foam agents, and preservatives. To improve the storage stability it is often necessary to increase the viscosity of the slurry by using thickeners.

It is known that carbamoyloxyphenyl carbamate s, such as methyl-3-m-tolyl- carbamoyloxyphenyl carbamate (phenmedipham), and ethyl-3-phenylcarbamoyl- oxyphenyl carbamate (desmedipham) (BP 679283)

where Rj and R2 are CH3, or Rj is H and R2 is CH2CH3, have selective and potent herbicidal properties. These active ingredients can be used separately or as mixtures with each other and/or with other herbicides, in particular for weed control in sugar beet cultivation.

Conventionally the above-mentioned active ingredients have been formulated as emulsion-concentrates. However, since the aim is to avoid organic solvents and since phenmedipham tends to crystallize when these formulations are diluted in water, it is an object of the present invention to provide suspension concentrates of these active ingredients.

It is known to prepare carbamoyloxyphenyl carbamates as oil-based (EP-242 888) or water-based (EP-299 961) suspension concentrates in which the active ingredients are in solid state, and finely ground and dispersed by means of surfactants in either an oil phase or an aqueous phase. Specifically, carbamoyloxy¬ phenyl carbamates in a solid form require oily products and/or organic solvents, as well as surfactants to ensure biological efficacy. In oil-based suspension con¬ centrates the oily liquids serve as carriers and any water is emulsified in the oil phase as a water/oil emulsion. Respectively, in water-based suspension concentrates water is the carrier liquid in which the oily components are emulsified as oil/water emulsions. However, in each case the product must be water-miscible, in which case the oily components will form an oil/water emulsion. This dilution carried out by the farmer is in the order of 1 part of the product per 10-800 parts of water, most commonly 1 part of the product per 30-100 parts of water. The active ingredients are finely ground, preferably to less than 5mm, and dispersed in either an oil phase or a water phase. The grinding is carried out by dry or wet grinding in an air-jet mill or a pearl mill respectively.

To the carrier liquid are added the surfactants, dispersing agents for the solid particles of active ingredient, and emulsifiers for either water or oily raw materials and for emulsification of the end product. Auxiliary agents may also be added, such as stabilizers to bring the acidity of the product to a level of pH 1-5 so as to prevent the decomposition of carbamoyloxyphenyl carbamates, and also thickeners to improve storage stability of the formulations.

The disadvantages of oil-based suspension concentrates include poor storage stability, the need to use large amounts (10-20%) of emulsifiers to cause emulsification of the products in the farmer's sprayer, and the poor miscibility when combined with other products in the farmer's sprayer. In fact, there are instances of products which have had to be withdrawn from the market because of these factors.

These water-based suspension concentrates in which oily components are emulsified in the water phase are in general better than oil-based suspension concentrates with respect to their storage and miscibility properties, and in addition, these water-based concentrates require the use of smaller quantities (typically approx. 5%) of surfactants, to enable the oils to become emulsified and the solid active ingredients to disperse in the water phase. The surfactants used for these purposes are typically expensive and accordingly result in an increase in the product price. The amount of oily components in the product should preferably be over 10%, usually over 20%, for biological efficacy to be achieved.

However, both types of suspension-concentrates produce coarse emulsion oil droplets, both in the formulations themselves or in the farmer's sprayer. It is known that product stability can be improved by reducing the size of the emulsion droplet. Emulsifier droplet size can be minimised by optimising emulsifier addition, and in particular, by ensuring the correct HLB value (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) for the particular emulsifier. For example, an HLB of 10-12 is required for paraffin mineral oils with oil/water emulsions. It is also known that if the emulsification is carried out at a temperature close to the PIT (Phase Inversion Temperature), i.e. a temperature at which the water/oil-oil/water emulsions are in equilibrium, a smaller emulsion drop size is achieved. This dropsize is also retained when the emulsion cools.

Ready-to-use herbicide formulations can be produced that require no diluting. These formulations, however, have very dilute active ingredient concentrations and are therefore uneconomical. In order for transportation costs to be miώimised, the active ingredient should made as concentrated as possible, and be easily diluted in water. For weed control in sugar beet cultivation, the amounts of diluted product sprayed are typically 100-500 litres/ha, with the herbicide suspension concentrates containing typically 10-80% of active ingredient. Herbicide mixtures are often used for weed control in sugar beet cultivation; typically, the farmer will mix in his sprayer not only carbamoyloxyphenyl carbamate formulations but also other herbicides, such as ethofumesate, methamitron, chloroidazon, lenacil, pyridate, metholachlor, EPTC, quinmerac, cycloate, clopyralide, fluroxipyr, alloxydime sodium, cetoxydime, cycloxydine, fluazif op-butyl, and sulfonylurea herbicides. Also insecticides, plant disease control agents, growth control agents, and fertilizers are typically mixed with herbicide formulations.

Modern herbicide sprayers, such as Hardi and EHO sprayers, are equipped with efficient circulation systems, in which the diluted herbicide is subjected to vigorous agitation often by using separate ejectors, and is forced through fine screens of 50- 100 mesh (0.3-0.15mm). Such mechanical strain has proved to be too harsh for conventional commercially available oil-containing suspension concentrates in which the oil is emulsified and the active agents dispersed in the formulation. As a consequence of such mechanical strain, the emulsion/suspension system breaks down, the oil is released from its emulsion, and/or the solid active ingredients are precipitated from their suspensions. As a result of prolonged agitation, common when the diluted herbicide is transported long distances, the oil and the active ingredient may form lumps. This results in lower biological efficacies, and clogging of the sprayer screens and nozzles. Now it has been observed, surprisingly, that dispersion of the solid active ingredient particles by means of a graft copolymer of alkylphenolethoxylate and polyalkylene- glycoletheracryl, coupled with the stabilization of the oil emulsion active-ingredient dispersion with alkylsulfosuccinate, prevents the problems of breaking down and sedimentation caused by mechanical strain.

The invention thus relates to herbicide formulations, in suspension emulsion form, which formulations contain oil, water and one or more surfactants and, as the active ingredient, one or more carbamoyloxyphenyl carbamates, which formulations are characterized in that they contain a graft copolymer of alkylphenolethoxylate and polyalkyleneglycoletheracryl as the dispersing agent for the active ingredient or ingredients and alkylsulfosuccinate as the emulsion-dispersion stabilizer.

The formulations according to the invention preferably contain approx 0.2-10% by weight of the graft copolymer of alkylphenolethoxylate and polyalkyleneglycol¬ etheracryl, and approx 0.2-10% by weight of alkylsulfosuccinate. Ideally, the formulations contain 0.5-5% by weight of the graft copolymer of alkylphenol¬ ethoxylate and polyalkyleneglycoletheracryl, and 0.5-5% by weight of alkylsulfo¬ succinate.

These suspension concentrate formulations according to the invention have as the active ingredient one or more carbamoyloxyphenyl carbamates, in particular phenmedipham and/or desmedipham, but it is self-evident that other herbicides, insecticides, plant disease control agents and/or growth control agents may be incorporated into the same formulation. Agents especially suitable for widening the weed control spectrum in beet cultivation include ethofumesate, methamitron, chloroidazon, lenacil, pyridate, metholachlor, trichloracetic acid, EPTC, quinmerac, cycloate, clopyralide, fluroxipyr, benzthiazuron, chlorpropham, phenuron, iso- carbimide, propham, trifluraline, alloxydine sodium, cetoxydime, cycloxydhne, diallate, fluazifop-butyls, triallate, dalapon, propaquizafob, and sulfonylurea herbicides. Conventional insecticides for beets include phosphoric acid esters, organochloro compounds, carbamates, pyretrines, and pyrethroids. Common plant disease control agents include benzimidazoles, triazoles, carbamates, triphenyltin and sulfur compounds. Plant growth control agents used include naphthalene acetic acid.

The formulations according to the invention typically contain 10-80% by weight, preferably 15-50% by weight, of carbamoyloxyphenyl carbamate herbicide or herbicides, alone or together with other herbicides; 5-80% by weight, preferably 20- 60% by weight of oil; 1-25% by weight, preferably 2-10% by weight; of surfactants, including a dispersing agent; 5-80% by weight, preferably 20-60% by weight of water; and possibly other auxiliary agents.

The concentrate formulations according to the invention are diluted before use. Dilution is typically 1 part by weight of the formulation to 10-800 parts by weight, preferably 30-100 parts by weight, of water.

Surfactants are used for improving dispersibility, suspension stability, wettability, penetration and translocation, for emulsifying the oil in the concentrate, and for achieving miscibility and suspension/emulsion stability in the dilution for use.

The oils used are, for example, mineral oil, vegetable oil, water-insoluble alcohols, acids, ketones, ethers, esters and their halogenated compounds and glycols, either alone or as mixtures. It is also possible to incorporate other organic solvents into the formulation. It is expedient to add to the formulation oil in an amount of approx. 5- 80% by weight, preferably approx. 20-60% by weight, of the formulation.

The surfactants used may be anionic, canonic and non-ionic as well as ampholytic surfactants and their mixtures. These include alkyl sulfates and their derivatives, sulfonic acid and sulfonate compounds, phosphoric acid esters and their salts, polyethoxylated amines, amides and fatty acids, alkenoxylated phenols and alkanols, polyglycol ethers, fatty alcohol alkenoxide concentrates, al_kylamino acids, imidazoline amphotensides, and various graft copolymers.

The said suspension concentrates may also contain other auxiliary agents, such as water-miscible and/or water-soluble carrier and/or deflocculating agents (e.g. kaolin, lignin compounds), anti-foaming agents (e.g. silicon-based), thickeners (e.g. cellulose derivatives), anti-freeze agents (e.g. ethylene glycol), organic solvents (e.g. kerosene), colorants (e.g. azo-dyes), preservatives (e.g. formaline biocide, especially if the product contains organic suspending agents and thickeners, and e.g. butylated hydroxytoluene antioxidant, in particular if the product contains vegetable oil), and fertilizers (e.g. urea).

The acidity of the formulations is preferably adjusted to a value below pH 5 by means of a stabilizer (e.g. citric acid). Dilutions for use, prepared from formulations according to the invention, can be used both before and after the emergence of seedlings of the crop plant. Most commonly, however, carbamoyloxyphenyl carbamates are used alone or in mixtures after the emergence of beet seedlings, at which time the weeds to be controlled have also emerged. A suitable amount of the active ingredient per cultivated hectare and sprayed surface area is 0.1-1 kg, depending on whether only a single spraying or several successive rounds of spraying are carried out, and depending on the proportions in the mixture. The amount of water may vary between 20-800 litres/ hectare, depending on the sprayer equipment.

The essential characteristic of the formulation according to the invention is the dispersion of solid active ingredients in water separately by means of a graft copolymer of alkylphenolethoxylate and polyalkyleneglycoletheracryl, whereupon a protective layer forms on the surface of the solid particles, the total amount of the dispersants in the final product being approx. 0.2-10% by weight, preferably approx. 0.5-5% by weight; the emulsification of oil in water separately or in the active ingredient dispersion, the total amount of emulsifiers being approx. 0.5-5% by weight, preferably 1-3% by weight; and the stabilization of the final suspension emulsion by means of alkylsulfosuccinate, its amount being approx. 0.2-10% by weight, preferably approx. 0.5-5% by weight.

The suspension emulsion formulations according to the invention have excellent storage and miscibility properties, and they withstand mechanical strain during the formulation and spraying of the dilutions. Consequently the problems of breakdown and sedimentation are avoided.

The formulations according to the invention can be prepared by mixing the starting materials together.

A preferred method, which is a further aspect of the invention, for preparing formulations according to the invention, comprises the following steps: a) the active ingredient or ingredients is/are dispersed in water by using as the dispersing agent a graft copolymer of alkylphenolethoxylate and polyalkylene¬ glycoletheracryl to form an active-ingredient dispersion, b) the oil is emulsified in the said active-ingredient dispersion by using an emulsifier to form a suspension emulsion, and c) the obtained suspension emulsion is stabilized by means of alkylsulfo¬ succinate. Another preferred method, which is a still further aspect of the invention, for preparing formulations according to the invention comprises the following steps: a) the active ingredient or ingredients is/are dispersed in water by using as the dispersing agent a graft copolymer of alkylphenolethoxylate and polyalkylene- glycoletheracryl to form an active-ingredient dispersion, b) the oil is emulsified in water by using an emulsifier to form an oil/water emulsion, c) the said active-ingredient dispersion and the said oil/water emulsion are combined to form a suspension emulsion, and d) the obtained suspension emulsion is stabilized by means of alkylsulfo¬ succinate.

The insoluble active ingredients may be ground either by wet grinding in a pearl mill (e.g. Dyno, Drais) or by dry grinding in an air-jet mill (e.g. Alpine, Chrispro) and may be mixed in conventional stirrers with the other auxiliary agents into the carrier liquid. The most advantageous end result is obtained when the end product is prepared in steps so that the active ingredients are dispersed separately by means of dispersing agents into an aqueous phase to form a preliminary suspension mixture and the oil is dispersed separately by means of a high-efficiency dispersing agent into a mixture of emulsifier and water to form an oil/water emulsion. These preliminary mixtures are finally combined by conventional slow stirring to obtain the end product. Thus, very stable suspension emulsions are obtained the storage and miscibility properties of which are in a class of their own and which are not broken down even by mechanical strains of a tearing nature.

The invention is illustrated below in greater detail with the help of examples. The graft copolymer of alkylphenolethoxylate and polyalkyleneglycoletheracryl used in the examples was ALTOX 4896 and/or ALTOX 4913.

Example 1

Field trial 1 :

Sprayer: Hardi 300 litre, with pump NK 1200, and equipped with an ejector system. Nozzles:

Hardi 4110-14 nozzles: red, 80 mesh (0.18 mm) yellow, 100 mesh (0.15 mm) filter capacities were 0.91 kfres/min at a pressure of 3 bar.

Filter:

Purification filter 100 mesh (0.15 mm).

Amount of water per test specimen: 25 litres or 150 litres.

Temperature of water: +6 - +120°C.

Stirring time:

10 min in the preliminary mixing tank.

Spraying time: 10 min.

Type of water: A. hard water B. hard and iron-rich water.

Test substance 1 :

Commercial oil-containing suspension emulsion containing 160 g of phenmedipham per litre of product.

Test substance 2:

Commercial water suspension containing 500 g of ethofumesate per litre of product.

Test substance 3: Commercial oil-containing suspension emulsion containing 75 g of phenmedipham + 15 g of desmedipham + 115 g of ethofumesate per litre of product. Test substance 4:

Product corresponding to test substance 3, the active ingredients being dispersed in accordance with the invention with a graft copolymer of alkylphenolethoxylate and polyalkyleneglycoletheracryl in an amount of 2.2% and the stabilizer being alkylsulfosuccinate in an amount of 1.0%.

Other commercial tank mixture formulations:

Goltix WG: 700 g of methamitron per kg of water dispersible granules. Pyramin DF: 650 g of chloroidazon per kg of water dispersible granules. DLG Cyperb: 100 g of cypermetrin per litre of emulsion concentrate. Matrigon: 100 g of clopyralide per litre of water-soluble concentrate. Agrirob Super Olie 33: Tank booster oil.

Test Product Amount of Water Type Results product of used water

1. Test substance 1 + 188 ml 25 A Clogging of filters and nozzels test substance 2 + 40 ml litres as a consequence of the

Agrirob 63 ml breaking down of emulsion and suspension nozzles in consequence to the breaking down of emulsion and sus¬ pension.

2. Test substance 3 + 188 ml 25 A π

Agrirop 63 ml litres

3. Test substance 4 + 188 ml 25 A Spraying took place without

Agrirop 63 ml litres disturbance or breaking down

4. Test substance 4 + 188 ml 25 B

Agrirob 63 ml litres

5. Test substance 4 + 125 ml 25 A

Goltix WG + 125 g litres

Agrirob 63 ml

6. Test substance 4 + 125 ml 25 A

Goltix WG + 125 g litres

DLG Cyperb + 16 ml

Agrirob 63 ml Test Product Amount of Water Type Results product of used water

7. Test substance 4 + 188 ml 25 A π

Goltix WG + 125 g litres

Matrigon + 25 ml

Agrirob 63 ml

8. Test substance 4 + 125 ml 25 B

Goltix WG + 125 g litres

Agrirob 63 ml

9. Test substance 4 + 125 ml 25 B

Pyramin DF + 125 g litres

Agrirob 63 ml

10. Test substance 4 + 125 ml 25 B n

Goltix WG + 125 g litres

DLG Cyperb + 16 ml

Agrirob 63 ml

11. Test substance 4 + 188 ml 25 B

Goltix WG + 125 g litres

Matrigon + 25 ml

Agrirob 63 ml

12. Test substance 1 + 1.5 litres 150 A Clogging of filters as a

Test substance 2 + 0.3 litres litres consequence of the breaking

Agrirob 0.5 litres down of emulsion and suspension

Field trial 2

Sprayer: EHO

Nozzles:

Teejet 1 1003, with 80-mesh filters.

Filters:

On the suction side 10 mesh and on the pressure side 50 mesh. Amount of water: 50 litres

Temperature of water: At the beginning +6°C, at the end 18°C.

Mixing/spraying:

30 min prelirninary stirring in tank, whereafter 25 litres spraying, 30 min re-stirring and spraying of the remaining 25 litres.

Type of water: Tap water (soft).

Test substance 1 : Commercial oil-containing suspension emulsion containing 160 g of phenmedipham per litre of product.

Test substance 4:

In an oil-containing suspension emulsion, 160 g of phenmedipham, dispersed in accordance with the invention by means of a graft copolymer of alkylphenol¬ ethoxylate and polyalkyleneglycoletheracryl in an amount of 2.2%, the stabilizer being alkylsulfosuccinate in an amount of 1.0% per litre of product.

Goltix WG: 700 g of metharnitron per kilogram of water-dispersible granules.

Kemiroil: Tank booster oil.

Amounts used:

0.5 litres of Test Substance 1 or alternatively Test Substance 4 + 250 g of Goltix WG + 250 ml of Kemiroil per 50 litres of water.

Results: With Test Substance 1 mixture, after the 30 min prelin inary mixing some paste-like precipitate appeared on the surface of the spraying liquid in the tank. No disturbance appeared during the spraying (total sprayed 25 litres). Spraying time 10 min. After 20 min of mixing, large amounts of sticky lumps (oil + active ingredients) appeared in the tank. During the spraying of the remaining 25 litres, the filters (both the suction and pressure side filters and the nozzle filters) were covered completely with sticky sediment, although it was possible to spray the total amount of liquid through the nozzles. A sticky sediment remained in the tank. With Test Substance 4 mixture, no sedimentation due to the breaking down of the oil emulsion and/or the active ingredient dispersions appeared at any stage of the mixing or spraying.

Field trial 3: A trial corresponding to field trial 2 was performed using a Hardi sprayer which had 50 mesh filters on the suction side and a 80 mesh filters on the pressure side. The nozzles were Hardi 4110-12. The results were similar to those in the EHO spraying, but the breakdown and sedimentation were more extensive.

Conclusions from the field trials:

Present-day suspension emulsion formulations which contain carbamoyloxyphenyl carbamates and oil, break down in their water dilutions when they are subjected to mechanical strain, whereupon, for example, the circulation of the spray through fine filters (50-100 mesh) and/or ejectors results in the breakdown of the oil emulsion and the active ingredient dispersion and in the formation of a sticky sediment. Through a change in composition of the dispersing agents to comprise a graft copolymer of alkylphenolethoxylate and polyalkyleneglycoletheracryl, and through an improvement of the emulsion-dispersion stability by means of an alkylsulfo- succinate addition, the said problems of breakdown and sedimentation can be eliminated; these are crucial for the farmer's spraying results.

Claims

1. An herbicide formulation in a suspension emulsion form, which contains oil, water and one or more surfactants and, as the active ingredient, one or more carbamoyloxyphenyl carbamates, characterized in that said formulation contains a graft copolymer of alkylphenolethoxylate and polyalkyleneglycoletheracryl as a dispersing agent for the active ingredient or ingredients, and alkylsulfosuccinate as an emulsion-dispersion stabilizer.

2. A formulation according to Claim 1, which contains approx. 0.2-10% by weight of alkylphenolethoxylate and polyalkyleneglycoletheracryl, and approx. 0.2-

10% by weight of alkylsulfosuccinate.

3. A formulation according to Claim 1, which contains approx. 0.5-5% by weight of alkylphenolethoxylate and polyalkyleneglycoletheracryl, and approx. 0.5-5% by weight of alkylsulfosuccinate.

4. A formulation according to any preceding claim, wherein the carbamoyloxy¬ phenyl carbamate herbicide or herbicides is/are methyl- 3 -m-tolylcarbamoyloxy- phenyl carbamate (phenmedipham) or ethyl-3-phenylcarbamoyloxyphenyl carbamate (desmedipham), or a mixture thereof.

5. A formulation according to any preceding claim, which includes 10-80% by weight carbamoyloxyphenyl carbamate herbicide or herbicides, present either alone or together with other herbicides; 5-80% by weight of oil; 1-25% by weight of surfactants, which surfactants include a dispersing agent; 5-80% by weight of water; and optionally other auxiliary agents.

6. A formulation according to any preceding claim, which includes 15-50% by weight carbamoyloxyphenyl carbamate herbicide or herbicides, present either alone or together with other herbicides; 20-60% by weight of oil; 2-10% by weight of surfactants, which surfactants include a dispersing agent; 20-60% by weight of water; and optionally other auxiliary agents.

7. The use of a formulation according to Claims 1-6 as an herbicide, diluted in a ratio of 1 part by weight of the formulation to 10-800 parts by weight of water.

8. The use of a formulation according to Claims 1-6 as an herbicide, diluted in a ratio of 1 part by weight of the formulation to 30-100 parts by weight of water.

9. A method for preparing a formulation according to any of Claims 1-6, characterized in that a) the active ingredient or ingredients is/are dispersed in water by using as the dispersing agent a graft copolymer of alkylphenolethoxylate and polyalkylene¬ glycoletheracryl to form an active-ingredient dispersion, b) the oil is emulsified in the said active-ingredient dispersion by using an emulsifier to form a suspension emulsion, and c) the obtained suspension emulsion is stabilized by means of alkylsulfo¬ succinate.

10. A method for preparing a formulation according to any of Claims 1-6, characterized in that a) the active ingredient or ingredients is/are dispersed in water by using as the dispersing agent a graft copolymer of alkylphenolethoxylate and polyalkylene- glycoletheracryl to form an active-ingredient dispersion, b) the oil is emulsified in water by using an emulsifier to form an oil/water emulsion, c) the said active-ingredient dispersion and the said oil/water emulsion are combined to form a suspension emulsion, and d) the obtained suspension emulsion is stabilized by means of alkylsulfo¬ succinate.