GB2268403A

GB2268403A - Pesticidal compositions containing markers

Info

Publication number: GB2268403A
Application number: GB9214200A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David John Christopher Lambert
Original assignee: Safeguard Chemicals Ltd
Current assignee: Safeguard Chemicals Ltd
Priority date: 1992-07-02
Filing date: 1992-07-02
Publication date: 1994-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2012-07-02
Also published as: GB9214200D0; GB2268403B

Abstract

Pesticidal corn positions in liquid form contain one or more marker compounds which fluoresce and/or phosphoresce in the presence of ultraviolet radiation. The preferred marker compound is a bis-substituted stilbene such as bis(triazinyl)stilbene or a bis(benzoxazolyl)stilbene. The uniformity of treatment of a surface with the pesticidal composition may be checked by illuminating a treated surface with ultra-violet radiation and observing the uniformity and intensity of the fluoresence and/or phosphoresence of the surface. The contamination of an operator with the pesticidal composition can be checked by removing any protective clothing from the operator and thereafter illuminating the operator with ultra-violet radiation while the presence and location of any fluoresence and/or phosphoresence is observed.

Description

PESTICIDAL COMPOSITIONS This invention relates to pesticidal compositions and to methods of applying such compositions to surfaces and determining the extent of pesticidal treatment obtained.

It is known to apply pesticidal compositions to timber, masonry and other surfaces with the object of preventing the ingress of insects. fungi and other pests and eliminating any such pests which may be present. The compositions are traditionally solutions containing one or more pesticides in an organic solvent or. more recently, emulsions containing fine droplets of pesticide containing solvent as the disperse phase. Such solutions or dispersions are applied by brush or, more frequently by spraying. to the surface which requires treatment. The spraying method is generally preferred as the areas to be treated frequently comprise lofts. attics or other spaces where access is difficult and crevices abound.

Most pesticidal compositions are transparent or faintly tinted so that whether treatment has been carried out or not cannot be assessed visually. It is also impossible tovisually assess the degree of treatment. In the case of organic solvent solutions there is frequently an odour which indicates that treatment has been carried out but does not indicate the thoroughness and completeness of the treatment operation.

The present invention provides a pesticidal composition whose presence on treated surfaces can be assessed visually and together with an estimate of the degree of coverage.

There is also provided a method of assessing the degree of surface treatment with a pesticidal composition.

According to the present invention there is provided a pesticidal composition in liquid form, characterised in that it contains one or more marker compounds which fluoresce and/or phosphoresce in the presence of ultraviolet radiation.

The pesticidal composition may contain the marker compound dissolved in the same carrier solvent as the pesticide, in the dispersed phase of an emulsion or in a separate disperse phase.

Fluorescent and phosphorescent marker compounds suitable for use in the pesticidal compositions of the invention are well known and commercially available. The compounds may carry solubilising substituents. such as sulphonic acid groups. if they are to be used in the aqueous phase of emulsions. Alternatively they may substituted with groups.

such as t-butyl or t-pentyl groups, if they are to be dissolved in an organic solvent either used as a carrier or a solvent for the pesticide in the disperse phase of an emulsion. Bis-substituted stilbenes derivatives, such as bis(triazinyl) and bis(benzoxyl) derivatives are particularly efficient.

Suitable fluorescent compounds are commercially available such as those sold under the registered trade mark TINOPAL'. including 'Tinopal' ABP liquid by Ciba-Geigy AG.

After a surface has been treated by application of a liquid pesticidal composition it is illuminated with ultra-violet radiation from a suitable source such as a mercury vapour lamp. The treated areas will fluoresce and it is possible to detect immediately any areas which have been left untreated. The uniformity and intensity of the fluoresence provides an indication of the amount of pesticide deposit ed and its evenness of application.

Apart from using an ultra-violet radiation source to check treatment of surfaces it also enables the operator who uses the pesticidal compositions to be checked for contamination with the pesticide both on clothing and the body. Washing can be carried out to remove the contamination and the area can be rechecked to ensure that the process has been satisfactorily completed.

Where the compound has appreciable phosphorescent properties the treated area, if in darkness, may be illuminated with a high intensity flash of light and ultraviolet radiation, for instance from an xenon discharge lamp, and the subsequent glow observed.

The marker compound may have long term or fugitive fluorescent and phosphorescent characteristics. Where treatment is carried out at regular intervals it is desirable that the flourescent properties are lost between treatments. In the case of long lasting treatments the presence of the marker compound is a useful indicator that pesticidal treatment has been carried out on the surface and that further treatment is unecessary.

The invention will be further illustrated by means of the following examples.

Example 1.

A pesticidal composition was prepared having the following composition in parts by weight: Permethrin (insecticide) 5.9 % NP9 emulsifier 17.6 % Monopropylene glycol 74.5 % Tinopal ABP 2.0 % 'Tinopal' ABP is the registered trade mark of a stilbene disulphonic acid derivative supplied as a substantially neutral solution containing 1,4-diethanolamine. It exhibits intense fluorescence when illuminated with ultraviolet radiation.

This composition was stirred into water at a ratio of 850 ml to 24.15 litres of water. This formed an aqueous dispersion having a particle size in the dispersed phase in the range 15 to 25 nm. The aqueous emulsion was sprayed on timber surfaces to provide protection against attack by wood boring insects. After application illumination from an ultra-violet radiation source showed clearly the treated areas.

Example 2 A pesticidal composition was prepared having the following composition in parts by weight: Permethrin (insecticide) 2.5 % Tri(hexylene glycol)biborate 44.0 % NP9 emulsifier 28.0 % Monopropylene glycol 23.5 % Tinopal ABP liquid 2.0 % This composition was dispersed in a similar manner to that described in Example 1. 2 litres of the composition were stirred into 20 litres of water. This formed an aqueous dispersion having similar properties to those of Example 1.

Illumination of operator with ultra-violet radiation enabled an assessment to be carried out on the amount of contamination which had taken place due to the spraying operation. Direct illumination of the operator without his protective clothing enabled confirmation to be obtained that no penetration had occurred and that the operator had been effectively protected.

Claims

1. A pesticidal composition in liquid form, characterised in that it contains one or more marker compounds which fluoresce and/or phosphoresce in the presence of ultraviolet radiation.

2. A pesticidal composition as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the marker compound is dissolved in the same carrier solvent as a pesticide, in the dispersed phase of an emulsion or in a separate disperse phase.

3. A pesticidal composition as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the marker compound is dissolved in a carrier solvent and the solvent is present as the disperse phase of a liquid emulsion.

4. A pesticidal composition as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the marker compound and a pesticide are dissolved in the same carrier solvent.

5. A pesticidal composition as claimed in claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the carrier solvent is monopropylene glycol.

6. A pesticidal composition as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the carrier solvent comprises the the disperse phase of an emulsion in water.

7. A pesticidal composition as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the particle size of the dispersed phase lies in the range 15 to 25 nm.

8. A pesticidal composition as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the marker compound is a bis-substituted stilbene.

9. A pesticidal composition as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the marker compound is a bis(triazinyl)stilbene or a bis(benzoxazolyl)stilbene.

10. A pesticidal compositions as claimed in claim 1 and as herein described.

11. Pesticidal compositions as herein described in Example 1 and Example 2.

12. A method of checking the uniformity of treatment of a surface with a pesticidal composition characterised in that a composition as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 11 is applied to the surface and thereafter the surface is illuminated with ultra-violet radiation and the uniformity and intensity of the fluoresence and/or phosphoresence of the surface is observed.

13. A method of checking the contamination of an operator with a pesticidal composition as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 11 characterised in that the protective clothing is removed from the operator and thereafter the operator is illuminated with ultra-violet radiation while the presence and location of any fluoresence and/or phosphoresence is observed.

14. Methods of checking the presence of a pesticidal composition as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 11 as herein described.