GB428542A - Improvements in and relating to compositions adapted to be used as insecticides and fungicides - Google Patents

Abstract

Insecticidal and fungicidal compositions contain phenolic compounds and/or organic sulphur compounds, e.g. mercaptans, derived from alkaline wash liquors employed in refining oils such as petroleum, peat, shale, lignite, and particularly cracked petroleum oils, together with alkali metal polysulphides and agents promoting the emulsification in water. Such agents include salts of naphthenic acid or of aromatic sulphonic acids, fatty or resin acid soaps, and salts of sulphonated oils or fats or sulphonated fatty acids. The alkaline wash liquors obtained by treating the oils with aqueous alkali such as caustic soda, alone or containing litharge, are acidified, the oily layer separated, alkali added if necessary, and sulphur dissolved therein. When strong acids are employed for the acidification, the separated oil will contain naphthenic acids and, after washing with water, may be neutralized with a weak alkali, e.g. Na2CO3, to form salts thereof. With weak acids such as CO2 or H2S, alkali carbonates or sulphides are obtained which, by addition of sulphur, form polysulphides. The salts of the naphthenic acids will not, however, be decomposed. Solution of the sulphur is facilitated by heating up to 50 or 60 DEG C. The tendency of the products to deposit an aqueous layer may be prevented by adding further emulsifying agent. Additional quantities of the phenolic and organic sulphur compounds obtained from alkaline wash liquors, for instance in the manner described in Specification 386,977, may be incorporated. The compounds obtained by this same prior process may also be used as starting materials in the present process. Phenolic bodies derived from coal tar may be included in the compositions. According to examples, each gallon of the oil derived from spent wash liquors in the treatment of cracked petroleum has 0,4-0,5 lb. sulphur, and 1,2-1,3 lb. soap, made from coconut oil fatty acids and containing 36 per cent water, incorporated therewith.