IT202100002042A1 - HERBICIDAL COMPOSITION - Google Patents

Description

Title:

HERBICIDAL COMPOSITION

DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a novel herbicidal composition comprising a carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite, and a herbicidal component comprising glyphosate and/or a salt thereof.

STATE OF THE ART

Are herbicides used in agricultural and livestock ecosystems to reduce plant density? of weeds and promote the growth of desirable species. On the other hand, more and more Attention ? been dedicated to the use of herbicides and, in general, of pesticides, taking different approaches such as the use of formulations containing fewer pesticides but with the aim of reaching weeds in a well-defined way. Herbicides can also help decrease mosquito breeding coverage while improving public health.

In many weed control applications, ? appreciated selective control of unwanted vegetation without lesion or concomitant damage to desirable vegetation. In applications, complete control of a broad spectrum (non-selective) action would be desirable. However, the heavy use of herbicides has given rise to serious environmental and public health problems. ? therefore it is important to develop new formulations of herbicides that are highly effective but at the same time safe (for the worker and for the environment).

The encapsulation ? been proposed and used to address the problem of increasing worker safety and reducing damage to crop foliage through controlled herbicide release and a number of different solutions have been proposed in this regard. For example, EP2395843 relates to herbicidal microcapsules comprising herbicide as core material and a shell wall encapsulating the core material, and WO2020128511 relates to a method of encapsulating a pesticide (e.g. glyphosate) by means of a polymeric microcapsule.

However, the presence of synthetic polymeric microcapsules raises some concerns due to the spread of microplastics in the environment; the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), for example in October 2018, presented a communication regarding the assessment of the need for of a REACH restriction on intentional uses of "microplastic" particles in the environment.

Glyphosate? widely known as a non-selective and systemic herbicide (it moves from treated foliage to other plant parts, including roots), but recently ? Attention has been paid to its toxicological and environmental safety profile.

Other herbicides alternative to glyphosate are also? notice.

For example, C7-C20 fatty acids are used in currently available herbicidal compositions, such as a blend of caprylic and capric acids reported by , marketed under the name Suppress?. Pelargonic acid (C9) ? otherwise? It is used as a herbicide to prevent the growth of weeds both indoors and out and as a fine bud for pear and apple trees and its activity is herbicide ? reported by (2019)

Oxifluorfen, a herbicide belonging to the chemical class of nitrodiphenyl ethers, is a selective herbicide used above all for the weed control of citrus fruits, olive trees and sunflowers, both in pre-emergence and in early post-emergence against annual and perennial dicotyledonous weeds.

Natural products such as bioactive products with activity? pesticide but able to degrade easily in the environment in order to minimize or eliminate environmental pollution are also? well known in the literature (IN20161108872, US20150086656, Econom. Entomology (2019),112(1) ,164-172,

Molecules (2020), 25 (19, 59).

While said alternative herbicides to glyphosate are known to be readily degradable in the environment so as to minimize or eliminate environmental pollution and are examples of herbicides with promising toxicological and environmental safety profile, they are less effective than glyphosate.

The Applicant has therefore perceived that highly effective but at the same time safe (for the worker and for the environment) herbicides capable of overcoming the technical and environmental limitations and disadvantages of the prior art are still needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Applicant has surprisingly discovered that the technical and environmental limits and the drawbacks of the prior art can be overcome through a new herbicidal composition comprising an ecologically compatible carrier based on carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite which allows to significantly reduce the effective dosage of glyphosate, alone or in combination with further herbicides and natural active ingredients, thus obtaining an environmentally friendly composition capable of showing at the same time a high activity? herbicide.

The present invention, therefore, in a first aspect relates to a herbicidal composition comprising:

a carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite having the formula (I):

in which y ? between 0.01 and 2; And

a herbicidal component comprising from 2 to 90% by weight, based on the weight of the carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite, of glyphosate and/or a salt thereof.

In fact, the Applicant has advantageously found that the carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite of formula (I) above improves the effectiveness of a herbicidal component comprising glyphosate and/or a salt thereof, resulting in a herbicidal composition with high activity. herbicide, which makes it possible to reduce the effective dosage of glyphosate and thus provide an environmentally friendly herbicidal composition capable of showing high activity at the same time herbicide.

In further aspects, the present invention also relates the use of any of the compositions according to the invention, as an indoor or outdoor herbicide, and a method for controlling weeds, comprising the step of treating a substrate which requires treatment with the herbicidal composition according to the invention.

The advantages of this use and this method are already? have been outlined with reference to and are apparent by considering the above herbicidal composition according to the first aspect of the invention and are not repeated below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, therefore, in a first aspect relates to a herbicidal composition comprising:

a carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite having the formula (I):

in which y ? between 0.01 and 2; And

a herbicidal component comprising from 2 to 90% by weight, based on the weight of the carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite, of glyphosate and/or a salt thereof.

In fact, the Applicant has advantageously found that the carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite of formula (I) above improves the effectiveness of a herbicidal component comprising glyphosate and/or a salt thereof, resulting in a herbicidal composition with high activity. herbicide, which makes it possible to reduce the effective dosage of glyphosate and thus provide an environmentally friendly herbicide composition capable of showing high activity at the same time. herbicide.

Within the scope of this description and the subsequent claims, except where otherwise indicated, all entities numerical that express quantity?, parameters, percentages, and cos? via, must be understood as preceded in all cases by the term "about". Also, all ranges of entities? numerics include all possible combinations of the maximum and minimum values, and include all possible intermediate ranges, in addition to those specifically noted below in this document.

The present invention can present in one or more of the above aspects one or more? of the features disclosed below.

The herbicidal composition according to the invention comprises a carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite having the formula (I):

in which y ? between 0.01 and 2.

Preferably, y ? between 0.1 and 1.2 pi? preferably between 0.2 and 0.8.

Preferably, the composition according to the invention comprises, in relation to the total weight of the composition, from 2% to 70% by weight, plus? preferably from 5% to 50% by weight, and optimally from 10 to 20% by weight of said carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite.

Preferably, said carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite has a degree of crystallinity between 25% and 59%, pi? preferably between 25% and 40%. Said degree of crystallinity? can? be determined by XRD measurements as in

Europ. Ceramic Soc. 23(2003), 2931-2937.

The herbicidal composition according to the invention comprises a herbicidal component comprising from 2 to 90% by weight, based on the weight of the carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite, of glyphosate and/or a salt thereof.

Preferably, said glyphosate salt ? selected from the group consisting of isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, trimesium salt of glyphosate, ammonium salt of glyphosate, diammonium salt of glyphosate, monoethanolamine salt of glyphosate, sodium salt of glyphosate, potassium salt of glyphosate, guanidine salt of glyphosate , and mixtures thereof.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the herbicidal composition according to the invention comprises glyphosate as an isopropylamine salt.

Preferably, the herbicidal composition according to the invention comprises from 5 to 70% by weight, plus? preferably from 10% to 40% by weight, based on the weight of the hydroxyapatite substituted with carbonate, of glyphosate and/or of a salt thereof.

Preferably, the herbicidal component of the herbicidal composition according to the invention comprises oxyfluorfen.

The Applicant has in fact discovered that a herbicidal composition according to the present invention also comprising oxifluorfen as a herbicide component ? very effective, since? Oxifluorfen combines very effectively with glyphosate products, increasing their absorption and thereby reducing the effective dose of use.

Preferably, the herbicidal composition according to the invention comprises from 0.1 to 40% by weight, plus? preferably from 0.5% to 20% by weight, with respect to the weight of the hydroxyapatite substituted with carbonate, of oxyfluorfen.

Preferably, in the herbicidal composition according to the invention the weight ratio between oxyfluorfen and glyphosate and/or a salt thereof is ? between 1 and 4, pi? preferably between 1 and 2.

The Applicant has in fact discovered that in the above weight ratio ranges, the performances of the herbicide composition according to the invention are even better than the others. improve.

Preferably, the herbicidal composition according to the present invention comprises at least one bioactive compound selected from the group consisting of: an aromatic plant extract, or a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of: C7-C22 saturated or unsaturated fatty acid, a salt thereof or a derivative.

Preferably, the composition according to the present invention comprises, based on the weight of the carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite, from 0.01 to 25% by weight, plus? preferably from 1% to 15% by weight of said at least one aromatic vegetable extract.

Preferably, said at least a plant extract ? selected from the group consisting of extracts of Abies sibirica, Malpighia glabra, Achillea millefolium. Allium sativum, Medicago sativa, Aloe vera, Artemisia annua, Arnica montana, Ocimum basilicum, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Calendula officinalis, Matricaria chamomilla, Chamaemelum nobile, Cinnamomum verum, Gotu kola, Chelidonium majus, Syzygium aromaticum, Allium cepa, Equisetum arvense , Curcuma longa, Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, Eucalyptus globulus, Hypericum perforatum, Fucus vesiculosus, Glycine max, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Gentiana lutea, Lavandula angustifolia, Linen seed, Melilotus officinalis, Melissa officinalis, Punica granatum, Mentha piperita, Vaccinium myrtillus, Origanum vulgaris, Orthosiphon stamineus, Urtica dioica, Olea Europeae, Tabebuia impetiginosa, Plantago lanceolata, Hieracium pilosella, Pinus sibirica, Polypodium leucotoms, Citrus lemon, Citrus sinensis, Citrus paradisi, Quassia amara, Rheum Thais, Rosa canina, Rosmarinus officinalis, Ruscus aculeatus, Salix alba, Salvia officinalis, Salvia rosmarinus, Sesamus indicum, Camellia sinensis, Tilia tomentosa, Thymus vulgaris, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Valeriana officinalis, Solidago virgaurea, Loranthus europaeus, Zingiber officinalis.

Pi? preferably, said at least one aromatic plant extract ? selected from the group consisting of extracts of Cinnamomum verum, Mentha piperita, Lavandula angustifolia, Syzygium aromaticum.

Preferably, said aromatic plant extract can be used for the preparation of the composition according to the present invention, in the form of a powder or as a hydroalcoholic extract.

Preferably, the composition according to the present invention comprises, based on the weight of the carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite, from 0.01 to 80% by weight, plus? preferably from 10% to 60% by weight of said at least one aromatic plant extract.

Preferably, said carboxylic acid ? selected from the group consisting of: Caprylic acid, capric acid, pelargonic acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, behenic acid, their glycine salts, calcium, potassium , sodium, their monoglycerides, diglycerides, their monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides or mixtures thereof. Pi? preferably, called carboxylic acid ? selected from the group consisting of: caprylic acid, capric acid, pelargonic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, oleic acid as well as? their potassium salts, their monoglycerides and diglycerides, or mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the composition according to the present invention comprises at least one further component selected from the group consisting of: a surfactant, a dispersant, a thickener, a pH modifier, an antifreeze agent, an anti-mold agent, an antioxidant agent, a synergistic, a sex pheromone, a kairomone.

Preferably, said at least one further component ? present in a quantity comprised between 0.1% and 10% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the herbicidal composition.

Preferably, said surfactant ? selected from the group consisting of: anionic surfactant or nonionic surfactant. Said anionic surfactant ? preferably selected from the group consisting of dodecylbenzene sulfonate and sodium lauryl sarcosinate. Said nonionic surfactant ? preferably selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated tristyrylphenol, ethoxylated fatty alcohol, decyl octyl glycosides.

Preferably, said dispersant ? sodium lignin sulfonate.

Preferably, said thickener ? xanthan gum.

Preferably. said pH modifier ? citric acid

Preferably, said anti-freezing agent ? propylene glycol.

Preferably, said anti-mold agent ? benzoisothiazolinone.

Preferably, said antioxidant agent ? butyl hydroxy toluene (BHT).

Preferably, said synergistic agent ? piperonyl butoxide.

The advantages and preferred characteristics of the herbicidal composition according to the present invention are already have been outlined with reference to prior art compositions for herbicide treatment.

In this regard, the Applicant has also discovered that the substituted hydroxyapatite carbonate of formula (I) above ? particularly and even more effective in the activity? herbicide on plants indoors or outdoors, and for a method of weed control.

As an illustrative but non-limiting example, the herbicidal composition allows to control weeds as follows: Broadleaf weeds such as Amaranthus spp., Ammj maius , Anagalis arvensis , Calendula arvensis, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Chenopodium spp., Chrysanthemum spp. , Datura stramonium, Fallopia convolvolus, Galinsoga parviflora, Lamium purpureum, Matricharia chamomilla, Myagrum spp., mercurialis annua, Oxalis spp., Papaver rhoseas , Poilgomum spp., Picris echioides, Portulaca oleracea, Rahanus raphanistrum, Rapisthrum rugosus, Rumex spp., Sinapis arvensis, Solanum nigrum, Sochus oleraceus, Stachys spp., Stallaria media, Urtica spp., Veronica spp., Xantium spp.,

The herbicidal composition also allows? to control weeds such as Avena spp., Alopecurus spp., Digitariasanguilis, Echinocloa spp., Lolium spp., Setaria spp.,

In further aspects, the present invention also relates also the use of any of the compositions according to the invention, as an indoor or outdoor herbicide, and a method for controlling weeds, comprising the step of treating a substrate which requires treatment with the herbicidal composition according to the invention.

The advantages of this use and this method are already? have been outlined with reference to and are apparent by considering the above herbicidal composition according to the first aspect of the invention and are not repeated below.

In the method for controlling weeds comprising the step of treating a substrate which needs treatment with the herbicidal composition according to the invention said substrate ? preferably a plant.

Preferably, said treatment step comprises spraying said herbicidal composition on said substrate.

Preferably, in said step of treating the herbicidal composition according to the invention is used at an application rate in the range of 0.032 to 0.130 g/square meter of glyphosate.

Further features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following description of some of its preferred embodiments, given below by way of non-limiting example with reference to the following experimental part.

EXPERIMENTAL PART

EXAMPLE 1 (Reference)

Preparation of carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite

Carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite was prepared by mixing 225 g of an aqueous solution of phosphoric acid (obtained from 130 g of 75% (% w/w) phosphoric acid and 96 g of water) and 805 g of a mixture of hydroxide of calcium (125 g) and calcium carbonate (15 g) previously dispersed in 670 g of water. The mixture was maintained at room temperature for 11 hours, obtaining a suspension containing 16% (w/w) of hydroxyapatite substituted with carbonate.

Example 2

Preparation of a suspension of hydroxyapatite substituted with carbonate to which ? added isopropylamine salt of glyphosate

To 100 g of the suspension containing 16% carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite according to Example 1, 2.45 g of isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, 8 g of ethoxylated fatty alcohol and 8 g of xanthan gum were added. The herbicide composition cos? obtained contained 13.5%, based on the total weight of the herbicidal composition, of carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite and 15.3%, based on the weight of carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite, of isopropylamine salt of glyphosate and was then diluted under stirring with water until 1000g. The suspension what? obtained contained 1.6% carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite and 0.245% isopropylamine salt of glyphosate.

Example 3

Preparation of a suspension of hydroxyapatite substituted with carbonate to which ? added isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, pelargonic acid, oxifluorfen and Syzygium aromaticum extract

To 100 g of the suspension containing 16% carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite according to Example 1, 2.45 g of isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, 5.1 g of pelargonic acid, 1.6 g of oxifluorfen, 5 ml of a ethanolic solution, 3% (% w/v) of Syzygium aromaticum extract, 8 g of ethoxylated fatty alcohol and 8 g of xanthan gum. The herbicide composition cos? obtained contained 12.3%, based on the total weight of the herbicidal composition, of hydroxyapatite substituted with carbonate and 15.3%, based on the weight of hydroxyapatite substituted with carbonate, of isopropylamine salt of glyphosate and was then diluted under stirring with water until 1000g. The suspension what? obtained contained 1.6% carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite and 0.245% isopropylamine salt of glyphosate. 0.51% pelargonic acid, 0.16% oxifluorfen and 0.15% Syzygium aromaticum extract.

Example 4

Preparation of a suspension of hydroxyapatite substituted with carbonate to which ? was added isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, pelargonic acid and oxifluorfen

To 100 g of the suspension containing 16% carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite according to Example 1, 2.45 g of isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, 5.1 g of pelargonic acid and 1.6 g of oxifluorfen, 8 g of alcohol ethoxylated fat and 8 g of xanthan gum. The herbicide composition cos? obtained contained 12.7%, by the total weight of the herbicidal composition, of carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite and 15.3%, by weight of the carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite, of isopropylamine salt of glyphosate and was diluted under stirring with water to 1000g. The suspension what? obtained contained 1.6% carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite, 0.245% isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, 0.51% pelargonic acid and 0.16% oxifluorfen.

Example 5

Preparation of a suspension of hydroxyapatite substituted with carbonate to which ? added isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, pelargonic acid and Syzygium aromaticum extract

To 100 g of the suspension containing 16% carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite according to Example 1, 2.45 g of isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, 5.1 g of pelargonic acid, 5 ml of an ethanol solution, 3% (% w/v) of Syzygium aromaticum extract, 8 g of ethoxylated fatty alcohol and 8 g of xanthan gum. The herbicide composition cos? obtained contained 12.4%, by the total weight of the herbicidal composition, of carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite and 15.3%, by weight of the carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite, of isopropylamine salt of glyphosate and was diluted under stirring with water to 1000 g of the total suspension. The suspension what? obtained contained 1.6% carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite, 0.245% isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, 0.51% pelargonic acid, and 0.15% Syzygium aromaticum extract.

Comparative examples

The following products were used as comparative examples:

A. Roundup commercial product containing isopropylamine salt of glyphosate at 9.6 g/litre, corresponding to 0.0096 g/ml;

B. Commercial product Roundup so? diluted: 100 ml of Roundup was diluted with water up to 400 ml obtaining a solution containing isopropylamine salt of glyphosate at a concentration of 0.0024 g/ml.

EXAMPLE 6

Activities herbicide

The weed Fallopia convolvulus monocots was placed in wood fiber plots (2 square meters) in sandy silt soil, covered with soil, and grown in the greenhouse under good growing conditions. 3 weeks after sowing, the test plants were treated to the single leaf stage. The compositions according to the invention, formulated in the form of an aqueous suspension, were sprayed on the green parts of the plant as an aqueous suspension at an application rate of 20 ml per square metre. After the test plants had remained in the greenhouse for 3 weeks under excellent growing conditions, the effect of the compositions 2 weeks after spraying was evaluated visually in comparison with the untreated controls (herbicidal effect in percent (%): effect 100% = plants died effect 0% = similar control plants)

Table 1 shows the results. As the results show, the composition according to the invention showed good weed-killing activity. pre-sowing herbicide against the weed Fallopia convolvolus.

*CHA = carbonate substituted hydroxyapatite; **Gly = isopropylamine salt of glyphosate;

*** Pel. = pelargonic acid; **** sample of 2 square meters untreated

Claims (22)

CLAIMS 1. A herbicidal composition comprising: a carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite having the formula (I): in which y ? between 0.01 and 2; And a herbicidal component comprising from 2 to 90% by weight, based on the weight of the carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite, of glyphosate and/or a salt thereof. 2. The herbicidal composition according to claim 1, wherein y? between 0.1 and 1.2. 3. The herbicidal composition according to claim 2, wherein y? between 0.2 and 0.8. 4. The herbicidal composition according to any one of claims from 1 to 3, comprising from 2% to 70% by weight, based on the weight of the composition, of said hydroxyapatite substituted with carbonate. 5. The herbicidal composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite has a degree of crystallinity? between 25% and 59%. 6. The herbicidal composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said glyphosate salt is selected from the group consisting of isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, trimesium salt of glyphosate, ammonium salt of glyphosate, diammonium salt of glyphosate, monoethanolamine salt of glyphosate, sodium salt of glyphosate, potassium salt of glyphosate, guanidine salt of glyphosate , and mixtures thereof. The herbicidal composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising from 5 to 70% by weight, based on the weight of the carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite, of glyphosate and/or a salt thereof. 8. The herbicidal composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said herbicidal component comprises oxyfluorfen. The herbicidal composition according to claim 8, comprising from 0.1 to 40% by weight, based on the weight of the hydroxyapatite substituted with oxyfluorfen carbonate. 10. The herbicidal composition according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the weight ratio between oxyfluorfen and glyphosate and/or a salt thereof is? between 1 and 4. The herbicidal composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said composition comprises at least one bioactive compound selected from the group consisting of: an aromatic plant extract, or a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of: C7-C22 fatty acid saturated or unsaturated, a salt or a derivative thereof. 12. The herbicidal composition according to claim 11, comprising from 0.01 to 25% by weight, based on the weight of the hydroxyapatite substituted with carbonate, of said aromatic plant extract. 13. The herbicidal composition according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said at least one aromatic plant extract is selected from the group which consists of extracts of Abies sibirica, Malpighia glabra, Achillea millefolium. Allium sativum, Medicago sativa, Aloe vera, Artemisia annua, Arnica montana, Ocimum basilicum, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Calendula officinalis, Matricaria chamomilla, Chamaemelum nobile, Cinnamomum verum, Gotu kola, Chelidonium majus, Syzygium aromaticum, Allium cepa, Equisetum arvense , Curcuma longa, Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, Eucalyptus globulus, Hypericum perforatum, Fucus vesiculosus, Glycine max, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Gentiana lutea, Lavandula angustifolia, Linen seed, Melilotus officinalis, Melissa officinalis, Punica granatum, Mentha piperita, Vaccinium myrtillus, Origanum vulgaris, Orthosiphon stamineus, Urtica dioica, Olea Europeae, Tabebuia impetiginosa, Plantago lanceolata, Hieracium pilosella, Pinus sibirica, Polypodium leucotoms, Citrus lemon, Citrus sinensis, Citrus paradisi, Quassia amara, Rheum Thais, Rosa canina, Rosmarinus officinalis, Ruscus aculeatus, Salix alba, Salvia officinalis, Salvia rosmarinus, Sesamus indicum, Camellia sinensis, Tilia tomentosa, Thymus vulgaris, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Valeriana officinalis, Solidago virgaurea, Loranthus europaeus, Zingiber officinalis. 14. The herbicidal composition according to claim 13, wherein said at least one aromatic plant extract is selected from the group which consists of extracts of Cinnamomum verum, Mentha piperita, Lavandula angustifolia, Syzygium aromaticum. The herbicidal composition according to any one of claims 11 to 14, comprising from 0.01 to 80% by weight, based on the weight of the carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite, of at least one carboxylic acid. 16. The herbicidal composition according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein said carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of: Caprylic acid, capric acid, pelargonic acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, behenic acid, their glycine salts, calcium, potassium, sodium, their monoglycerides, diglycerides, their monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides or mixtures thereof. 17. The herbicidal composition according to claim 16, wherein said carboxylic acid is selected from the group which consists of: Caprylic acid, capric acid, pelargonic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, oleic acid as well as? their potassium salts, their monoglycerides and diglycerides, or mixtures thereof. 18. A use of the composition according to any one of claims 1 to 17, as a herbicide in closed or open environment. A method of controlling weeds, comprising the step of treating a substrate requiring treatment with the composition according to any one of claims 1 to 17. 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said substrate is a plant. The method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein said treating step comprises spraying said photostable composition onto said substrate. 22. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein in said step of treating the herbicidal composition ? used an application rate in the range of 0.032 to 0.130 g/square meter of glyphosate.