NZ518538A

NZ518538A - Novel pesticidal and/or growth-regulating compositions comprising a specific nonionic surface-active agent

Info

Publication number: NZ518538A
Application number: NZ518538A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Francois Farre; Christian Segaud; Robert Zerrouk
Original assignee: Aventis Cropscience S
Priority date: 1999-10-29
Filing date: 2000-10-26
Publication date: 2004-08-27
Also published as: UA73533C2; EA200200500A1; WO2001030147A1; EA005594B1; ES2214327T3; DK1223807T3; EP1223807B1; DZ3224A1; PL354711A1; CN1387403A; PT1223807E; BR0014834A; AU777850B2; BG106711A; ATE255811T1; SK287619B6; BG65268B1; ZA200203176B; MA25508A1; CA2388347A1

Abstract

Pesticide and/or growth regulating compositions for plants is disclosed, wherein the composition comprises: A) one or more pesticidal and/or growth regulating active materials for harmful plants, insects or animals, with the exception of diniconazole; B) a specific nonionic surfactant comprising two different chemical components: 1) whereof the molecular mass ranges between 200 and 3000 g/mol; 2) whereof the dynamic tension, measured in water, at a concentration of 0.4 g per liter at a frequency of 10 Hz, ranges between 35 and 73 mN/m; 3) and each chemical component comprising: 3(i) a hydrophobic part selected among the C13 oxo alcohol groups; isodecyl-isodecyl-hydroxy alcohol; C12-C14 linear alcohols; C16-C18 linear alcohols; lauryl alcohol; myristic alcohol; do-and/or tetradecanols; distyrylphenol-di(1-phenylethyl) phenols; nonylphenols; acetylenediols; tri-decyclic alcohols; and whereof the molar mass ranges between 100 and 1500 g/mol; 3(ii) a hydrophilic part selected among a poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) radical and a poly(oxy-1,2-propanediyl) radical, whereof the molar mass ranges between 80 and 2000 g/mol; 4) the difference in molar mass of the hydrophobic parts of said two chemical components is less than 140 g/mol; and that 5) the difference in molar mass of the hydrophilic parts of these two chemical components is less than 360 g/mol.

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number 518538 1 518538 Novel pesticide and/or growth regulating compositions with particular non-ionic surfactant DESCRIPTION 5 pesticidal and/or growth-regulating compositions for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals employing a specific nonionic surface-active agent; said compositions are of use in particular in the fields of agriculture and/or of public or domestic hygiene via 10 treatment or protection processes; said surface-active agent as such also forming part of the present invention; as well as said treatment or protection processes. 15 regulating active materials or substances for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals, of use in particular in the fields of agriculture and/or of public or domestic hygiene, are known, for example from patents or patent applications EP-418 016, 20 US-5 304 566, US-3 716 600, W0/05050, EP-201 852, US-3 845 172, and the like. materials cannot be employed alone or pure, in particular for obvious reasons of concentration, of 25 ease of handling or of applicational restrictions. The present invention relates to novel A great many pesticidal and/or growth- However, most of the time, said active Said active materials are therefore generally combined or mixed with other substances to form formulations or compositions, that is to say that | INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY J OFPICB OF N.Z I 15 JUL 2034 2 ? RECEIVED various compounds, such as, for example, fillers, stabilizing agents, emulsifying agents or surface-active agents, or other adjuvants or additives, are generally added thereto. 5 In formulations or compositions of this type, said surface-active agents are generally chosen for their emulsifying and/or dispersing and/or stabilizing properties, for example to make possible improved behavior on storage. 10 One field in which said surface-active agents can play a predominant role, when employed in compositions, is that of the application, in particular by spraying, of these compositions. Nevertheless, and despite the use of surface-15 active agents, the application of said compositions often comes up against the problem of the more or less wetting nature of the composition to be applied. Likewise, another problem frequently encountered during the application of compositions, for 20 example by spraying, is the tendency of the droplets of said compositions applied to rebound from or to ricochet off the application surface and thus to result in a waste of composition and in a dispersion of composition in the environment, a dispersion to be 25 avoided for easily understandable ecological reasons and for just as understandable economic reasons. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide compositions which employ one or more i INTELLECTUAL- PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z 15 JUL 203^ 3 • I RECEIVED pesticidal and/or growth-regulating active materials for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals and which have a high wetting nature; and/or to provide compositions which employ one or more pesticidal and/or growth-regulating active materials and which make possible an application, in particular by spraying, of the most effective; and/or to provide compositions which are of use in the fields of agriculture and/or of public or domestic hygiene and which have a reduced dynamic tension, which notion will be expanded upon subsequently; and/or to provide compositions which are of use in the fields of agriculture and/or of public or domestic hygiene and which have a substantially improved bioavailability of the pesticidal and/or growth-regulating active material employed; and/or to provide pesticidal and/or growth-regulating compositions which employ a specific nonionic surface-active agent, it being possible for said compositions in particular to show good stability during long periods of storage and, thus, to make it possible for the active material employed to remain highly effective; and/or to provide protection and/or treatment methods, in particular for the protection and/or treatment of crops and/or seeds, employing the compositions according to the invention; and/or to provide such methods with performances which make possible a reduction in the amount of active material applied, a particularly advantageous asset for easily understandable ecological reasons; and/or to provide a specific nonionic surface-active agent conprising several chemical components, said surface-active agent having a particularly advantageous wettability; and/or to provide a specific nonionic surface-active agent which exhibits a reduced dynamic tension; and/or to provide a specific nonionic surface-active agent which can, for example, be advantageously employed in the presence of ionic substances, either anionic or cationic substances; and/or to at least provide the public with a useful choice. It has now been found that these objectives can be achieved in all or part by virtue of the various aspects of the present invention, in particular by means of compositions according to the invention, or by means of a specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention, or via a process for | 'NTEL^|^^^PftOPERTY I 1 5 JUL 2004 5 employing said compositions or said surface-active agent; likewise, other subject matters or advantages of the present invention may become apparent during the detailed description to come of the various aspects of 5 said invention. aspect of the present invention relates to pesticidal and/or growth-regulating compositions for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals, of use in 10 particular in the fields of agriculture and/or of public or domestic hygiene, characterized in that they comprise An essential and very particularly preferred A) one or more pesticidal and/or growth-regulating active materials for harmful plants and/or insects 15 and/or animals, with the exception of diniconazole; B) a specific nonionic surface-active agent comprising two different chemical components Bi) the molecular mass of which is between 200 and 3 000 g/mol, preferably between 300 and 20 1 000 g/mol; B2) the dynamic tension of which, measured in water at a concentration of 0.4 g per liter and at a frequency of 10 Hz, is between 35 and 73 mN/m; 25 B3) and each chemical component comprising B3(i) a hydrophobic part chosen from the following groups: C13 oxo alcohols; a-isodecyl-co-hydroxyisodecyl alc~1—n— 6 linear C12-C14 alcohols; linear C16-C18 alcohols; lauryl alcohol; myristyl alcohol; do- and/or tetradecanols; distyrylphenol-di(1-phenylethyl)phenols; 5 nonylphenols; acetylenediols, in particular 2,4,7,9-tetramethyldeca-5-yne; tridecyl alcohols; and the molar mass of which is between 100 and 1 500 g/mol, preferably between 150 and 10 400 g/mol; B3(ii) a hydrophilic part chosen from a poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) radical and/or a poly(oxy-1,2-propanediyl) radical, the molar mass of which is between 80 and 15 2 000 g/mol, preferably between 100 and 900 g/mol; and such that B4) the difference in molar masses of the hydrophobic parts of these two chemical components is less than 140 g/mol; and that 20 B5) the difference in molar masses of the hydrophilic parts of these two chemical components is less than 360 g/mol. Preferably, the active material or materials employed in the compositions according to the invention 25 are present in amounts generally of between 0.0001 and 99%, preferably between 0.5 and 70%, by weight of said compositions. Other advantageous forms of compositions 7 (followed by page 7a) according to the invention are the compositions in the dilute form; preferably, these dilute compositions comprise between 0.0001 and 10% of active material. Other even more advantageous forms of 5 compositions according to the invention are the compositions in the concentrated forms; preferably, these concentrated compositions comprise between 15 and 99% of active material. In a particularly advantageous way, the 10 specific nonionic surface-active agent employed in the compositions according to the invention is present in amounts generally of between 1 and 99.9999%, preferably between 5 and 80%, by weight of said compositions. Very advantageously, the two chemical 15 components comprised by the specific nonionic surface-active agent employed Within the compositions according to the invention are generally present in respective amounts such that the molar ratio of said amounts is between 1/99 and 99/1, preferably between.25/75 and 20 75/25. However, a molar ratio of said amounts of between 40/60 and 60/40 is generally preferred. Throughout the present text and unless otherwise specified, the amounts of the various 25 constituents employed are expressed as percentage by weight. In another aspect, the present invention provides a process for the treatment and/or protection of il"ffiLfcTUAr?FiOplRl 1 OFRCF OF N.Z I 15 JUL-2034 7a crops, characterized in that it employs the composition according to the invention. In another aspect, the present invention provides a process for treatment or protection in public or domestic hygiene, characterized in that it employs the composition according to the invention. For greater clarity of the present account, various terms or expressions employed will now be defined. Thus, within the meaning of the present text, the following are generally understood - by surface-active agent or compound, a 5 compound, a mixture of compounds, an association or a combination of compounds which can have surface-active and/or wettability properties of use in particular for modifying, decreasing, increasing or controlling the surface tension of a composition according to the 10 invention, as well as for modifying, decreasing, increasing or controlling the wetting nature of such a composition; - by surface tension or static surface tension of a composition according to the invention, 15 the tension which can exist between the liquid surface of such a composition and the gas, generally air, surrounding and/or surmounting said surface; thus, the surface of said liquid acts as if it were a taut skin or as if such a taut skin existed at the liquid/gas or 20 liquid/solid interface; - by wetting nature or wettability property, expressions employed without distinction to describe the compositions according to the invention in the continuation of the present text, the ability of a 25 droplet of composition, deposited on the surface of a solid, to spread to a greater or lesser extent according to whether said composition wets or does not wet the solid; 9 - by dynamic tension or dynamic surface tension, the ability of a liquid composition, in particular of a composition according to the invention in combination with a liquid carrier, to make possible, 5 in particular during the spraying of such a liquid composition, the faster or slower migration of said composition according to the invention to the water/air interface of the droplets formed; said dynamic tension or dynamic surface tension advantageously having a low 10 value, a guarantee in particular of a reduction in the losses of liquid composition applied, for example by spraying, said losses being generally due to the rebound of the droplets from the application surface; - by bioavailability of the active material 15 employed in a composition according to the invention, the available nature of said active material which renders it as effective as possible in its pesticidal and/or growth-regulating role for harmful plants and/or insects or animals; thus, for a fixed amount of active 20 material, the biological activity of the latter can vary very widely according to said bioavailability of this active material in the composition employed. Generally, surface-active agents or compounds are chemical molecules, the structures of which 25 generally comprise two parts with antagonistic properties with respect to the surrounding environment. Thus, said molecules generally comprise a part referred to as hydrophobic, as having little affinity for water, 10 and a part referred to as hydrophilic, thus described for its high affinity for water. As said hydrophilic part can sometimes carry an electric charge, the surface-active agent is then often described as anionic 5 or cationic and, if appropriate, as nonionic surface-active agent when said hydrophilic part does not carry any ionic chemical group. Preferably and according to requirements, the nature of the diseases to be treated, of the harmful 10 insects and/or animals and/or plants to be combated, destroyed or eradicated, according to the degrees of infestation by these pests, the climatic and/or edaphic conditions, the compositions according to the invention can comprise several pesticidal and/or growth-15 regulating active materials for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals in combination, in particular of the following types: fungicide and/or insecticide and/or acaricide and/or rodenticide and/or nematocide and/or repellent for harmful insects and/or animals 20 and/or growth regulator for plants and/or insects, and/or one or more active materials of herbicide type. Generally, the pesticidal and/or growth-regulating active material or materials which the compositions according to the invention can comprise 25 are those cited in any general work on plant protection, for example L'Index Phytosanitaire (published by the technical department of the Association de Coordination Technique Agricole 11 [Agricultural Technical Coordination Association] or A.C.T.A.) or The Pesticide Manual (of the British Crop Protection Council, edited by Clive Tomlin) or alternatively The Electronic Pesticide Manual, version 5 1.0 (of the British Crop Protection Council, edited by Clive Tomlin). Mention may be made, among the insecticidal, acaricidal or nematocidal active materials which can be employed, alone or in combination with other active 10 materials, in particular pesticides, in the compositions according to the invention, of Abamectin; Acephate; Acetamiprid; oleic acid; Acrinathrin; Aldicarb; Alanycarb; Allethrin [(1R)-isomers]; a-Cypermethrin; Amitraz; Azadirachtin, Azamethiphos; 15 Azinphos-ethyl; Azinphos-methyl; Bacillus thuringiensis; Bendiocarb; Benfuracarb; Bensultap; Beta-cyfluthrin; Beta-cypermethrin; Bifenthrin; Bioallathrin; Bioallethrin (S-cyclopentenyl isomer); Bioresmethrin; Borax; Buprofezin; Butocarboxim; 20 Butoxycarboxim; piperonyl butoxide; Cadusafos; Carbaryl; Carbofuran; Carbosulfan; Cartap; Cartap hydrochloride; Chlordane; Chorethoxyfos; Chlorfenapyr; Chlorfenvinphos; Chlorfluazuron; Chlormephos; Chloropicrin; Chlorpyrifos; Chlorpyrifos-methyl; 2 5 mercurous chloride; Coumaphos; Cryolite; Cryomazine; Cyanophos; calcium cyanide; sodium cyanide; Cycloprothrin; Cyfluthrin; Cyhalothrin; Cypermethrin; Cyphenothrin [(1R)-trans-isomers]; Dazomet; DDT; 12 Deltamethrin; Demeton-S-methyl; Diafenthiuron; Diazinon; ethylene dibromide; ethylene dichloride, Dichlorvos; Dicrotophos; Diflubenzuron; Dimethoate; Dimethylvinphos; Diofenolan; Disulfoton; DNOC; DPX-5 JW062 and DP; Empenthrin [(EZ)-(1R)-isomers]; Endosulfan; ENT 8184; EPN; Esfenvalerate; Ethiofencarb; Ethion; Ethiprole with the chemical name 5-amino- 3-cyano-l-(2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)- 4-ethylsulfinylpyrazole; Ethoprophos; Etofenprox; 10 Etrimfos; Famphur; Fenitrothion; Fenobucarb; Fenoxycarb; Fenpropathrin; Fenthion; Fenvalerate; Fipronil; Flucycloxuron; Flucythrinate; Flufenoxuron; Flufenprox; Flumethrin; Fluofenprox; sodium fluoride; sulfuryl fluoride; Fonofos; Formetanate; Formetanate 15 hydrochloride; Formothion; Furathiocarb; Gamma-HCH; GY-81; Halofenozide; Heptachlor; Heptenophos; Hexaflumuron; sodium hexafluorosilicate; tar oils; petroleum oils; Hydramethylnon; hydrogen cyanide; Hydroprene; Imidacloprid; Imiprothrin; Isazofos; 20 Isofenphos; Isoprocarb; methyl isothiocyanal; Isoxathion; lambda-Cyhalothrin; pentachlorophenyl laurate; Lufenuron; Malathion; MB-599; Mecarbam; Methacrifos; Methamidophos; Methidathion; Methiocarb; Methomyl; Methoprene; Methoxychlor; Metolcarb; 25 Mevinphos; Milbemectin; Monocrotophos; Naled; nicotine; Nitenpyram; Nithiazine; Novaluron; Omethoate; Oxamyl; Oxydemeton-methyl; Paecilomyces fumosoroseus; Parathion; Parathion-methyl; pentachlorophenol; sodium 13 pentachlorophenoxide; Permethrin; Phenothrin [(1R)-trans-isomer]; Phenthoate; Phorate; Phosalone; Phosmet; Phosphamidon; phosphine; aluminum phosphide; magnesium phosphide; zinc phosphide; Phoxim; 5 Pirimicarb; Pirimiphos'-ethyl; Pirimiphos-methyl; calcium polysulfide; Prallethrin; Profenofos; Propaphos; Propetamphos; Propoxur; Prothiofos; Pyraclofos; Pyrethrins■(chrysanthemates, pyrethrates, pyrethrum); Pyretrozine; Pyridaben; Pyridaphenthion; 10 Pyrimidifen; Pyriproxyfen; Quinalphos; Resmethrin; RH-2485; Rotenone; RU 15525; S.ilafluofen; Sulcofuron-sodium; Sulfotep; Sulfuramide; Sulprofos; Tafluvalinate; Tebufenozide; Tebupirimfos; Teflubenzuron; Tefluthrin; Temephos; Terbufos; 15 Tetrachlorvinphos; Tetramethrin; Tetramethrin [(1R)-isomers]; Theta-cypermethrin; Thiocyclam; Thiocyclam hydrogen oxalate; Thiodicarb; Thiofanox; Thiometon; Tralomethrin; Transfluthrin; Triazamate; Triazophos; Trichlorfon; Triflumuron; Trimethacarb; 20 Vamidothion; XDE-105; XMC; Xylylcarb; Zeta- cypermethrin; ZXI 8901; the compound with the chemical name 3-acetyl-5-amino-l-[2,6-dichloro- 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-methylsulfinylpyrazole. Mention may be made, among the fungicidal 25 active materials which can be employed, alone or in combination with other active materials, in particular pesticides, in the compositions according to the invention, of Azaconazole; Azoxystrobin; Benalaxyl; 14 Benomyl; Bromuconazole; Captafol; Captan; Chloroneb; Chlorotalonil; Gymoxanil; Cyproconazole; Difenoconazole; Dimethomorph; Diniconazole; Dodemorph; Dodine; Epoxyconazole; Etaconazole; Famoxadone with the 5 chemical name 5-methyl-5-(4-phenoxyphenyl)- 3-(phenylamino-2,4-oxazolidinedione); Fenamidone with the chemical name 4-methyl-2-methylthio-4-phenyl-l-phenylamino-2-imidazoline-5-one and its 4-S enantiomer; Fenarimol; Fenbuconazole; Fenpropidin; 10 Fenpropimorph; Fluazinam; Flucaconazole; Fludioxonil; Flusilazole; Flusulfamide; Flutolanil; Flutriafol; Flusilazole; Folpel; Fosetyl-Al; its salts and phosphorous acid and its salts; Guazatine; Hexaconazole; Ipconazole; Iprodione; Iprovalicarb; 15 Kresoxim-methyl; Mancozeb; Maneb; Mepanipyrim; Metalaxyl; Metalaxyl-M; Metconazole; Metiram; Metiram-zinc; Oxadixyl; Penconazole; Pencycuron; Prochloraz; Procymidone; Propamocarb; Propiconazole; Pyrimethanyl; Quinoxyfen; Tebuconazole; Tetraconazole; Thiram; 20 Triadimefon; Triadimenol; Tricyclazole; Tridemorph; Trifloxystrobin; Triticonazole; Zineb and Ziram; the compounds with the chemical name methyl (E,E)-2 - (2-(1-(1-(2-pyridyl)propyloxyimino)- 1-cyclopropylmethyloxymethyl)phenyl)-3-ethoxypropenate 25 and 3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-4-chloropyrazole. Mention may be made, among the herbicidal active materials which can be employed, alone or in combination with other active materials, in particular 15 pesticides, in the compositions according to the invention, of Acetochlor; Aclonifen; Acifluorfen; Alachlor; Asulam; Atrazine; Benfluralin; Bifenox; Bromoxynil; Carbetamide; Chlortoluron; Cinosulfuron; 5 Clodinafop; Diflufenican; Dimefuron; Dinoterb; Florasulam; Fluazolate; Flucarbazone; Flufenacet; Flupyrsulfuron; Flurtamone; Glufosinate; Glyphosphate; Imazamox; Imazaquin; Imazethapyr; Iodosulfuron; Ioxynil; Isoproturon; Isoxachlortole; Isoxaflutole; 10 MCPA; Metobromuron;' Metolachlor; Metosulam; Oxadiargyl; Oxadiazon; Paraquat; Pendimethalin; Phosphonothrixin; Pretilachlor; Primisulfuron; Propaquizafop; Propazine; Pyribenzoxim; Pyridafol; Quizalofop; Sulfentrazone; Thenylchlor; Thiazopyr; Trifluralin. 15 In the compositions according to the invention, the active material or materials can exist in various physical forms, in particular in the solid form, as well as in the liquid or semi-liquid form. In addition to the active material or 20 materials and the specific nonionic surface-active agent as described above, the compositions according to the invention can comprise an inorganic or organic carrier; preferably, this carrier is in the liquid form. 25 However, solid carriers can advantageously be employed in combination or in association with the compositions according to the invention; mention may particularly be made, among these said solid carriers, 16 of clays; natural or synthetic silicates;, silicas; resins; waxes; or solid fertilizers. For the account of the present invention, inorganic or organic liquid carrier is understood to 5 mean both a solvent employed alone and a combination of several solvents. Such a combination then being composed of a solvent and of one or more cosolvents which are miscible or immiscible with one another. Use may advantageously be made, as solvents 10 employed in the compositions according to the invention, of water and/or organic solvents. It should be noted that the compositions according to the invention which make use of water as a liquid carrier exhibit the advantage of substantially 15 reducing the toxicity and/or flammability restrictions which compositions making use of organic liquid carriers may sometimes be subject to. However, and depending upon the qualities desired for the compositions according to the 20 invention, the latter can advantageously make use of organic solvents; thus, said organic solvents optionally employed for the compositions according to the invention can be protic or aprotic organic solvents, among which may be mentioned ketones; for 25 example isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone; amides, such as dimethylformamide or N,N-dimethylacetamine; cyclic solvents, such as N-methylpyrrolidone, N-octylpyrrolidone, N-dodecylpyrrolidone, 17 N-octylcaprolactone, N-dodecylcaprolactone or y-butyrolactone; or other solvents, such as dimethyl sulfoxide; or aromatic hydrocarbons, such as xylene; or esters, such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether 5 acetate, dibutyl adipate, hexyl acetate, heptyl acetate, tri(n-butyl) citrate, diethyl phthalate, or dimethyl esters of a fatty acid, in particular adipic acid or succinic acid; or alcohols, including ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, n-amyl 10 alcohol, isoamyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol or 1-methoxy-2-propanol, and the like. For the compositions according to the invention making use thereof, the amount of solvent can vary from 0.1 to 99.5%, preferably from 15 to 80%, by 15 weight of said compositions. For the compositions according to the invention which employ a solvent and one or more cosolvents, the relative amounts of these said solvents and cosolvents vary in proportions of the 20 solvent/cosolvent ratio ranging from 99/1 to 50/50. The compositions according to the invention advantageously adopt fairly numerous and varied forms; mention may in particular be made, as liquid forms, of solution concentrates; soluble concentrates; 25 emulsifiable concentrates; emulsion concentrates; or suspension concentrates; or, as solid forms, of granules; dispersible granules; powders; or wettable powders. 18 In addition, and according to requirements or the nature of the disease to be treated, of the harmful plants, insects and/or animals to be combated, destroyed or eradicated, or according to the extents of 5 infestation by these pests, or according to the climatic and/or edaphic conditions, the compositions according to the invention can comprise any other standard substance for the formulation of compositions of use in the fields of agriculture and/or of public or 10 domestic hygiene. Mention may be made, among these compounds, as examples, of adjuvants, anticaking agents, coloring agents, thickening agents, antifoaming compounds, detergent agents, such as salts of alkaline earth 15 metals, dispersing agents, basifying agents, such as bases, adhesion agents, emulsifying agents, stabilizing agents, oxidizing agents, such as free radical scavengers or catalytic destroyers of hydroperoxides, or else reducing agents, corrosion inhibitors, 20 antifreeze agents or other surface-active agents or alternatively any other substance specific to a particular use of the compositions according to the invention, in particular dispersing agents or suspending agents. 25 More generally, the compositions according to the invention can comprise any solid or liquid additive which corresponds to the usual techniques for formulating and which is acceptable, in particular, for 19 uses in the fields of agriculture and/or of public or domestic hygiene. These additives can be present, in the compositions according to the invention, in amounts of 5 between 0 and 95% by weight of said compositions. According to other advantageous forms of compositions according to the invention, the various compositions according to the invention which have just been described can also take the form of mixtures 10 prepared at the time of use, commonly described as tank mixes. These compositions according to the invention in the form of tank mixes are usually in the form of dilute insecticidal compositions. 15 Generally, these compositions according to the invention referred to as tank mixes are mixed or prepared directly in the tank of the application device. Another, very particularly advantageous, 20 aspect of the present invention relates to a specific nonionic surface-active agent as such, said surface-active agent is, in a very particularly preferred way, characterized in that it comprises two chemical components 25 1) the molecular mass of which is between 200 and 3 000 g/mol, preferably between 300 and 1 000 g/mol; 2) the dynamic tension of which, measured in water 20 at a concentration of 0.4 g per liter and at a frequency of 10 Hz, is between 35 and 73 mN/m; 3) and each comprising 3(i) a hydrophobic part chosen from the following groups: Ci3 oxo alcohols; oc-isodecyl-(j)-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol; linear C12-C14 alcohols; linear C16-C18 alcohols; lauryl alcohol; myristyl alcohol; do- and/or tetradecanols; distyrylphenol-di-(1-phenylethyl)phenols; nonylphenols; acetylenediols, in particular 2,4,7,9-tetramethyldeca-5-yne; tridecyl alcohols; and the molar mass of which is between 100 and 1 500 g/mol, preferably between 150 and 400 g/mol; 3(ii) a hydrophilic part chosen from a poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) radical and/or a poly(oxy-1,2-propanediyl) radical, the molar mass of which is between 80 and 2 000 g/mol, preferably between 100 and 900 g/mol; and such that 4) the difference in molar masses of the hydrophobic parts of these two chemical components is less than 140 g/mol; and that 5) the difference in molar masses of the hydrophilic parts of these two chemical components is less than 3 60 g/mol. The various definitions expanded upon above 21 in the introduction to the present account can be taken up for the description of said specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention, as well as for said chemical components of said surface-5 active agent, in particular as regards the dynamic tension of said chemical components. Quite advantageously, the hydrophilic part of the two chemical components which the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention 10 comprises can be chosen from ethoxylated and/or propoxylated functional groups. Said chemical components are then defined by the presence, within their chemical structure, of radicals of ethoxyl type and/or of propoxyl type, respectively represented by 15 the formulae (I) and (II) below. (I) (II) According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, said chemical components of the specific nonionic surface-active agent can also be composed of 20 hydrocarbonaceous chains comprising from 8 to 100, preferably from 12 to 50, carbon atoms, it being possible for said chains to be linear or branched. Said hydrocarbonaceous chains of these chemical components can also comprise radicals of 25 ethoxyl type and/or of propoxyl type, usually in a 22 number of between 2 and 60, preferably between 5 and 30. Advantageously, said chemical components generally have a dynamic tension of between 2 and 5 120 mN/m, preferably between 10 and 90 mN/m, the most appropriate unit of measurement for these quantities being the thousandth of a newton per meter; said dynamic tension of said chemical components of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the 10 invention usually being measured at 10 Hz, in dilution in water at a concentration of 0.4 g per liter. Mention may be made, as examples of compounds which may be chosen as chemical components of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the 15 invention, of polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated tristyrylphenol derivatives and/or polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated distyrylphenol derivatives and/or compounds of polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated 20 tri(1-arylalkyl)phenol type, for example of polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated tri(1-phenylethy1)phenol or tri(1-phenylmethy1)phenol type; of polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated di(1-arylalkyl)phenol type, for example of 25 polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated di(1-phenylethyl)phenol or di(1-phenylmethyl)phenol type; of polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated alkylphenol type, for example of polyoxyethylenated 23 and/or polyoxypropylenated nonylphenol type or of polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated octylphenol type; of polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated fatty alcohol type, in particular 5 said fatty alcohols comprising C4 to C30 hydrocarbonaceous chains, preferably C6 to C20 hydrocarbonaceous chains, and carrying functional groups of ethoxyl and/or propoxyl type; of linear alcohol type; of ethylenediol ethoxylate type; of 10 polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated isodecyl alcohol type; of silicone polyether type; of silicone compound type; or of polyoxyethylenated and/or polyoxypropylenated tridecyl alcohol type. Very advantageously, the two chemical 15 components which the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention comprises are generally present in respective amounts such that the molar ratio of said amounts is between 1/99 and 99/1, preferably between 25/75 and 75/25. 20 However, preference is generally given to a molar ratio of said amounts of between 40/60 and 60/40. Furthermore, and according to requirements, the application conditions targeted or according to the targeted wettability and/or spreading properties, or 25 according to the associated compounds, or according to the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention itself, said surface-active agent according to the invention can be employed alone or a 24 carrier, in particular an inorganic or organic liquid carrier, can be added thereto. However, solid carriers can advantageously be employed in combination or in association with the 5 specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention; mention may particularly be made, among these said solid carriers, of clays; natural or synthetic silicates; silica; resins; waxes; or solid fertilizers. 10 Very advantageously, said carrier is as described above. In particular, said inorganic or organic liquid carrier can just as easily be a solvent employed alone as a combination of several solvents. Such a 15 combination then being composed of a solvent and of one or more cosolvents which are miscible or immiscible with one another. Use may advantageously be made, as solvents optionally employed with the specific nonionic surface-20 active agent according to the invention, of water and/or organic solvents. Said optionally employed organic solvents can then be protic or aprotic organic solvents, among which may be mentioned ketones; for example isobutyl ketone 25 or cyclohexanone; amides, such as dimethylformamide or N,N-dimethylacetamine; cyclic solvents, such as N-methylpyrrolidone, N-octylpyrrolidone, N-dodecylpyrrolidone, N-octylcaprolactone, 25 N-dodecylcaprolactone or y-butyrolactone; or other solvents, such as dimethyl sulfoxide; or aromatic hydrocarbons, such as xylene; or esters, such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, dibutyl 5 adipate, hexyl acetate, heptyl acetate, tri(n-butyl) citrate, diethyl phthalate, or dimethyl esters of a fatty acid, in particular adipic acid or succinic acid; or alcohols, including ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, n-amyl alcohol, 10 isoamyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol or 1-methoxy-2-propanol, and the like. Even if the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention has been described by some of its advantageous or preferred forms, in 15 particular by the presence of two different chemical components, said surface-active agent according to the invention can also comprise one or more other additional chemical components as described above. The qualities of wettability of the specific 20 nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention can advantageously be employed in numerous fields and particularly advantageously in fields requiring the application of active materials or compounds to solid surfaces, as well as in fields 25 requiring efficient spreading of an active material or of any other compound, as well as for fields requiring good quality of dispersion of active compounds or materials, in particular within a large volume of 26 surrounding liquid. More generally, the fields which make possible advantageous use of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention can be 5 classified into two families, on the one hand fields requiring the application or the spreading, in particular of a liquid, to or over a solid surface, on the other hand fields for which active materials or products, compositions or formulations which have to 10 have a high wetting nature are employed. Thus, mention may very particularly be made, among said fields for which the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention can advantageously be employed, in combination with an 15 active material or any other compound, or within an application process comprising the preparation at the time of use of the composition or formulation to be applied, of the fields of agriculture and/or of public or domestic hygiene but also the fields of ceramics; of 20 printing; of textiles; of the paper industry; of detergency; of cosmetics; of body hygiene and of beauty; of galenicals, in particular pharmaceutical or veterinary products; and the like. Likewise, mention may be made of numerous 25 active principles, materials or products, compositions or formulations which can advantageously be used in combination with the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention, for example 27 pesticidal and/or growth-regulating compounds; paints or other coatings; pigments or colorants, in particular inks, paints or varnishes; dyes; adhesives; detergents; shampoos, soaps or other beauty products; 5 pharmaceutical or veterinary products; and the like. Furthermore, the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention can, in a particularly advantageous way, be employed to make possible the preparation of compositions or 10 formulations based on an active material which has low solubility in water and thus to significantly reduce the use, and consequently the dispersion into the environment, of organic solvents or products. An additional aspect of the present invention 15 lies in the use of the pesticidal and/or growth-regulating compositions for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals according to the invention, as described and defined above, in treatment and/or protection methods or processes of use in particular in 20 the field of agriculture, for example for the treatment or protection of" crops, and/or in the field of public or domestic hygiene. Thus, and in particular according to the pesticidal and/or growth-regulating active material or 25 materials used, said compositions can be employed to protect, treat, combat, destroy or eradicate diseases or harmful fungi, plants, insects or animals. An essential characteristic of said 28 protection and/or treatment methods, in particular for the protection and/or treatment of crops, is to employ an effective and non-phytotoxic amount of a composition according to the invention. 5 The expression effective and non-phytotoxic amount is understood to mean an amount of the composition according to the invention which is sufficient to make it possible to protect, treat, combat, destroy or eradicate diseases or harmful fungi, 10 plants, insects or animals present or capable of appearing on crops and which does not result, for the said crops, in any significant symptom of phytotoxicity. Such an amount is capable of varying within 15 wide limits, in particular according to the disease or harmful fungi, plants, insects or animals to be combated, destroyed or eradicated, according to the type of crop to be treated or protected, or according to the climatic or edaphic conditions, or according to 20 the active material or materials present in the composition according to the invention used. Nevertheless, when employed in such protection and/or treatment methods, the compositions according to the invention are generally applied, in 25 particular by spraying, in amounts of between 0.0001 and 20 kg, preferably between 0.002 and 2 kg, per hectare of crop to be treated and/or protected. As regards the treatments of seeds, the 29 amounts of compositions according to the invention employed are usually between 0.01 and 250 kg/T of seeds; a person skilled in the art will know how to adapt said proportions, in particular according to the 5 type or the size of the seeds, or according to the type of treatment envisaged or of protection envisaged. Advantageously, and as regards their use in the processes according to the invention which have just been described, the compositions according to the 10 invention can form the subject of quite a number of application techniques; in particular, said compositions can be applied by dipping, covering or coating, or by spraying or by fogging, and the like. As regards the various ways of applying the 15 compositions according to the invention which can be envisaged, mention may in particular be made of simultaneous, separate, alternating or sequential applications; the methods of applications of the processes according to the invention then comprising 20 technical stages of the same nature as those which were described above. Generally, the methods or processes for the protection and/or treatment of crops according to the invention which employ the compositions according to 25 the invention do so by application, particularly by spraying, to the aerial parts of said crops, it being possible for said aerial parts to be, without distinction, the leaves or the stems. 30 Nevertheless, many other application techniques can be employed for the application of said compositions according to the invention; there is in particular fogging but also application by dipping in 5 said compositions; or by coating or by covering by means of a composition according to the invention. Due to the very large number of active materials capable of being employed in the compositions according to the invention, the latter can in fact be 10 employed in processes for the treatment or protection of numerous types of crops. Mention may be made, as examples, and without implied limitation, of crops which can be protected and/or treated using compositions according to the 15 invention, of rice, cereals, in particular wheat, maize, rye, triticale or barley, fruit trees, the vine, oleaginous plants, including rape and sunflower, peas, market gardening crops, the Solanaceae, in particular potatoes, as well as cotton, flax, beetroot and 20 ornamental plants and forest trees. The methods or processes for the treatment and/or protection of plant propagation products, and the resulting plants, against diseases or harmful fungi, plants, insects or animals also form part of the 25 present invention, said methods generally being characterized in that said products or plants to be treated and/or protected are coated, in all or part, with an effective and non-phytotoxic dose of a 31 composition according to the invention, or any other biological propagation material. Mention may in particular be made, among said products.for the propagation of the plants concerned, 5 of seeds, tubers or in-vitro plants. Said methods for the treatment or protection of plant propagation products according to the invention give particularly satisfactory results when they are applied to seeds, in particular in that they 10 can make possible a substantial reduction in the amount of active material used. Another characteristic of the treatment and/or protection methods according to the invention is to be able to be employed in the field of public or 15 domestic hygiene, particularly by application of an effective amount of a pesticidal and/or growth-regulating composition according to the invention. It being possible for said application to give particularly satisfactory results when it employs 20 amounts of said compositions of between 0.00001 g and 500 g, preferably between 0.001 g and 200 g, of composition according to the invention per 100 m2 of surface area to be treated and/or protected. Very advantageously, and according to an 25 additional aspect of the present invention, the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention can be employed in treatment and/or protection methods, alone or in combination with a 32 carrier as described above, in particular during the preparation at the time of use of compositions according to the invention. Thus employed, said specific nonionic 5 surface-active agent is generally used in amounts of between 0.0001 and 99%, preferably between 1 and 90%, by weight of composition or of product which may be associated with it or with which it may be mixed. It goes without saying that, even if the 10 various aspects of the present invention have been able, in some cases, to be described by specific characteristics or else according to advantageous or preferred forms, it should be noted that the account of said aspects by said specific characteristics or under 15 advantageous or preferred forms is given only by way of example and that numerous alternative forms of the details of said aspects of the invention, in particular of preparation, of use or of combination, can be envisaged without departing either from the spirit or 20 from the scope of said invention. Examples making possible a better illustration of the various aspects of the present invention will form the subject of the final elaboration of the present description; said examples 25 are under no circumstances to be regarded as limiting the scope of said invention. The object of examples la to If is to illustrate various specific forms of pesticidal 33 compositions according to the invention, on the one hand in the form of specific compositions according to the invention which are in the liquid form and, on the other hand, of specific compositions which are in the 5 solid form. Some of these specific compositions employ insecticidal active materials and others herbicidal active materials or fungicidal active materials. Example la: It is the intention of this example to 10 illustrate an insecticidal composition according to the invention in the form of a soluble concentrate. The procedure for the preparation of this specific insecticidal composition is as follows: 167 g of product sold under the trade name Rhodasurf 870 15 [poly (oxy-1, 2-ethanediyl) (a-isodecyl-to-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol)] and 167 g of product sold under the name Rhodasurf LA30 [poly (oxy-1, 2-ethanediyl) (linear C12-C14 alcohol, such as lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol and do- and tetradecanol)] are mixed in 500 ml of 2 0 N,N-dimethylacetamide and then 167 g of an insecticidal compound with the chemical name 5-amino-3-cyano-1- (2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-4-ethylsulfinylpyrazole are added. Example lb: 25 The intention of this example is to illustrate an insecticidal composition according to the invention in the form of a suspension concentrate. During a first stage and by means of an appropriate 34 disperser, 8 g of a wetting agent, in the form of a polyethoxylated fatty alcohol, 15 g of a salt of a polyethoxylated tristyrylphenol phosphate, as dispersing agent, with 50 g of propylene glycol, as 5 antifreeze agent, and 1 g of a silicone antifoaming agent, 400 g of an insecticidal compound with the chemical name 5-amino-3-cyano-l-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-4-ethylsulfinylpyrazole, are mixed in 400 g of water. 10 During a second stage, the mixture obtained is milled for the purpose of reducing the particle size thereof to a mean diameter of approximately 2 ^m. Finally, during a third stage, 4 g of a silicone antifoaming agent, 60 g of a thickening and 15 biocidal compound in the form of a solution comprising 2% of xanthan and of a biocidal agent, and, finally, 168 g of a nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention comprising equimolar amounts of the products sold under the names Rhodasurf BO/327 20 [poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)/poly(oxy- 1, 2-propanediyl) (linear C12-C14 C12-C14 alcohol, such as lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol and do- and tetradecanol)] and Rhodasurf 860/P [poly(oxy-1, 2-ethanediyl) (C13 oxo alcohol, such as a-isodecyl-a)-25 hydroxyisodecyl alcohol)] are added. Example lc: The intention of this example is to illustrate an insecticidal composition according to the 35 invention which is colored, in particular for the treatment of seeds; said composition is in the form of a suspension concentrate. The preparation is carried out as for 5 example lb, the insecticidal compound being replaced by an identical amount of another insecticidal compound with the chemical name 3-acetyl-5-amino-1-[2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethy1)phenyl]-4-(methylsulfinyl)pyrazole and, during the third stage, 10 20 g of a pigment powder based on Red 112 being added thereto. Example Id: The intention of this example is to illustrate a liquid fungicidal composition according to 15 the invention in the form of a suspension concentrate, colored for seed treatment. During a first stage, 2 g of a wetting agent, in the form of a polyethoxylated fatty alcohol, are mixed, in 381.7 g of water, with 70 g of a 20 polyethoxylated tristyrylphenol phosphate salt, as dispersing agent, with 80 g of propylene glycol, as antifreeze agent, and 1 g of a silicone antifoaming agent, 45 g of a fungicidal compound with the chemical name methyl (E,E)-2-(2-(1-(1-(2-pyridyl)-25 propyloxyimino)-1-cyclopropylmethyloxymethyl)phenyl)-3-ethoxypropenoate. During a second stage, the mixture obtained is milled for the purpose of reducing the particle size 36 thereof to a mean diameter of approximately 2 /xm. Finally, during a third stage, 300 g of water, 100 g of a pigment powder based on Red 112, 4 g of a silicone antifoaming agent, 125 g of a thickening 5 and biocidal compound in the form of a solution comprising 2% of xanthan and of a biocidal agent, and, finally, 40 g of a nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention comprising equimolar amounts of the products sold under the names Rhodasurf 870 10 [poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)-Ci3 oxo alcohol and poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) - oc- isodecyl-co-hydroxy isodecyl alcohol] and Rhodasurf 860/P [poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)(C13 oxo alcohol and a-isodecyl-(0-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol)] are added. 15 Example le: The intention of this example is to illustrate a colored liquid fungicidal composition according to the invention which is in the form of a soluble concentrate for seed treatment. 20 3 00 g of Guazatine, a fungicidal compound known as such and defined as a mixture of the reaction products of carbamonitrile and of polyamines mainly comprising octamethylenediamine, iminodi(octamethylene-diamine) and octamethylenebis(iminooctame thylene)-25 diamine, 300 g of propylene glycol, as antifreeze agent, 60 g of pigment powder based on Red 112, 1 g of a silicone antifoaming agent and 40 g of surface-active agent according to the invention, comprising equimolar amounts of the product Rhodasurf 860/P [poly(oxy-1, 2-ethanediyl) (C13 oxo alcohol and a-isodecyl-to-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol)] and of the product Rhodasurf 870 [poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)(C13 oxo alcohol, 5 such as a-isodecyl-co-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol) ] , are mixed in 175 g of water. Example If: The intention of this example is to illustrate a solid insecticidal composition according 10 to the invention which is in the form of a soluble powder. 350 g of surface-active agent according to the invention, in the form of 200 g of product Rhodasurf 870 [poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)(C13 oxo alcohol 15 and a-isodecyl-w-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol)] and 150 g of product Rhodasurf LA30 [poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)(linear C12-C14 alcohol and lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol and do- and tetradecanol)], are adsorbed on 350 g of precipitated silica and then 100 g of sodium 20 lignosulfonate, as solid carrier, and 200 g of Fipronil, an insecticidal compound with the chemical name 5-amino-3-cyano-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-4-trifluoromethylsulfinylpyrazole, are added with mixing. 25 The object of examples 2a to 2i which will follow is to illustrate various specific processes for treatment or protection according to the invention by means of pesticidal compositions according to the 38 invention. Example 2a: The intention of this example is to illustrate a specific process for application by foliar 5 spraying of an insecticidal composition according to the invention. This example also makes possible a perfect illustration of the ability of the pesticidal compositions according to the invention to make 10 possible effective and advantageous wetting of the leaves of the treated plants. This wetting nature of said compositions is evaluated by contact angle measurements. The contact angle, expressed in degrees, is 15 an important characteristic of a liquid which makes it possible in particular to measure the wetting nature of said liquid applied to a solid surface, particularly in that the value of this contact angle, measured for a droplet of said liquid, decreases in proportion as the 20 wetting power of the liquid increases. Said measurements can be carried out by means of any apparatus known for such usages and under conditions which a person skilled in the art will know how to determine easily. 25 For the purpose of carrying out these contact angle measurements, a liquid insecticidal composition according to the invention is prepared by mixing 1 g of a solid composition according to example If with one 39 liter of water. In the same way, a control insecticidal composition not comprising surface-active agent according to the invention is prepared. 5 The measurement proper of the contact angles is carried out by depositing, by spraying, a droplet of 2 jul of liquid composition to be characterized on a leaf of wheat, of Scypion variety, grown in a climate-controlled chamber for 14 days at 10°C and by then 10 measuring the contact angle which the droplet forms with the solid surface of the leaf. The control insecticidal composition has a contact angle measured at 102°, whereas the insecticidal composition according to the invention, 15 comprising the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention, has a contact angle of 50.3°, a value testifying in an exemplary way to the particularly advantageous wetting nature of said insecticidal composition according to the invention. 20 Example 2b: The intention of this example is to illustrate a specific process for application, by foliar spraying, of a herbicidal composition according to the invention, said herbicidal composition according 25 to the invention being prepared at the time of use. This example also makes possible a perfect illustration of the ability of this specific herbicidal composition according to the invention to make possible 40 effective and advantageous wetting of the leaves of the treated plants. During a first stage, a herbicidal composition in the form of a soluble concentrate, and 5 known per se, is prepared. For this, 8 g of a wetting agent in the form of a polyethoxylated fatty alcohol, 20 g of a salt of a polyethoxylated tristyrylphenol phosphate, as dispersing agent, 50 g of propylene glycol; as antifreeze agent, 1 g of a silicone 10 antifoaming agent and 5 00 g of Diflufenican, with the chemical name 2',4'-difluoro-2-(a,a,a-trifluoro-m-tolyloxy)nicotinanilide, as herbicidal compound, are mixed in 400 g of water. A second stage consists in milling the 15 mixture obtained above in order to reduce the particle size thereof in order to obtain a mean diameter of the particles of approximately 2 nm. Finally, during a third stage, 4 g of a silicone antifoaming agent and 60 g of a thickening and 20 biocidal compound, in the form of a solution comprising 2% of xanthan and of a biocidal agent, are added. Finally, and at the time of use, a herbicidal composition according to the invention is prepared by mixing 1 g of the composition thus obtained with one 25 liter of water and with 1 g of surface-active agent according to the invention comprising equimolar amounts of the products sold under the names Rhodasurf 870 and Rhodasurf 860/P [poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)(C13 oxo 41 alcohol and a-isodecyl-(o-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol)]. The contact angle measurements are carried out as for example 2a by measuring the contact angle of droplets of the herbicidal composition according to the 5 invention prepared at the time of use and of droplets of a control composition not comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention. The contact angle measurements are carried 10 out on leaves of catchweed, also known as Gallium aparine. The control herbicidal composition has a contact angle measured at 93.5°, whereas the herbicidal composition according to the invention, comprising the 15 specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention, has a contact angle of 48.3°, a value testifying in an exemplary fashion to the particularly advantageous wetting nature of said insecticidal composition according to the invention. 20 Example 2c: The intention of this example is to illustrate a specific process for insecticidal treatment by foliar spraying of an insecticidal composition according to the invention. 25 This example also makes possible a good illustration of the particularly satisfactory biological effectiveness of such a composition according to the invention, in particular for combating the pest Rhopalosiphum padi. Three plots of 30 m2 are prepared and seeded with wheat of the variety Triticwn aestivum. Furthermore, an insecticidal composition 5 according to the invention is prepared by repeating example lb and by using Cypermethrin as active material. In the same way, a control insecticidal composition not comprising specific nonionic surface-10 active agent according to the invention and comprising Cypermethrin as active material is prepared. 21 days after emergence, composition according to the invention is applied to plot No. 1 and control composition is applied to plot No. 2, these 15 applications being by foliar spraying and at 10 g of active material per hectare; plot No. 3 is not treated in order to act as reference. The number of Rhopalosiphum padi insects still present on the wheat leaves three and eight days 20 after treatment is then counted; the results are collated in table 1 below. Number of insects per leaf still present 3 days after treatment Number of insects per leaf still present 8 days after treatment Plot No. 1 2.4 1.9 Plot No. 2 4.6 4.3 Plot No. 3 5.4 4.9 Table 1 43 Example 2d: The intention of this example is to illustrate another specific process for insecticidal treatment by foliar spraying of an insecticidal 5 composition according to the invention. This example itself also makes possible a good illustration of the particularly satisfactory biological effectiveness of such a composition according to the invention, in particular for combating 10 the pest Rhopalosiphum padi. The procedure for this example is as for example 2c but using a composition comprising Imidacloprid as insecticidal active material rather than Cypermethrin. 15 The results obtained are collated in table 2 below. Number of insects per leaf still present 3 days after treatment Number of insects per leaf still present 8 days after treatment Plot No. 1 1.05 1.3 Plot No. 2 4.6 3.8 Plot No. 3 5.4 4.9 Table 2 Example 2e: 20 The intention of this example is to illustrate a specific process for application by foliar spraying of an insecticidal composition according to the invention. 44 This example also makes possible a perfect illustration of the ability of this specific insecticidal composition according to the invention to make possible effective and advantageous wetting of the 5 leaves of the treated plants. For the preparation of the specific insecticidal composition according to the invention which has to be sprayed, 1 g of composition according to example If is mixed with one liter of water. 10 A control insecticidal composition not comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention is prepared in the same way. The contact angle measurements are carried out using the conditions of example 2a. 15 The control insecticidal composition has a contact angle measured at 110°, whereas the insecticidal composition comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention has a contact angle measured at 51°, a value testifying in an 20 exemplary fashion to the particularly advantageous wetting nature of said insecticidal composition according to the invention. Example 2f: The intention of this example is to 25 illustrate a specific process for application by foliar spraying of a liquid insecticidal composition according to the invention. This example illustrates the ability of an 45 insecticidal composition according to the invention to be advantageously retained at the surface of the leaf of the treated plant after spraying. For the preparation of the specific liquid 5 and colored insecticidal composition according to the invention which has to be sprayed, 1 g of a composition according to example If is mixed in one liter of water while adding an additional coloring ingredient in the form of 0.5 g of carmoisine, a substance known for its 10 coloring properties. A control liquid and colored insecticidal composition not comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention is prepared in the same way. 15 After spraying, the amount of insecticidal composition according to the invention and of control insecticidal composition which is retained on the leaves of the treated plants is evaluated. Colorimetric quantitative determination is used for this and the 20 volume of each composition present per gram of treated plant then analyzed is measured. These measurements produce the following results: the plants treated by means of the insecticidal composition according to the invention 25 retain 10.2 fxl of composition per gram of treated plant; whereas the plants treated by means of the control insecticidal composition retain only 4.4 /xl of composition per gram of treated plant. 46 These results therefore make possible an illustration of the advantage of using such an insecticidal composition according to the invention for making possible greater retention of said composition 5 on the surface of the treated plant leaf and thus making possible a higher productivity and a higher effectiveness of the insecticidal active material employed, as well as an advantageous reduction in the amount of composition needlessly spread or lost to the 10 surroundings, in particular by rebound from the surface of the leaf at the time of spraying. Example 2g: The intention of this example is to illustrate a specific process for application of an 15 insecticidal composition according to the invention for the coating of seeds. This example also illustrates the advantageous ability of a specific insecticidal composition according to the invention to make possible 20 highly satisfactory coating of said seeds. For this, use is made of an insecticidal composition according to example 1c and of a control insecticidal composition not comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention. 25 For the preparation of the composition according to the invention to be applied, 31 ml of a composition according to example lc are mixed with 69 ml of water. 47 In the same way, 31 ml of a control insecticidal composition not comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention are mixed with 69 ml of water. 5 After preparation of these two compositions, the latter form the subject of a comparison of their ability to make possible efficient coating by application to wheat seeds of the variety Rubeins. Thus, 8 ml of each insecticidal composition are applied 10 using a Hege bowl, a device known for making possible the treatment of seeds, to two batches of 1 kg of said seeds. The proportions thus employed correspond to the application of 2.5 1 of composition according to example lc per tonne of seeds to be treated or 15 protected. After application to the seeds, the statistical distribution of each of these two insecticidal compositions to be evaluated is studied by following the recommendations of the CIPAC MT175 standard described in the work CIPAC Handbook, vol. F: 2 0 Physico-chemical methods for technical and formulated pesticides, edited by W. Dobrat and A. Martijn. The evaluation technique employed leads to a coefficient of variation which describes, for each of the two insecticidal composition employed, the 25 uniformity of the distribution over the seeds. Thus, the lower this coefficient, the better the distribution of the composition over all the treated seeds, making possible greater effectiveness of the amount of active 48 material employed in the composition used. Thus, as regards the insecticidal composition according to the invention, said coefficient of variation is 30%, while it is 53% for the control 5 insecticidal composition not comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention. Thus, the ability which the surface-active agent which is a subject matter of the invention has to 10 make possible better wetting and better coating of the treated seeds is fully assessed. Example 2h: The intention of this example is to illustrate a specific process for application of a 15 fungicidal composition according to the invention for the coating of seeds. This example also illustrates the advantageous ability of a specific fungicidal composition according to the invention to make possible 2 0 highly satisfactory coating of said seeds. For this, use is made of a fungicidal composition according to example Id and of a control fungicidal composition not comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention. 25 The procedure is as for example 2g as regards the application and measurement conditions. The following results were obtained: with the fungicidal composition according to the invention, the 49 coefficient of variation is 28%, while it is 50% for the control fungicidal composition not comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention. Yet again, the ability which the surface-active agent which is a subject matter of the invention has to make possible better wetting and better coating of the treated seeds, in particular of part the uniformity of this coating, is thus fully assessed. Example 2i: The intention of this example is to illustrate another specific process for application of a fungicidal composition according to the invention for the coating of seeds. This example also illustrates the advantageous ability of a specific fungicidal composition according to the invention to make possible highly satisfactory coating of said seeds. For this, use is made of a fungicidal composition according to example Id and of a control fungicidal composition not comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention. The procedure is as for example 2g as regards the application and measurement conditions. The following results are obtained: with the fungicidal composition according to the invention, the coefficient of variation is 11%, while it is 25% for the control fungicidal composition not comprising 50 specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention. Yet again, the ability which the surface-active agent which is a subject matter of the invention has to make possible better wetting and better coating of the treated seeds is thus fully assessed. Examples 3a to 3e, for the purposes of making possible a better illustration of the aspect of the present invention relating to the specific nonionic surface-active agent as such, will now be expanded upon. Examples 3a to 3e The intention of these examples is therefore to illustrate five specific nonionic surface-active agents according to the invention. For the preparation of said specific nonionic surface-active agents, the first chemical component is mixed with the second chemical component according to the directions given in table 3 below. 51 Amount and name of the first chemical component Amount and name of the second chemical component. Example 3a 403 g of hexa(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)-a-isodecyl-co-hydroxy) isodecyl alcohol 621 g of deca(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)-a-isodecyl-co-hydroxy) isodecyl alcohol Example 3b 403 g of hexa(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)-a-isodecyl-co-hydroxy) isodecyl alcohol 500 g of tetra(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)-tri(oxy-1,2-propanediyl)-do- and tetradecanol alcohol Example 3c 962 g of pentadeci(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)-distyryl-phenol-(1-phenylethyl)-phenol 83 6 g of tetradeci(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)-nonyl-phenol Example 3d 621 g of deca(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)-a-isodecyl-co-hydroxy) isodecyl alcohol 332 g of tri(oxy-l,2-ethanediyl)-do- and tetradecanol alcohol Example 3e 666 g of deci(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)-deca-5-yndiol 322 g of tri (oxy-1, 2-ethanediyl)-a-isodecyl-co-hydroxy) isodecyl alcohol Table 3 Examples 4e to 4f which follow will make possible an illustration of specific processes for 5 employing the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention. These examples will further make possible an illustration of the particularly advantageous properties of wettability and of coating provided by 10 these specific nonionic surface-active agents. 52 Examples 4a to 4e The intention of these examples is to illustrate processes for.employing five specific nonionic surface-active agents according to the 5 invention in wetting processes by application, to wheat leaves, of solutions comprising said surface-active agents. For this, contact angle measurements are carried out by following the preparation, application 10 and measurement conditions of example 2a. Thus, for each of said examples 4a to 4e, three solutions, comprising one liter of water with one gram respectively of surface-active agent according to the invention, of the first chemical component of said 15 surface-active agent and of the second component of said surface-active agent, are prepared by simple mixing. The measurements carried out starting from the two chemical components of the surface-active agent 20 according to the invention thus make possible an illustration of the particularly advantageous results obtained by virtue of the use of the specific surface-active agent according to the invention. The surface-active agents according to the 25 invention which are employed, and the results of the various measurements, are collated in table 4. 53 Solution employed Contact angle measured Example 4a Solution comprising, in one liter of water, 1 g of specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3a 42.9° 1 g of the first chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3a 82.7° 1 g of the second chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3a 50.3° Example 4b Solution comprising, in one liter of water 1 g of specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3b 40.6° 1 g of the first chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3b 82 . 7° 1 g of the second chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3b 45.3° Example 4c Solution comprising, in one liter of water 1 g of specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3c 99.2° 1 g of the first chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3c 114.7° 1 g of the second chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3c 106.3° 54 Example 4d Solution comprising, in one liter of water 1 g of specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3d 31.2° 1 g of the first chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3d 50.3° 1 g of the second chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3d 50.2° Example 4e Solution comprising, in one liter of water 1 g of specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3e 25.1° 1 g of the first chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3e 114.1° 1 g of the second chemical component of the specific nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3e 25.3° Table 4 These examples therefore clearly show the advantage in employing a specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention in wetting 5 processes by comparison with one or other of the chemical components which said surface-active agent comprises. Example 4f The intention of this example is to 10 illustrate a process for employing a specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention in a 55 pigment treatment process. The pigment treatment process is advantageously employed for the treatment of seeds. This example also makes it possible to 5 illustrate the ability of said surface-active agent to advantageously make possible a uniform distribution of the colorant employed. First of all, a pigment dispersion is prepared, by simple mixing, comprising 125 g of a 10 nonionic surface-active agent according to example 3a; 650 g of water; 2 g of a silicone antifoaming agent; 50 g of propylene glycol as antifreeze agent; 50 g of kaolin as solid carrier; 50 g of a pigment powder based on Red 112; 60 g of a thickening and biocidal compound 15 in the form of a solution comprising 2% of xanthan and of a biocidal agent; 3 0 g of a binder in the form of a latex; and 5 g of polyethoxylated tristyrylphenol salt as dispersing agent. In the same way, a control pigment dispersion 20 is prepared comprising 775 g of water; 2 g of a silicone antifoaming agent; 50 g of propylene glycol as antifreeze agent; 50 g of kaolin as solid carrier; 50 g of a pigment powder based on Red 112; 60 g of a thickening and biocidal compound in the form of a 25 solution comprising 2% of xanthan and of a biocidal agent; 30 g of a binder in the form of a latex; and 5 g of polyethoxylated tristyrylphenol salt as dispersing agent. 56 Subsequently, two batches of 1 kg of seeds are each treated separately by means of 2 ml of each of the two pigment dispersions which have just been prepared. 5 The application and measurement conditions, and the devices employed, are similar to those of example 2g. Finally, the result is a coefficient of variation of 63% for the control pigment dispersion, 10 while the coefficient of variation resulting from the treatment by means of the pigment dispersion comprising specific nonionic surface-active agent according to the invention is 35%. Thus, this particularly advantageous result, 15 obtained during the use of said surface-active agent according to the invention, clearly shows the ability of the latter to make possible better coating of the treated seeds. Furthermore, this specific surface-active 20 agent according to the invention can be used in combination with other substances of any type, in particular pesticides, in order to improve the wetting or coating characteristics thereof. Furthermore, during such a combination with a 25 pesticidal substance, such a pigment dispersion comprising said surface-active agent according to the invention significantly improves the perception of the quality of the plant-protection treatment associated </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> 57 with the colorant coating. WO 01/30147 58 PCT/FR00/O2977 CLAIMS

1. A pesticidal and/or growth-regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals, characterized in that they comprise A) one or more pesticidal and/or growth-regulating active materials for harmful plants and/or insects .and/or animals, with the exception of diniconazole; B) a specific nonionic surface-active agent comprising two different chemical components Bi) the molecular mass of which is between 200 and 3 000 g/mol; B2) the dynamic tension of which, measured in water at a concentration of 0.4 g per liter and at a frequency of 10 Hz, is between 35 and 73 mN/m; B3) and each chemical component comprising B3(i) a hydrophobic part chosen from the followihg groups: €3.3 oxo alcohols; a-isodecyl-a)-hydroxyisodecyl alcohol; linear C12-C14 alcohols; linear C16-C18 alcohols; lauryl alcohol; myristyl alcohol; do- and/or tetradecanols; distyrylphenol-di (1-phenylethyl) phenols ; nonylphenols; acetylenediols; tridecyl alcohols; and the. 'inQl^effiS^UAirPRCPERW I OFRCF OF N.Z 1'5 JUL 20% ■ RECEIVE 59 mass of which is between 100 and 1 500 g/mol; B3(ii) a hydrophilic part chosen from a poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) radical and/or a poly(oxy-1,2-propanediyl) radical, the molar mass of which is between 80 and 2 000 g/mol; B4) the difference in molar masses of the hydrophobic parts of these two chemical components is less than 140 g/mol; and that B5) the difference in molar masses of the components is less than 360 g/mol.

2. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 1 wherein the molecular mass of the chemical components in Bl) is between 300 and 1 000 g/mol.

3. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the acetylenediol in B3) is 2, 4, 7, 9 - tetramethyldeca-5-yne.

4. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the molar mass of the chemical component B3(i) is between 150 and 400 g/mol.

5. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the molar mass in B3(ii) is between 100 and 900 g/mol. - ^ _ and such that hydrophilic parts of these two chemical 60

6. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the active material or materials are present in amounts of between 0.0001 and 99%.

7. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 6 wherein the active material or materials are present in amounts of between 0.5 and 70% by weight.

8. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the specific nonionic surface-active agent is present in amounts of between 1 and 99.9999%.

9. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 8 wherein the specific nonionic surface-active agent is present in amounts of between 5 and 80% by weight.

10. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals according to any one of claim 1 to 9, characterized in that the chemical components are present in respective amounts such that the molar ratio of said amounts is between 1/99 and 99/1.

11. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 10 wherein the molar ratio of the chemical components is between 25/7 5 and 75/25.

12. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 11 wherein the molar " T^mLEc:fu,4"F^bpEirY OFRCE OF N2 | 15 JUL im DECEIVED 61 ratio of the chemical components is between 40/60 and 60/40.

13. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that they comprise an inorganic or organic carrier.

14. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 13 wherein the inorganic or organic carrier is present in an amount of between 0.1 to 99.5% by weight.

15. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 14 wherein the inorganic or organic carrier is present in an amount of between 15 and 80% by weight.

16. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals according to any one of claims 13 to 15 characterized in that the carrier is in the liquid form.

17. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals according to any one of claims 13 to 16 characterized in that the carrier is water.

18. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the carrier is an organic solvent chosen from ketones; amides; cyclic solvents; or other solvents; or aromatic hydrocarbons; or esters; or dimethyl esters of a fatty acid; or alcohols. Ij' i nt elLectual"rcoremv I OFFICE OF (VJZ 1 5 JUL 2m i RECEIVE,":' 62

19. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 18 wherein the ketones are isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone.

20. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 18 wherein the amides are dimethylformamide or N, N-dimethylacetamine.

21. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 18 wherein the cyclic solvents are N-methylpyrrolidone, N-octylpyrrolidone, N-dodecylpyrrolidone, N-octylcaprolactone, N-dodecylcaprolactam or y-butyrolactone.

22. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 18 wherein the other solvent is dimethyl sulfoxide.

23. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition accordingly to claim 18 wherein the nomatic hydrocarbone is xylene.

24. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 18 wherein the esters are propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, dibutyl adipate, hexyl acetate, heptyl acetate, tri(n-butyl) citrate, diethyl phthalate, or dimethyl esters of a fatty acid.

25. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 18 wherein the alcohols are ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, n-amyl alcohol, isoamyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol or l-methoxy-2-propanol.

26. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the carrier is in the j OFFICE Of iii" I 1 5 JUL 2» 63

27. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals according to any one of claims 13 to 15 and 26, characterized in that the carrier is chosen from clays; natural or synthetic silicates; silicas; resins; waxes; or solid fertilizers.

28. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals according to any one of claims 1 to 27, characterized in that they comprise between 0.0001 and 10% of active material.

29. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals according to any one of claims 1 to 28, characterized in that they comprise between 55 and 99% of active material.

30. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals according to any one of claims 1 to 29, characterized in that they comprise one or more additives in amounts of between 0 and 60% by weight.

31. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition for harmful plants and/or insects and/or animals according to claim 30, characterized in that the additives are chosen from adjuvants; anticaking agents; coloring agents; thickening agents; antifoaming agents; detergents agents; dispersing agents; basifying agents; adhesion agents; emulsifying agents; stablilizing agents; oxidizing agents; reducing agents; corrosion inhibitors; antifreeze agents; other surface-active agents; dispersing agents; or suspending agents. r^elECfuOROP^V OFROE OF M.Z 15 JUL 2034 64

32. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 31 wherein the detergent agents are salts of alkaline earth metals.

33. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 31 wherein the basifying agents are bases.

34. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 31 wherein the oxidizing agents are free radical scavengers or catalytic destroyers of hydroperoxides.

35. A process for the treatment and/or protection of crops, characterized in that it employs the composition according to any one of claims 1 to 34.

36. The process for the treatment and/or protection of crops according to claim 35, characterized in that the composition is applied by dipping or by covering or by coating or by spraying or by fogging.

37. The process for the treatment and/or protection of crops and according to either of claims 35 and 36, characterized in that the composition is applied in amounts of between 0.0001 and 20kg.

38. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 37 wherein the composition is applied in amounts of between 0.002 and 2kg per hectare.

39. The process for the treatment and/or protection of seeds according to any one of claims 35 to 38, characterized in that the composition is applied in amounts of between 0.01 and 250 kg/T of seeds.

40. The process for the treatment and/or protection of crops according to any one of cla-imsr 35. JlNT ELlECTUAf ^OPEiRTY 1 OFRCF OF \>.7 1 5 JUL 2(m 65 to 38, characterized in that the protected and/or treated crop is chosen from rice, cereals, fruit trees, the vine, oleaginous crops, peas, market gardening crops, the Solanaceae, cotton, flax, beetroot, ornamental plants or forest trees.

41. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 40 wherein the cereal crop is wheat, maize, rye, triticale or barley.

42. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 40 wherein the oleaginous crop is rape or sunflower.

43. The pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition according to claim 40 wherein the solanaceae is potatoes.

44. The process for the treatment and/or protection of crops according to any one of claims 35 to 43, characterized in that the protected and/or treated crop is a product for the propagation of the plants concerned.

45. The process for the treatment and/or protection of crops according to claim 44 wherein the product for the propagation of the plants concerned are seeds, tubers or in-vitro plants.

46. A process for treatment or protection in public or domestic hygiene, characterized in that it employs the composition according to any one of claims 1 to 34.

47. The process for treatment or protection in public or domestic hygiene according to claim 46, characterized in that the amount of composition employed is between 0.0001 g and 500 g, of composition 1 ,nt«alproperWj OFF/ob OF bjj 15 JUL 20: 66 per 100m2 of surface area to be treated and/or protected.

48. The process for the treatment or protection in public or domestic hygiene according to claim 4 7 wherein the amount of composition employed is between O.OOlg and 200g of composition per 100m2 of surface area to be treated and/or protected.

49. A pesticidal and/or growth regulating composition as defined in claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to any example thereof.

50. A process as defined in claim 35 substantially as herein described with reference to any example thereof.

51. A process as defined in claim 46 substantially as herein described with reference to any example thereof. f- HmtelLectualVropervy" OFPJCE OF M2 ' 5 JUL 2X» </div>