Classification of Adjuvants
Classified by Use:
- Spray modifiers: A type of adjuvant used to alter the physical characteristics of the spray solution. For example, Stickers, Spreader-stickers, Foaming agents, Drift control agents.
- Utility Adjuvants: Widen the range of conditions under which a given formulation is useful. For example: Antifoam agents, Compatibility agents, Buffering agents.
- Activator Agents: Increase herbicide activity, may increase herbicide absorption, spread, provide rainfastness, and/or decrease phototransformation of the herbicide. For example, Surfactants, Crop oils, Crop oil concentrates Water Conditioners.
Classified by Charge:
Chemical charge classes of surface active agents (surfactants).The active moiety contains both hydrophilic and lipophilic segments.
- Anionic – negative charge
- Cationic - positive charge
- Nonionic (NIS) – no charge
- Ampholytic – both positive and negative charges
Classified by Chemicals:
- Non-inclusive listing of activator adjuvant chemical classes
- Alkylaryl polyglycol ethers
- Alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APE)
nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) - Linear alcohol ethoxylates
- Alkyl glycosides
- Cationic tallow amines
- Phosphate esters
- Organosilicones
- Fatty acids
- saponified
- esterified: methyl or ethyl
From: ADJUVANTS: Principles and Uses, written by Donald Penner from Michigan State University
