OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Ohio Pesticide Applicator Training

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Ohio Pesticide Applicator Training Unit 3 Formulations

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION What is a Formulation? • All the Ingredients in a pesticide product • The active ingredients or control chemical • The inert (inactive) ingredients • Usually formulations are diluted in water, a petroleum-based solvent, or other diluents. 2

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Types of Formulations Liquids 3

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC or E) ADVANTAGES Easy to handle, transport, and store. Little agitation required. Non abrasive. Do not plug screens or nozzles. Little visible residue DISADVANTAGES High concentration. Easily absorbed through skin. Solvents may cause surfaces to deteriorate. Flammable. May be corrosive 4

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Solutions (S) • Dissolve readily in a liquid solvent. • When mixed, forms a solution that will not settle out or separate. • Formulations of these pesticides usually contain the active ingredient, the solvent, and one or more other ingredients. 5

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Ready to Use (RTU) • Pre-mixed pesticide products. • Contain active ingredient and correct amount of solvent. • No further dilution is required. • Often 1% or less of active ingredient. 6

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Concentrate Solutions (C or CL) • Must be further diluted. • Mix readily, no agitation required. • Limited number of formulations. 7

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Ultra-Low-Volume (ULV) ADVANTAGES Relatively easy to handle, transport, and store. DISADVANTAGES High drift hazard Little agitation required. Specialized equipment required. No plugging of screens and nozzles. Easily absorbed through skin. Not abrasive to equipment. Solvents can deteriorate equipment parts. 8

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Flowables (F or L) • Insoluble solids mixed with water and other inert ingredients to form a suspension. • Easy to handle and apply. • Require moderate agitation. • May leave a visible residue. 9

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Aerosols (A) ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Ready to use. Practical for very limited uses. Easily stored. Risk of inhalation injury. Convenient Hazardous if punctured, overheated, or used near open flame. Retain potency Difficult to confine to target site or pest. 10

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Invert Emulsions • Water soluble pesticide with an oil based carrier. • Form large droplets that do not drift easily. • Commonly used in vegetation control along rights of way. 11

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Types of Formulations Dry 12

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Dusts (D) ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES No mixing, ready to use. Easily drift off target Requires simple equipment Does not stick to surfaces. Effective in hard-to – reach indoor areas. Good choice where moisture from a spray would cause damage. May irritate eyes, nose, throat and skin. Difficult to get even distribution of material 13

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Baits (B) ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Ready to use. Can be attractive to children. Selective site application May kill non-target animals. Control pests that move in and out of an area. Dead pests may cause odor problem. 14

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Granules (G) ADVANTAGES Ready to use, no mixing. Low drift hazard. Little hazard to applicator. Simple application equipment. Slow- release DISADVANTAGES Does not stick on foliage May need to be incorporated into soil. May need moisture to activate. Hazardous to non-target species. 15

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Pellets (P or PS) • Similar to granular formulations • All the particles are the same shape and size. 16

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Wettable Powders (WP or W) ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Easy to store, handle, and transport. Less likely than EC’s and others to cause harm to treated target. Inhalation hazard to applicator while pouring and mixing the concentrated powder. Requires constant agitation Easily measured and mixed. in spray tank. Abrasive to many pumps and nozzles. / clogs Less skin and eye nozzles. absorption than EC’s and Residues may be visible. other liquids. 17

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Soluble Powders (SP or WSP) • Look like Wettable powders. • Dissolve readily and form a true solution. • Inhalation hazard. • Few pesticides available in this form. 18

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Microencapsulated Pesticides (M) ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Increased safety to applicator. Constant agitation necessary in tank. Easy to mix, handle, and apply. Special honey bee risk. Releases pesticide over a period of time. 19

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Water-Dispersible Granules (Dry Flowables) (WDG or DF) • Similar to wettable powders. • More easily measured and mixed. • Less inhalation hazard during pouring and mixing. 20

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Fumigants ADVANTAGES Toxic to a wide range of pests. Can penetrate tight areas. Single treatment will usually kill most pests. DISADVANTAGES Target site MUST be enclosed to prevent gas from escaping. Highly toxic to all living organisms. Requires specialized protective and application equipment. 21

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Adjuvants / Surfactants • “Surface active ingredients” • Examples include: Wetting Agents, Emulsifiers, Invert Emulsifiers, Spread. Stickers, Penetrants, Foaming Agents, Thickeners, Safeners, Compatibility agents, Buffers, Antifoaming agents. 22

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION References • Applying Pesticides Correctly, OSU Bulletin 825 • Ohio State University Extension 23