FORMULATION OF
PESTICIDES
Pesticide
formulations
Active
ingredient
Inert matter
Important Definitions
❖ Active Ingredient (Ai) - the actual chemical
in the product mixture that controls the pest
❖ Inert Ingredient - other materials added with the AI
when the product is formulated
❖ Adjuvant - product added to spray tank to assist
pesticide in its application
Active and Inert Ingredients
Lexone DF
• Active Ingredient
• Metribuzin (4-amino-6-1-1 dimethlyethly-
3-methythio 1,2,4,triazine 5 4H-one) 25%
• Inert Ingredients 75%
• TOTAL 100%
• EPAReg. No. 12333-344
Why Add Inert Ingredients?
1. For ease of pesticide product handling
2. Inerts make measuring and mixing pesticides easier
3. To provide for safety
4. Makes theAi work better
• Better penetration
• More selectivity
• Increased effectiveness
Deciphering the Ai Code in Product
Names
80SP
80% active ingredient
by weight
Soluble Powder
40DF
1EC
40 % active ingred.
1 lbAi/gallon
Dry Flowable
emulsifiable concentrate
Spray Mix Terminology
❖ solution
How does it really
❖ suspension mix in the spray
tank?
❖ emulsion
Solution
Active Ingredient
Either liquid or dry substance
TRULY dissolves in water
just like sugar in water
*usually transparent*
Suspension
Solid particles suspended in a liquid like hot chocolate
Active Ingredient (high %)
impregnated onto Dry Carrier and mixed with an
Emulsifier ( soapy)
Emulsion
One liquid dispersed within another liquid like
milk
Ai is dissolved in oil (oil/ai droplet)
Ai and mixed with an emulsifier
Oil Ai/Oil mixture is suspended in water forming a
white emulsion
AI AI
AI Oil
Oil
Oil
AI AI
AI
Oil AI Oil
Oil
Oil
AI AI
AI Oil Oil
Oil
Liquid Formulations
Liquid Formulations…
1. A liquid active
Emulsifiable ingredient
concentrates (EC or 2. One or more
E) petroleum-based solvents
3. An agent
e.g., Karate 2.5 EC, Tilt 250 EC
Liquid Formulations…
Emulsifiable Concentrate (E or EC)
Active ingredient (liquid) dissolved in a petroleum-based solvent with an emulsifier
added
Product diluted
Turns white
when mixed
Smells of
solvents
Liquid Formulations
Emulsifiable Concentrate (E or EC) High Ai%
ADVANTAGES
• DISADVANTAGES
❖ Easy to handle ❖ Phytotoxic – plant injury
❖ Little agitation ❖ Easily absorbed by the skin
❖ Relatively easy on ❖ Flammable
equipment ❖ Deterioration of rubber and
❖ Leaves little residue plastic hoses
Liquid Formulations…
1. An active ingredient
2. The solvent
Solutions (S)
3. One or more other
ingredients
Liquid Formulations
Solutions (S)
Ai dissolves in liquid carrier; once mixed with water, solutions do not
settle out
product diluted
Liquid Formulations…
Solutions (S)
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
❖ Easy to handle ❖ None
❖ No agitation
❖ Easy on equipment
❖ No residue
❖ Used indoors/outdoors
Liquid Formulations…
The active ingredient is
Soluble Liquids completely dissolved in
(SL) water, forming a clear
solution.
e.g., Imitaf 20 SL, Admire 200 SL
Liquid Formulations…
The active ingredient is
Suspension suspended in water,
Concentrate (SC) creating a liquid
suspension.
e.g., Amistar Top 325 SC, Envoy 50 SC
Liquid Formulations…
A mixed formulation
where one active
ingredient is in a Capsule
ZC= CS+SC Suspension (CS) form,
and another is in a
Suspension Concentrate
(SC) form
e.g., Alika 24.7 ZC / Alika 247 ZC
Liquid Formulations…
Ready to use (RTU) Concentrate (C)
Liquid Formulations…
Ready-to-Use Low Concentrate Solutions (RTU)
Easy and relatively safe to handle
Less than 1% per unit
volume of active
ingredient
Liquid Formulations…
Ultra-low-volume 1. 100% active ingredient
(ULV) 2. Outdoor pest control
Liquid Formulations…
Ultra-Low Volume (ULV)
❖ Special-purpose formulation
❖ Almost 100% active ingredient
❖ Agriculture, forestry, mosquito control
Liquid Formulations…
Ultra-Low Volume (ULV)
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
❖ Easy to handle ❖ High drift hazard
❖ Little or no agitation ❖ Specialized equipment
needed
❖ Easy on equipment
❖ Solvent wear on rubber
❖ No residue
and plastic
❖ Used indoors/outdoors
❖ Calibration critical
Liquid Formulations…
Flowables (F) or Liquids (L)
Flowables are basically a wettable powder pre-mixed with a
liquid carrier
product diluted
Dry Formulations
Baits
(B)
Active
ingredient Usually less
Household Vertebrate
mixed with than 5
pests pests
attractive percent AI
substance
Dry Formulations
Baits (B)
Abait is an example of a dry or liquid product that is
applied without mixing
Dry or Solid Formulations…
Baits (B)
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
❖ Ready to use ❖ Attractive to children
❖ Coverage not ❖ May kill domestic
critical animals and wildlife
❖ Control pest that ❖ Dead pest odors
move in and out of ❖ Old bait may serve as
area food source if inactive
Dry Formulations…
Pastes (P), Gels (GL)
Abait formulated as a paste or gel that is applied with a syringe or bait gun
❖ Odorless
❖ Minimal exposure
❖ Easy to place
❖ Melt at high temperatures
❖ May stain porous surfaces
Dusts
(D)
Contain a low
Widely used in
percentage of Very fine, dry,
seed
active inert carrier
treatment.
ingredient
Granules (G)
Coarse
Particles are particles are
made from an 1 to 15 percent
larger and
absorptive AI
heavier
material
Dry Formulations…
Dusts (D) and Granules (G)
❖ Ready-to-use
❖ Can reach hard to get places
dust
❖ Very little active ingredient
❖ Very fine, dry inert carrier
AI
❖ High drift potential
❖ Distribution and calibration a problem granule
❖ Dusts: Irritating to eyes, nose, throat, skin
Dry Formulations…
Granules (G) and Pellets (P or PS)
Granules Beads Pellets
❖ Granules: can be mistaken for food/feed
Dry Formulations + Water
❖ Buy Dry --> Mix with water -> Spray
❖ Wettable Powders (WP)
❖ Water Dispersible Granules (WDG)
❖ Dry Flowables (DF)
Active Ingredient (high %)
Dry Carrier
Emulsifier ( soapy)
Wettable powders (WP or
W)
Must be
mixed with Do not Constant
5 to 95
water for dissolve in agitation is
percent AI
application water required
as a spray
e.g., Jazz 80 WP
Dry Formulations…
Wettable Powders (WP or W)
Wettable powders settle out quickly, therefore require constant agitation in
the spray tank
product diluted
Dry Formulations…
Wettable Powders – high Ai %
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
❖ Easy to store ❖ Inhalation hazard
❖ Easy to measure/mix ❖ Constant agitation
❖ Relatively less harmful to ❖ Abrasive to pumps and
plants, animals and nozzles
surfaces than ECs ❖ Visible residues
❖ Less absorption by
human skin and eyes
Soluble powders
(SP/WSP)
Few active No
Form a true ingredients additional 15 to 95
solution are soluble agitation is percent AI
in water. necessary
Dry Formulations…
Soluble Powders – high Ai %
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
❖ Inhalation hazard
❖ Easy to measure/mix
❖ Form true solution
❖ Little phytotoxicity
concern
❖ Less absorption by
human skin and eyes
Water-dispersible granules (Dry Flowables)
(WDG/WG or DF)
Active
ingredient is Must be mixed Constant
prepared as with water to agitation is
granule-sized be applied required
particles
e.g., Actara 25 WG, Ridomil Gold MZ 68 WG
Microencapsulated pesticides (M)
Surrounded by Prolong the
Slowly release
a plastic active life of
the pesticides
coating the pesticides
Other Formulations
Fumigants
In agricultural
Fumigants are
Form poisonous pest control,
used for
gases when fumigants are
structural pest
applied used in soil and
control
in greenhouses
Other Formulations…
Fumigants
❖ Active as a poisonous gas,
penetrates cracks, crevices, and
stored commodities
❖ Highly toxic to all living
organisms
❖ Very high risk of inhalation
exposure
❖ Specialized protection equipment;
enclosed space
Adjuvants
Adjuvants
❖ Wetting agents Others
❖ Buffers
Surfactants- group
❖ Compatibility agents
❖ Spreaders ❖ Defoaming agents
❖ Emulsifiers ❖ Colorants/dyes
❖ Safeners
❖ Stickers/Extenders
❖ Thickeners
Common adjuvants are:
➢ Wetting agents — allow wettable powders to mix with water.
➢ Emulsifiers — allow petroleum-based pesticides (EC’s) to mix with water.
➢ Spreaders — allow pesticide to form a uniform coating layer over the treated
surface.
➢ Stickers — allow pesticide to stay on the treated surface.
➢ Penetrants — allow the pesticide to get through the outer surface to the inside of
the treated area.
➢ Foaming agents — reduce drift or can be used for marking treated sections of the
target site.
➢ Anti-foaming agents — reduce foaming of spray mixtures that require vigorous
agitation.
➢ Thickeners — reduce drift by increasing droplet size.
➢ Safeners — reduce the toxicity of a pesticide formulation to the pesticide
handler or to the treated site.
➢ Compatibility agents — aid in combining pesticides (and fertilizers) effectively.
➢ Buffers — allow pesticides to be mixed with diluents or other pesticides of
different acidity or alkalinity.
Median Lethal Dose (LD50)
