Abstract:
A method for preserving wood by injecting into the wood a slurry having: particles of a sparingly soluble copper salt, copper hydroxide, or both, wherein the weight average diameter d50 of the particles in the slurry is between 0.1 microns and 0.7 microns and the d98 of the particles in the slurry is less than about 1 micron; a dispersant; and water. The dispersant is anionic or a mix of anionic and non-ionic. Advantageously, less than 20% by weight of the particles have a diameter less than 20 nanometers. Useful copper salts include basic copper carbonate, tri-basic copper sulfate, copper oxychloride, basic copper nitrate, basic copper borate, copper borate, basic copper phosphate, or copper silicate. The slurry most preferably includes copper hydroxide particles. The slurry further advantageously includes at least one organic biocide, wherein at least a portion of the organic biocide is coated on the particles.
Abstract:
Spent, acidic solutions comprising cupric chloride and hyrdrochloric acid from the copper etching process are regenerated by a process in which the acid is subjected to distillation with sulfuric acid. In one embodiment, the process comprises (a) providing a spent etchant comprising at least about 10% by weight chloride and at least about 5% dissolved copper; (b) adding at least about 2 moles of sulfuric acid per mole of dissolved copper to the spent etching solution, thereby converting copper chloride into hydrochloric acid and precipitated copper sulfate; (c) distilling the mixture from step (b) to vaporize at least a portion of the hydrochloric acid; (d) condensing at least a portion of the vaporized hydrochloric acid; (e) separating at least a portion of the precipitated copper sulfate from the residual liquid, wherein said residual liquid comprises sulfuric acid; and (f) reusing at least a portion of the residual liquid as a sulfuric acid source in step (b).
Abstract:
A wood preservative that contains a copper salt complex and a precipitation inhibitor is provided. The wood preservative may contain copper carbonate, an alkanolamine such as monoethanolamine and precipitation inhibitor such as a phosphonate or ethylene diamine compound. Also provided is a method of using the wood preservative.
Abstract:
A method of milling substantially insoluble solid organic biocides to form a micron or sub-micron product having a narrow particle size distribution is presented. The milling involves wet milling of the organic biocide with high density milling media having a diameter between 0.1 mm and 0.8 mm, preferably between 0.2 mm and 0.7 mm, and a density equal to or greater than 3.8 g/cc, preferably greater than 5.5 g/cc, in a ball mill using between about 40% and 80% loading of the mill volume with milling media, and having the organic biocide suspended in an aqueous milling liquid which comprises one or more surface active agents. The milling speed is preferably high, for example from about 1000 rpm to about 4000 rpm. The milled product can be used in foliar applications at a lower effective dosage than prior art formulations, can be used in improved antifouling paint formulations, and can be used in new applications such as the direct injection of solid organic biocide particulates in wood to act as a long lasting wood preservative.
Abstract:
A chlorothalonil slurry product having greater than 90% by weight of the chlorothalonil present in discrete particles having a diameter less than 1 micron, more preferably less than 0.3 microns, is useful at reduced application rates, compared to prior art chlorothalonil formulations, to control a variety of diseases such as sapstain on wood, neck rot on onions, late blight on potatos, and downey mildew on fruits and vegetables.
Abstract:
Addition of base improves the homogeneity of aqueous copper amine complex preservatives injected into wood. The base includes at least a portion of alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal phosphates, alkali metal borates, and/or alkali metal pyrophosphates, the corrosivity of the composition to steel and galvanized steel is reduced, and the leach rate of the copper from the wood is also reduced.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a compatibilizing dispersant used in a slurry composition comprising a strongly cationic component and a strongly anionic component. More specifically, the invention relates to stable aqueous slurries comprising suspended particles of sparingly soluble salts, oxide, and/or hydroxides of copper and/or zinc. The slurry further comprises a quaternary amine compound present in a biocidally effective amount when the slurry is used in a manner that provides the sparingly soluble copper and/or zinc containing particles in a biocidally effective amount. The slurry further comprises an effective amount of a dispersant having a large non-ionic component.
Abstract:
A wood preservative includes injectable particles comprising one or more sparingly soluble iron salts. The iron-based particles are sufficiently insoluble so as to not be easily removed by leaching but are sufficiently soluble to exhibit toxicity to primary organisms primarily responsible for the decay of the wood. Wood or a wood product may be impregnated with iron-based particles of the invention.
Abstract:
A method of preserving wood includes injecting into the wood an effective amount of a aqueous wood-injectable biocidal slurry, said a wood-injectable biocidal slurry containing dispersants and sub-micron biocidal particles selected from at least one of the following classes: 1) a plurality of particles containing at least 25% by weight of a solid phase of sparingly soluble salts selected from copper salts, nickel salts, tin salts, and/or zinc salts; 2) a plurality of particles containing at least 25% by weight of a solid phase of sparingly soluble metal hydroxides selected from copper hydroxide, nickel hydroxide, tin hydroxide, and/or zinc hydroxide; 3) a plurality of particles containing at least 25% by weight of a solid phase comprising a substantially-insoluble organic biocide selected from triazoles, chlorothalonil, iodo-propynyl butyl carbamate, copper-8-quinolate, fipronil, imidacloprid, bifenthrin, carbaryl, strobulurins, and indoxacarb; 4) a plurality of particles containing on the outer surface thereof a substantially-insoluble organic biocide; 5) a plurality of particles containing a solid phase of a biocidal, partially or fully glassified composition comprising at least one of Zn, B, Cu, and P. The particles may advantageously contain metallic copper, a leachability barrier, pigments, dyes, or other adjuvants disposed on the outer surface thereof.
Abstract:
A wood preservative includes injectable particles comprising one or more sparingly soluble copper salts. The copper-based particles are sufficiently insoluble so as to not be easily removed by leaching but are sufficiently soluble to exhibit toxicity to primary organisms primarily responsible for the decay of the wood. Exemplary particles contain for example copper hydroxide, basic copper carbonate, copper carbonate, basic copper sulfates including particularly tribasic copper sulfate, basic copper nitrates, copper oxychlorides, copper borates, basic copper borates, and mixtures thereof. The particles typically have a size distribution in which at least 50% of particles have a diameter smaller than 0.25 μm, 0.2 μm, or 0.15 μm. At least about 20% and even more than 75% of the weight of the particles may be composed of the substantially crystalline copper salt. Wood or a wood product may be impregnated with copper-based particles of the invention.