11/14/22, 4:13 PM Pesticide Formulations - Kentucky Pesticide Safety Education

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PESTICIDE FORMULATIONS
Kentucky Pesticide Safety Education Program

Using Pesticide Liquid Dry Pesticide Additives / Summary Practice

Formulations Formulations Formulations Mixtures Adjuvants   Questions

Using Pesticide Formulations

Pesticide formulations are a combination of one or more active ingredients (a.i.), which control pests, and
several inert ingredients. Many a.i.s are not soluble in water. Some may be toxic or unsafe to handle. Others Questions?
may be unstable during storage. The inert ingredients are included in a formulated product to solve these
Contact
problems. Some inert ingredients pose health risks to pesticide handlers or applicators so their
characteristics, along with those of the active ingredient, determine the signal word that appears on the Dr. Ric Bessin

product label. For example: Dept. of Entomology

University of Kentucky
859-257-7450

[email protected]
4L = 4 pound per gallon Liquid
80 WP = 80% wettable powder

4L = 200 SL = 200 grams/liter (1.67 pounds/gal) soluble liquid

Pesticide products sold as concentrates must be mixed with water, or some other carrier, before being
applied. The amount of active ingredient (a.i.) and the kind of formulation may be listed on the product
label.

Concentrated formulations are very economical when treating large areas but it may be hard to measure
amounts needed for small areas. Also, the handling, mixing, need for specialized spray equipment, and
clean-up time may make the use of concentrates inconvenient or impractical.

Ready-to-Use formulations may be more appropriate for small areas. They contain small amounts of active
ingredient (often 1% or less a.i. per unit volume). Some contain petroleum-based solvents; others are water-
based. RTU formulations are already diluted and may be sold in containers that serve as applicators.
Example RTU formulations include aerosols (A), granules (G), and most baits (B).

Most pesticide formulations are liquid or dry materials. Some pesticides are available in more than one. Cost
is always a consideration but safety and pest management concerns should come first. Choose the
formulation best suited for the job based on:

Legal, labeled uses 

Signal word 
Applicator safety
Environmental safety 
Pest biology 
Site characteristics
Target (surface to be treated)
 Application equipment

Answering these questions can help with the decision:

Is the intended use and site listed on the product label?

Do I have the necessary application equipment?

Can the formulation be applied appropriately under the conditions in the application area?
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Can the formulation be applied appropriately under the conditions in the application area?

Will the formulation reach the intended target and stay in place?

Is the formulation likely to damage the surface or foliage being treated?

Would a less hazardous formulation be as effective?

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Liquid Formulations
Most liquid formulations are diluted with water to make a finished spray. However, some labels direct users
to mix the product with another solvent such as crop oil or other light oil as a carrier.

The three main types of liquid formulations are solutions, suspensions, and emulsions:

A solution is made by dissolving a substance in a liquid. A true

solution is a mixture that cannot be separated by a filter or other
mechanical means. Normally, it will not separate or “settle
out” into distinct parts after being mixed. Light can penetrate
most solutions.

A suspension is an even mixture of very small solid particles

throughout a liquid. A suspension that has been on a shelf for
some time must be shaken well to mix the liquid and solid portions
evenly before pouring it into the spray tank. Water is added to
make a finished spray. There must be enough agitation to keep the
product evenly distributed in the spray tank during application. Most suspensions are cloudy or opaque;
light cannot pass through them.

An emulsion is a mixture of droplets of one liquid in another liquid. Each

ingredient keeps its unique properties and identity.

In an emulsion, the active ingredient is dissolved in an oil-based solvent.

An emulsifier allows the active ingredient and the solvent to mix evenly
with water before application. Some agitation may be necessary to keep an
emulsion from separating. As a rule, emulsions have a “milky”
appearance.

Common Liquid Formulations

Emulsifiable Concentrate (E or EC)

EC formulations usually contain an oil-soluble liquid active ingredient, a

petroleum-based solvent, and an emulsifier (mixing agent). The emulsifier
allows the active ingredient in the solvent to mix with water, these form an
emulsion. ECs are versatile formulations that can be applied with many
types of sprayers.

Formulation Advantages Disadvantages

 
E or EC  
Easy to handle and measure; Little Easily absorbed through skin; High
agitation is required; Will
not separate; concentration; Easy to
over-treat or
Little visible residue on the plant; Do not under-treat through mixing or calibration
wear sprayer parts
or plug screens or errors; May burn
tender plant foliage;
nozzles; Seldom leaves visible May soften rubber or plastic hoses,
residue   gaskets, and pump
parts; May be
corrosive to eyes or skin

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Solutions (S, CS)

Some pesticide active ingredients dissolve readily in a liquid solvent, such as water or a petroleum-based
diluent. When mixed, they form a solution that does not settle out or separate. Formulations of these
pesticides usually contain the active ingredient, solvent (carrier or diluent), and one or more other
ingredients. No emulsifier is required. Solutions are suitable for any type of sprayer and are registered for
many sites.

Formulation Advantages Disadvantages

 
S or CS Easy to handle and measure; No Limited availability; Spills and splashes
agitation required; Little
visible residue difficult to
clean-up or decontaminate
on the plant; Does not wear sprayer parts
or plug screens or
nozzles; Seldom leaves
visible residue  

Emulsions in Water (EW)

An emulsion in water formulation is the dispersion of a liquid active ingredient in water. These formulations
have reduced dermal toxicity and lower potential for harming the environment. EWs are less likely to
damage tender plant foliage because they do not contain the solvents found in emulsifiable concentrates.

Flowables (F, L, or SC)

Some active ingredients will not dissolve in either water or oil so they are impregnated in a dry carrier, such
as clay, which is ground into a fine powder. The powder is suspended in a small amount of liquid to make
the thick liquid formulation. Abbreviations used include “F” for flowable, "L" for liquid, and "SC" for
suspension concentrate. The abbreviations 4F or 4L mean 4 pounds of the a.i. per gallon. They are considered
to be liquids because the end use product is a thick liquid. Flowables are often used for the same types of
pest control operations as ECs.

Formulation Advantages Disadvantages

F, L, or SC Easy to handle and measure;  Low absorption into skin; Will settle,
Seldom burns plant foliage;  Easy requires moderate agitation;
May
to tank mix; No dust exposure for leave a visible residue; May wear
applicator spray nozzles

Microencapsulated Pesticides (M or ME)

These are dry particles or liquid droplets surrounded by a plastic, starch or

other material coating. They are mixed with water and applied as sprays.
After application, there is a “timed” or slow release of the a.i.
Depending on the physical properties of the coating, release may be
weather-dependent. If the release is slower than normal (for example, due
to dry or cool weather), residues may remain on treated plants or surfaces
longer than expected. As a result, some microencapsulated products have
relatively long restricted-entry or pre-harvest intervals.

Some microencapsulated pesticide products contain highly toxic materials with coatings to increase handler
safety. Others are microencapsulated to reduce staining or odor or to protect the active ingredient from
breakdown by sunlight. Microencapsulated insecticides may be very hazardous to bees if the particles do
not break down quickly and are the same size as pollen grains. Foraging bees may collect them and carry
them back to the hive Later when the coatings break down and release the pesticide the colony may be
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them back to the hive. Later, when the coatings break down and release the pesticide, the colony may be
poisoned. Some microencapsulated soil-applied products may be more prone to leaching into groundwater.

Formulation Advantages Disadvantages

M or ME Safer handling; Longer residual control; Pollen size particles are a bee hazard;
Reduced plant
injury (burn) Require agitation;
Slower breakdown
may cause higher residue at harvest

Aerosol (A)

These formulations contain one or more active ingredients and a solvent.

Most aerosols contain a low percentage of active ingredient. There are two
types of formulations.

Ready-to-use (RTU) aerosol formulations are usually small, self-contained

units that release pesticide when the nozzle valve is triggered. An inert
pressurized gas pushes the pesticide through a fine opening when the gas is released, creating fine
droplets. These products are effective in greenhouses, in small areas inside buildings, or in localized
outdoor areas. Commercial models, which hold 5 to 10 pounds of pesticide, are usually refillable.
Smoke or Fog Generator formulations are used in machines that use a rapidly whirling disk or
heated surface to produce and distribute very fine droplets. These formulations are used mainly for
insect control in structures such as greenhouses, barns, and warehouses and for outdoor mosquito and
biting fly control. Both provide easy ways to treat confined spaces but have high inhalation hazards
and aerosols have a high risk of fire/explosion.

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Dry Formulations
The active ingredient is on the surface of a solid carrier, such as talc, clay, or ground corncobs.

Granules (G)

Granules are ready-to-use formulations. The active ingredient either coats

the outside of the granules or is absorbed into small particles of clay, talc,
or similar carrier. The amount of active ingredient is relatively low, usually
ranging from less than 1% to 15%. The carriers in many granular
formulations absorb moisture so humidity affects their flow rate during
application. Also, different “batches” of the same formulation may
differ slightly in size or shape and density. Therefore, it is important to
calibrate granular application devices often.

After application, the active ingredient is slowly released. Rainfall or

watering usually is needed to activate the product. Granular formulations
are mostly used to apply chemicals to the soil to control weeds, nematodes, or soil insects. Granular
formulations are used to deliver systemic pesticides which are taken up by plant roots. They also are used in
aquatic situations to control mosquito larvae and aquatic weeds. 

Formulation Advantages Disadvantages

G Carries the
formulation to target; May Needs moisture for
activation; Potential
break down more slowly bird ingestion hazard

 

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Wettable Powders (WP or W)

Active ingredients are applied to finely ground talc or clay particles. Most WP formulations also include
wetting and/or dispersing agents. Usually, they are mixed with water to form a suspension and applied as a
spray. They will settle quickly without constant agitation. To prepare a spray suspension, you must form a
slurry by mixing the WP with a small amount of water, then dilute this slurry mixture further.

Wettable powders are effective for most pest problems and in most types of spray equipment where
agitation is possible. They have excellent residual activity and usually do not harm treated surfaces. When
you apply a WP spray suspension to a target, most of the pesticide remains on the surface. This is true even
for porous materials, such as concrete, plaster, and untreated wood. In such cases, only the water carrier
penetrates the porous material. Wettable powder particles remain on the treated surface. 

Formulation Advantages Disadvantages

W or  WP Low skin absorption; Low potential to High inhalation hazard when pouring
burn foliage  and mixing; Requires
good agitation in
spray tank; Abrasive to nozzles and
  sprayer parts (not SP)

Soluble Powder (SP or S)

These formulations
look like wettable powders. However, when mixed with water, soluble powders
dissolve
readily in water and form a true solution. After a thorough mixing, no
additional agitation is necessary. The
amount of active ingredient in soluble
powders ranges from 15% to 95%; it usually is more than 50%. Soluble
powders
have all the advantages of WPs but only one of the disadvantages: inhalation
hazard during
mixing. The insecticide acephate is one of the few pesticides
available in this formulation because very few
active ingredients dissolve in
water.

Water-Dispersible Granules (WDG) or Dry Flowables (DF)

These are WP formulations that have been compressed into dust-free,

granule-sized particles. Most come with product-specific measuring
devices. The dry ounce (or pound) increment marks on them are based on
product density (weight per unit volume).These formulations readily pour
out of their containers and are are easier to measure and cleaner to handle
than WPs. They too are mixed with water and applied as a spray suspension. Once in water and agitated, the
granules break apart into fine powder. The label may contain specific instructions to make mixing more
effective. These formulations require constant agitation to keep them suspended in water.

WDGs share the advantages and disadvantages of WPs. However, WDGs have one added benefit: reduced
handler exposure risk. A label for an 80 WDG indicates that this dry product contains 80% by weight of
active ingredient and is formulated as a water-dispersible granule. 

Formulation Advantages Disadvantages

WDG or DF Low skin absorption; Low potential to High inhalation hazard when pouring
burn foliage  and mixing; Requires good agitation in
spray tank; Abrasive to nozzles and
  sprayer parts

Water-Soluble Bags/Packages (WSB)

An increasing number of pesticide products are available in water-soluble bags

(WSBs). A special film packages a precise amount of wettable powder, soluble
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( ) p p g p p ,
powder, or gel containing the pesticide active ingredient(s). When added to water
in a spray tank, the bag dissolves and releases the contents that then are
suspended or dissolved. This packaging method reduces handler exposure risk. It
also simplifies measuring.

Water-soluble packaging will not dissolve in organic solvents or undiluted ECs.

As a result, mixers and loaders must follow label instructions when preparing a
spray mixture. Store water-soluble products in a dry place, and do not handle
them with damp or wet gloves. Packets contain amounts of pesticide for specific
spray volumes, such as 100 gallons of water.

Formulation Advantages Disadvantages

WSB or WSP Safe handling; Precise pre-measured Suitable for specific volumes only; Packets
amounts may
deteriorate or tear.

Baits (B)

These are RTU formulations containing an active ingredient mixed with food or another attractive substance.
The bait either attracts the pests or is placed where the pests will find it. Application may require specialized
equipment and treatment costs may be too great for problems such as slug control in no-till corn or
soybeans. 

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Pesticide Tank Mixtures

Combining two or more pesticides in a tank mix can be convenient and cost-effective, saving time, labor,
fuel, and equipment wear. Combined applications also reduce soil compaction and the risk of mechanical
damage to crops or treated areas. Situations appropriate for tank mixing include combining a fungicide and
insecticide to treat fruit trees or field crops or to combine two (2) or more herbicides to increase the number
of weed species controlled (broadened control spectrum). 

Manufacturers may combine two or more pesticides, commonly applied at the same time, in premix
packages. If a desired premix is not available, Federal law allows you to combine two or more pesticides
unless the labeling of one or more of the intended products specifically prohibits it. For example, some
sample tank mix warnings might include:

In a tank mixture, observe all restrictions, directions for use, crop/sites, use rates, dilution ratios,
precautions and limitations that appear on the tank mix product label.
*****

Do not exceed labeled dosage rate and follow the most restrictive label precautions and limitations. This
product must not be mixed with any product that prohibits such mixing.
*****

Tank mixtures or other applications of products referenced on this label are permitted only in those states
in which the referenced products and uses are registered.

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Compatibility of Pesticide Mixes

Pesticides must be compatible in order to provide effective pest control. If the labels do not give mixing
instructions but do not prohibit it, then you are responsible for

determining compatibility by “jar testing” the combinations. AND

checking for phytotoxicity (plant injury) by testing the mixture on a small number of plants.

  

Pesticides can be incompatible for one of two main reasons:

physical - they gel, curdle, foam, or stay in separate layers when mixed.
chemical - their pest control activity changes when they are mixed.

Antagonism and synergism are the main types of chemical incompatibility. Antagonism occurs when the
pest control effectiveness of one or both mixed products is reduced. Synergism occurs when mixing
increases the activity of one or more products. This can produce more effective pest control in some cases but
in other cases, the result can be crop damage.

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Additives / Adjuvants
Additives / adjuvants are chemicals that may improve the action of a pesticide OR change the
characteristics of a pesticide formulation or a spray mixture. Before using any adjuvant, consult the
pesticide product label. Some products have very specific recommendations or prohibitions for adjuvants. If
a label instructs you to use an adjuvant, use the type called for at the directed rate. Many products already
contain those adjuvants that the manufacturer or formulator feels are necessary or useful. Adding others
may actually decrease efficacy or result in unintended and possibly undesirable effects.

Adjuvants alone have no pesticidal activity so the EPA does not register them. As a result, there are no
standards for composition, quality, or performance. Contact the manufacturer if you have questions about
an adjuvant.

Types of Adjuvants

Antifoaming (defoaming) agent reduces excessive foaming of spray

mixtures that may result from using some surfactants and/or from
vigorous agitation.

Buffer or pH modifier allows pesticides to mix with diluents or other

pesticides of different acidities or alkalinities. A buffer should be added
first and mixed well. The water must be pH neutral or slightly acidic before
adding pesticides or other adjuvants.

Compatibility agent helps to combine pesticides (or pesticides and

f tili ) ff ti l th d li i t i i bl

Practice Questions

1) Which one of the following pesticide formulations

requires no agitation in the spray tank?  

1. SP
2. WDG
3. DF
4. M

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