Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, India
Online published on 15 December, 2011.
Fourteen commercial grade solvents and their fractions were investigated for their effect on the physico-chemical and biological performance of fenvalerate emulsifiable concentrates (ECs). The density, kinematic viscosity, refractive index and flash point of the solvent fractions bore no relation with their hydrocarbon composition (aromatics, naphthenes, paraffins are olefins) but were directly related to the boiling range of the fraction. Fenvalerate and surfactant solubility was often high in solvents/fractions with higher aromatic content. The surfactant solubility was apparently influenced by its polyoxyethylene content. Except in case of Light Aluminium Rolling Oil (LARO), the physico-chemical characteristics of the fenvalerate emulsifiable concentrates in various solvents/fractions complied with the Indian Standard (11997, 1987). Except the emulsions from Ecs in solvents Aromax, CIX, Iomax, Aromax HAE and Extract II which were mildly phytotoxic against Lagenaria siceraria, with tht plants recovering in course of time, ththemaining 0.02% fenvalerate emulsions were non-phytotoxic against Pisum sativum, Cicer arietinum and Lagenaria siceraria. The concentrates prepared in certain fractions of Aromax, CIX and Extract I showed significantly superior bioactivity against Tribollum castaneum Herbst.
