Richard C Kramer

US Patent:

6448434, Sep 10, 2002

Filed:

Jul 25, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/624949

Inventors:

Richard M. Kramer - Chesterfield MO

Assignee:

Monsanto Technology LLC - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

C07F 938

US Classification:

562 17, 504206

Abstract:

A process is provided for preparing ammonium glyphosate powder suitable for downstream processing by extrusion to make a granular formulation comprising ammonium glyphosate and surfactant. The process comprises (a) mixing (i) solid particulate glyphosate acid, (ii) water in an amount of about 0. 5 to about 3 parts by weight per part by weight of glyphosate acid, and (iii) a base that supplies ammonium cations, in an amount of about 0. 8 to about 1. 25 mole equivalents of ammonia per mole of glyphosate acid, to form an aqueous reaction medium; (b) allowing the glyphosate acid to react with the base in the reaction medium to form a reaction product comprising a concentrated aqueous solution of ammonium glyphosate; (c) drying the reaction product, for example with a drum dryer, to recover a particulate solid; and (d) accelerating the particulate solid in a turbulent high-velocity gas stream, for example in a jet mill, to form by particle-particle attrition an ammonium glyphosate powder having a mean particle size of about 5 to about 20 m.

US Patent:

6599858, Jul 29, 2003

Filed:

Jul 25, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/703077

Inventors:

Richard M. Kramer - Chesterfield MO

Assignee:

Monsanto Technology LLC - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

A01N 5718

US Classification:

504206, 562 17

Abstract:

A process is provided for preparing ammonium glyphosate flakes, comprising (a) mixing (i) solid particulate glyphosate acid, (ii) water in an amount of about 0. 5 to about 3 parts by weight per part by weight of glyphosate acid, and (iii) a base that supplies ammonium cations, in an amount of about 0. 8 to about 1. 25 mole equivalents of ammonia per mole of glyphosate acid, to form an aqueous reaction medium; (b) allowing the glyphosate acid to react with the base in the reaction medium to form a reaction product comprising a concentrated aqueous solution of ammonium glyphosate; (c) drying the reaction product by contact thereof with a heated surface to form, primarily by evaporation of water, a solid deposit on the heated surface; and (d) scraping the solid deposit off the heated surface to recover dry flakes of ammonium glyphosate.

US Patent:

6605568, Aug 12, 2003

Filed:

Jul 27, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/627078

Inventors:

Brent D. Massmann - Ballwin MO
Richard M. Kramer - Chesterfield MO
John T. Wang - St. Louis MO
Marc Emile Toussaint - late of Corroy-le-Grand, BE

Assignee:

Monsanto Technology LLC - St. Louis MO
Monsanto Europe, S.A. - Brussels

International Classification:

A01N 5702

US Classification:

504127, 504128, 504206, 562 17

Abstract:

A process is provided for preparing a downstream processable ammonium glyphosate paste, comprising mixing in a suitable vessel (i) particulate glyphosate acid, (ii) ammonia in an amount of about 0. 8 to about 1. 25 moles per mole of the glyphosate acid, and (iii) water in an amount of about 10% to about 25% by weight of all materials being mixed in the vessel, thereby causing a reaction of the glyphosate acid and ammonia that generates heat causing partial evaporation of the water, and forms an ammonium glyphosate paste having a moisture content of about 5% to about 20% by weight. A process is also provided for preparing a dry granular herbicidal composition, comprising (a) forming an ammonium glyphosate paste as described above and thereafter, if the moisture content of the paste is greater than about 15% by weight, applying heat and/or vacuum to reduce the moisture content to about 5% to about 15% by weight; (b) thereafter adding to the paste, with mixing, one or more surfactants in a weight ratio of total surfactant to ammonium glyphosate of about 1:9 to about 1:3 to form an extrudable wet mix; (c) extruding the wet mix to form extrudate strands that break to form moist coherent granules; and (d) drying the granules to produce the dry granular composition.

US Patent:

57169039, Feb 10, 1998

Filed:

Jan 3, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/778890

Inventors:

Richard M. Kramer - Chesterfield MO
Thomas M. Day - Creve Coeur MO
Ralph E. Lindemann - St. Louis MO
Jane L. Gillespie - University City MO

Assignee:

Monsanto Company - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

A01N 5702

US Classification:

504206

Abstract:

Solid N-phosphonomethylglycine or glyphosate acid is charged to a substantially closed system and then partially pre-dried as by continuously recirculating it through a hot air grinding/drying system. A cooled solution of ammonium hydroxide is then metered into and reacted with the partially dried glyphosate acid as it is being recirculated in a manner such that the moisture content of the reaction mass so formed is continuously decreased throughout the reaction. Following completion of the ammonium hydroxide addition, a powdered reaction mass/product having a moisture content of about 2 wt. % is formed. Significantly, at this stage, the ammonium glyphosate product is suitable for end use and it can be readily dissolved in water and immediately used as a herbicide or plant growth regulator. More importantly, however, this product is capable due to its highly sorptive character to be further formulated into a product exceptionally highly loaded with adjuvants and particularly surfactants.

US Patent:

56333978, May 27, 1997

Filed:

Jun 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/485316

Inventors:

Jane L. Gillespie - University City MO
Thomas M. Day - Creve Coeur MO
Richard M. Kramer - Chesterfield MO

Assignee:

Monsanto Company - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

C07F 938

US Classification:

562 17

Abstract:

Solid N-phosphonomethylglycine or glyphosate acid in "wet cake" form is charged to a suitable mixer/reactor. A stoichiometric equivalent of anhydrous ammonia gas is fed to the mixer for direct reaction with the glyphosate acid as it is agitated within the mixer. A water Jacket containing circulating water or other suitable heat transfer facilitating means readily known to those in the art is adapted to the mixer and used to remove heat from the reactor produced by the exothermic reaction. The moisture content of the glyphosate wet cake, the design of the mixer including a preferred close tolerance relation between the inner walls of the reactor and its mixing impellers together with the relative location of the ammonia gas inlet in the mixer/reactor and maintenance of a reaction temperature of about 60. degree. C. or below are all important process variables. The ammonium glyphosate thereby produced is a highly sorptive, water-soluble powder suitable for end use as a plant growth regulator or as a herbicide without further processing.

US Patent:

62457136, Jun 12, 2001

Filed:

Apr 23, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/298136

Inventors:

Ronald J. Brinker - Ellisville MO
Andrew D. Dyszlewski - Maryland Heights MO
Jane L. Gillespie - St. Louis MO
Claude R. Jones - St. Louis MO
Richard M. Kramer - Chesterfield MO
Norman R. Pallas - Florissant MO
Rodney O. Radke - St. Charles MO
Anthony J. I. Ward - Clayton MO
Xiaodong C. Xu - St. Louis MO

Assignee:

Monsanto Company - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

A01N 2530
A01N 5702

US Classification:

504206

Abstract:

A composition for application to foliage of a plant to elicit a biological effect is provided. This plant treatment composition comprises, dissolved or dispersed in water, an anionic exogenous chemical substance such as the herbicide N-phosphonomethylglycine, together with (i) one or more alkylether surfactants each having the formula R. sup. 12 --O--(CH. sub. 2 CH. sub. 2 O). sub. n ((CHR). sub. 2 O). sub. m --R. sup. 13 wherein R. sup. 12 is an aliphatic saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group having about 16 to about 22 carbon atoms, n is an average number of about 5 to about 100, m is an average number of 0 to about 5, one R in each --((CHR). sub. 2 O)-- group is hydrogen and the other R is methyl, and R. sup. 13 is a hydrogen, C. sub. 1-4 alkyl or C. sub.

US Patent:

56144687, Mar 25, 1997

Filed:

Jun 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/472152

Inventors:

Richard M. Kramer - Chesterfield MO
Thomas M. Day - Creve Coeur MO
Ralph E. Lindemann - St. Louis MO
Jane L. Gillespie - University City MO

Assignee:

Monsanto Company - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

A01N 5702

US Classification:

504206

Abstract:

Solid N-phosphonomethylglycine or glyphosate acid is charged to a substantially closed system and then partially pre-dried as by continuously recirculating it through a hot air grinding/drying system. A cooled solution of ammonium hydroxide is then metered into and reacted with the partially dried glyphosate acid as it is being recirculated in a manner such that the moisture content of the reaction mass so formed is continuously decreased throughout the reaction. Following completion of the ammonium hydroxide addition, a powdered reaction mass/product having a moisture content of about 2 wt. % is formed. Significantly, at this stage, the ammonium glyphosate product is suitable for end use and it can be readily dissolved in water and immediately used as a herbicide or plant growth regulator. More importantly, however, this product is capable due to its highly sorptive character to be further formulated into a product exceptionally highly loaded with adjuvants and particularly surfactants.