Prolec™
To answer the demand for a multifunctional adjuvant, Prolec – a unique soy lecithin chemistry has been developed that is both environmentally friendly and superior in functionality in all adjuvant categories.
Prolec is a low foaming, nonionic surfactant that is biodegradable, improves chemical efficiency through better penetration, wetting and spreading properties, improved deposition/retention and drift reduction. Prolec is also APE free and tolerant to variations in pH and hard water.
Acidification Properties
Many agricultural chemicals can be influenced by the pH of the spray tank water that they are applied with. Prolec is a strong acidifier and buffer that will protect pesticides sensitive to alkaline hydrolysis. Alkaline hydrolysis is a process that degrades the effectiveness of pesticides when the pH is higher than 7. While Prolec is compatible with most pesticides, some pesticide manufacturers discourage the use of acidifiers, so be sure to always follow label instructions.
Wetter/Speading Properties
The use of Prolec allows for the reduction of surface tension providing better droplet dispersion and wetting on the plant surface. This manner of wetting can also be considered a humectant, preventing a process known as dry down. Dry down causes the spray droplets to dry more quickly than the plant’s ability to take up the full potential of the active ingredient. Prolec has proven ability to improve both retention and efficacy, two key characteristics not found in most adjuvants.
Compatibility Properties
Unlike most adjuvant products, Prolec has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties allowing it to be compatible with both oil soluble and water soluble products. This unique ability has special value when the need to tank mix emulsifiable products with water soluble formulations such as glyphosate is called for. Because of Prolec’s unique lecithin formulation, it will not come out of solution when tank mixed under hard water conditions and/or in the presence of micronutrient solutions.
Penetrant Properties
Prolec enhances the penetration of agricultural chemicals by disrupting the waxy barrier of the cuticle allowing penetration without dissolving the cuticle like many oil based surfactants. The result is a highly effective adjuvant that will have little risk of burn and phytotoxicity, which could result in yield loss.
Drift, Droplet Size and Coverage Properties
Prolec is highly versatile in creating an ideal droplet spectrum to address drift and coverage issues for herbicides, while still providing the optimal droplet size for fungicide and insecticide coverage.
Herbicides
University trials at both the University of Nebraska and The Ohio State University showed the following benefits of Prolec in glyphosate applications:
- Increased Number Median Diameter (NMD)
- Increased Volume Median Diameter (VMD)
- Increased droplet velocity
- Decreased Drift Potential
- Decreased number of oversized droplets
- Increased percentage of droplets in optimal range for herbicides
In trials, Prolec significantly outperformed a standard polyacrylamide/AMS solution and a Guar based product in reducing the amount of driftable droplets and provided a much larger percentage of ideal droplet sizes for proper coverage.
Fungicides and Insecticides
When applying fungicides, where smaller droplets are desired for better coverage, applications through TT nozzles or high pressure fog equipment, droplet size is not increased while still maintaining the other beneficial properties such as wetting, spreading, penetrating, retention, and acidification. Prolec will also reduce the amount of droplet bounce and shattering when applied through high pressure systems associated with fungicide and insecticide applications.
Improved Deposition and Retention
Prolec’s unique lecithin based formulations reduces bounce and droplet shattering resulting in greater deposition and retention of active ingredients on the target and improved efficacy. Improved Retention was documented in a trial performed by The Ohio State University.For the full story on Prolec, download the brochure here.