FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
And
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)
TITLE
CARRIER OIL COMPOSITION FOR SPRAY OF FUNGICIDES ON RUBBER PLANTATION AND OTHER CROPS
APPLICANT INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD.
Nationality: A company duly registered under Indian Companies Act, 1956
Address: G-9, Ali Yavar Jung Marg,
Bandra (East), Mumbai - 400051,
Maharastra, India
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[01] The present invention relates to carrier oil compositions, in particular to an
environment-friendly carrier oil composition for spray of fungicides on rubber plantations and other crops. This invention also relates to a fungicidal composition using the carrier oil composition.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART
[02] Ever since man started cultivation, he has had to find ways to fend off attacks
from pests, bacteria, fungus etc. on the crops. Plants and crops must be protected from such attacks. Growth in human population has automatically generated corresponding growth in agriculture, which is one of the largest industries in the world. But it suffers huge losses due to attacks from various pests and insects. Apart from pests and insects a variety of diseases also pose serious problems for the fanners. Traditionally, pesticides, insecticides or fungicides are used along with a variety of petroleum products, which are either used as diluent or carrier fluid for the insecticides.
[03] Plant diseases like abnormal leaf fall disease are major problems in preserving
various plants and trees, particularly the rubber plantations, and spray of fungicides like copper oxychloride by mixing it in a carrier oil is done to control the disease. Traditionally, kerosene type petroleum fractions are used as carrier oils for spraying fungicides on plantations. After spraying, all of these go to the environment. As kerosene fractions are lighter and comparatively more volatile than oils they pose health and environmental hazard.
[04] As fungicide is the main active ingredient, not much attention has been given to
the type of carrier oil or its biological fate and extensive literature search has further verified this
fact. Some of the citations collected during literature search are given below.
[05] Yuri Nakamura et al. of Earth Chemical Co (JP2008019226) have reported
compositions, spray products, and method for controlling fruit flies. The compositions that can provide excellent control of fruit flies of the genus Drosophila without the need for insecticides contain component chosen from surfactants that can be dissolved or solubilized in water or aqueous solvents, plant essential oils, ethanol, and reduced saccharified starch.

[06] Chinese patent CN101120674 assigned to Xuewen Zhang et al. discloses a
fungicide for controlling powdery mildew and anthractiose diseases of rubber tree, its
preparation method and application. The disclosed fungicide is composed of chlorothalonil 5-
15%, prochloraz 5-15%, triadimefon 5-20%, synergistic agent 0.1 -2%, and organic solvent 49.9-
83%.
[07] Japanese Patent JP2007302594 assigned to Koichi Shimada discloses a pesticide
solution containing titanium oxide and antimicrobial metal and method for controlling fungal
diseases of crops. The disclosed composition has shown antimicrobial action for a long time,
even in dark places; moreover, the pesticide adheres well to the leaf surface. A stock solution
containing titanium oxide and a complex of an antimicrobial metal (e.g., Cu) is diluted and used.
The pesticide also functions as a fungicide that controls crop diseases caused by filamentous
fungi. Crops can be grown well by spraying this pesticide on the leaf surface.
[08] A cockroach control spray composition containing mint oil, 1-menthol, and
kerosene is disclosed by Kiyotaka Ishida et al. (JP2005170853). The composition, which shows
rapid knockdown and lethal activity, contains mint oil, 1-menthol (I), and kerosene.
[09] JP2005206486 reported by Kenji Matsumuni et al. of Sumitomo Chemical Co
discloses an insecticidal oil composition containing petroleum hydrocarbon oils, nonionic
surfactants, and filamentous fungi,.their manufacture, and application for insect control. The
compositions shows good viability of the insecticidal filamentous fungi, reduced injury to plants,
and improved insecticidal activity.
[10] A method for controlling and treating plant fungal diseases is disclosed by Baoju
Li et al. of Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,
People Republic of China (CN1640233). The method comprises controlling and treating plant
fungal diseases by applying a regulating agent (having a pH value of 7.5-10.4) to the leaf surface
of a plant, so as to inhibit the germination of spores of pathogenic fungi and expansion of the
lesion. The method has the advantages of reduced usage amount of pesticide, reduced pollution
to environment, and applicability to organic vegetable industry.
[11] Process of manufacturing water-dispersibl^ granules of fungicidal copper
oxychloride is disclosed by Deepak Shah et al. of Sulphur Mills Limited, India (IN 185666).
[12] PCT Application WO1997039627 by Keith Jones of Mycogen Corporation
discloses an oil-based fatty acid herbicidal composition in which fatty acid herbicides are applied

in an oil-based formulation without dilution in water. Pelargonic acid is a suitable fatty acid, and SUN 1 IN a suitable oil. The application volume rate is low, i.e., 25 gal/acre or less, which saves time, energy and other resources. Less fatty acid herbicide is also employed for equivalent control using high volume water-based formulations.
[13] GB1596262 assigned by Tow Ming Lim of Rubber Research Institute of
Malaysia discloses that Oidium secondary leaf fall of mature rubber trees was controlled by spraying or fogging the plants with a systemic fungicide in a nonphytotoxic light hydrocarbon oil with an optical surface-active agent. For example, rubber plants were sprayed with 0.05% tridemorph [24602-86-6] in Shellfiex 214 NC with 0.1% Triton X-45 [9002-93-1]. After 5 days leaves were detached, washed, inoculated with Oidium, and incubated. Sporulation intensity after 12 days was 7.0 conidiophores/colony; corresponding values were 57.4 and 61.2 for plants treated with Shellfiex 214 NC and untreated controls respectively.
[14] A method for treating fungal diseases in banana plants is disclosed by Richard
Charles Young of Crop Culture (Overseas) Limited (GB1092393). The treatment is effected by application, preferably by aerial spraying of an oil-in-H20 emulsion containing an emulsifier, the oil component being a medium viscosity refined mineral oil or a gas oil. The emulsion does not contain chemical fungicides, but plant growth trace elements (Mn, Zn, Mo, B, Fe, and/or Cu, Mg, N, P, and/or K) may be present. Thus, an emulsion containing 0.75 imperial gallon I (Esso Orchard Spray Oil, Shell Vapona E, or Texaco 522), 0.75 imperial gallon H20, 20 cc. Triton, 0.66 ounce ZnS04, and 0.59 ounce MnS04, applied at a rate of 1.5 imperial gallons/acre, inhibits the growth of leaf spot disease. In comparative tests with chemical fungicides, partial or total breakdown of control occurs.
[15] GB1044895 assigned to Tennessee Corporation discloses an emulsified copper
fungicide for controlling plant diseases. The disclosed compound, which forms a stable emulsion
on adding to water, consists of Cu salts of fatty and rosin acids 40-50%, nonionic emulsifier 10-
15%, and spraying oil 35-40%. The Copper compound may be Copper oleate, Copper linoleate,
Copper abietate or mixture and the emulsifier is an alkylphenoxy-polytethylene glycol.
[16] Methods and compositions using a petroleum oil fraction are disclosed by
Kenneth E. Maxwell Moyer Chemical Company (US3285201). The control of Insecta and Acarina pests by means of a petroleum fraction (90 wt % bp at 550-650°F plus 5% above and 5% below this temperature). This fraction is applied to the pest habitat in the form of a water

emulsion containing 0.1-2.0 wt% of the said fraction which is relatively nonphytotoxic. An
aliphatic such as kerosene, or other diluents such as an oil miscible ketone or alcohol, may be
incorporated for ease of operation and to reduce penetration into plant tissues.
[17] GB860942A assigned to Exxon Research Engineering Co discloses a fungicidal
and insecticidal composition which comprise from 5 to 50% by volume of the vegetable oils, and from 50 to 95 % by volume of the paraffinic oil, however no mention has been made about lighter petroleum fraction. Moreover GB860942A also discloses that the paraffin oil used has a paraffmic oil has a viscosity of from 5 to 10 cSt at 37.7°C. The invention discloses various suspending agents have been proposed to improve the stability of these paraffinic suspensions. It has now been discovered that the stability of such paraffinic suspensions can be greatly enhanced by using a vegetable oil which is miscible with paraffinic oil.
[18] As described, it can be seen from the prior art that information is not available on
such type of products particularly developing an environment-friendly carrier oil for spraying fungicides particularly copper oxychloride on various plants.
[19] Efforts are therefore, made to develop an environment-friendly carrier oil for
spraying fungicides on plants and trees particularly rubber plantations.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[20] An aim of the present invention is to provide a more environment-friendly carrier
oil composition for spray of fungicides on rubber plantations and other crops.
[21] Another aim of the invention is to provide a more environment-friendly carrier oil
composition for spray of fungicides on rubber plantations and other crops, which is less volatile.
[22] Yet another aim of the invention is to provide a more environment-friendly carrier
oil composition for spray of fungicides on rubber plantations and other crops, which provides
easy miscibility for fungicides and particularly copper oxychloride.
[23] A further aim of the invention is to provide a more environment-friendly carrier
oil composition for spray of fungicides on rubber plantations and other crops, which has
excellent retention of fungicide on plant leaves.

[24] A still further aim of the invention is to provide a more environment-friendly
carrier oil composition for spray of fungicides on rubber plantations and other crops, which is
more bio-degradable than conventional kerosene type carrier oils.
[25 j Another aim of the invention is to provide a more environment-friendly carrier oil
composition for spray of fungicides on rubber plantations and other crops, which control various
diseases of plants and trees, more particularly abnormal leaf fall disease in rubber plantations.
[26] Yet another aim of the invention is to provide a more environment-friendly carrier
oil composition for spray of fungicides on rubber plantations and other crops, which generate
low mist during spraying of fungicides.
[27] Further aim of the invention is to provide a more environment-friendly carrier oil
composition for spray of fungicides on rubber plantations and other crops, which is more user
friendly than conventional kerosene type carrier oils.
[28] A further aim of the invention is to provide a more environment-friendly carrier
oil composition for spray of fungicides on rubber plantations and other crops, which is non-
phytotoxic in nature.
[29] The further aim of the invention is to provide for an environment-friendly
fungicidal spray oil composition.
[30] Still another aim of the invention is to provide a method of controlling fungi on
plants/trees or other crops.
[31] Still further, another aim of the invention is to provide a method of controlling
various diseases of plants/trees or other crops.
[32] According to this invention there is provided an environment-friendly carrier oil
composition for spray of fungicides on plants/trees comprising a combination of one or more of
vegetable oils and/or esters thereof, a paraffinic oil, and a lighter petroleum oil fraction. The
optimised combination of these can be used as carrier oil for spraying fungicides on plants and
trees.
[33] The paraffinic oil used for the invention has kinematic viscosity of 10-16 cSt at
40°C, unsulphonated residue of more than 95, aromatic content of less than 0.5% by wt and
saturates more than 99% by wt.
[34] The ester of vegetable oils is selected from one or more long chain alkyl or lower
alkyl from methyl, propyl or ethyl esters of vegetable oils made by their transesterification.

Preferred vegetable oils are selected from one or more of rapeseed oil, mustard oil, palm oil,
karanjia oil, jatropa oil, sun flower oil, jojoba oil, soybean oil, rice bran oil, other similar type of
edible and non edible oils.
[35] The lighter petroleum oil fraction has a boiling range of 200-300°C and aromatics
<10wt%.
[36] The paraffinic oil used in the present invention has a concentration range of up to
30 wt%.
[37] The concentration of alkyl esters of vegetable oil (edible or non-edible) is 5 to 90
wt%.
[38] The concentration of lighter petroleum fraction used in the invention is from 10 to
80 wt%.
[39] The invention further provides for an environment-friendly fungicidal spray oil
composition which comprises a blend of one or more fungicides with the carrier oil as described
above.
[40] According to this invention the fungicide/s used is selected from the known class
of fungicides but preferably copper oxychloride.
[41] The carrier oil composition of the invention provides excellent spreading property
over plant surface and retention of copper and other fungicides on leaves of plants and trees after
spraying.
[42] The carrier oil composition for spray of fungicides of the invention is
environment friendly and applicable on all plants/trees/crops particularly rubber plants.
[43] The carrier oil composition according to the invention is less volatile, is easily
miscible with the fungicide used particularly copper oxychloride and is more bio-degradable than
conventional kerosene type carrier oils.
[44] The fungicidal spray oil obtained from the carrier oil composition of the invention
is useful on rubber plantations and other crops, which control various diseases of plants and
trees, more particularly abnormal leaf fall disease in rubber plantations. The composition
generates low mist during spraying of fungicides and is more user-friendly than conventional
kerosene type carrier oil.
[45] The carrier oil composition of the invention is non-phytotoxic.

[46] The process of evaluating and identifying a preferred composition of carrier oil
composition is further described below:
EXPERIMENT
[47] In order to develop suitable carrier oil, a number of compositions using paraffinic
petroleum oil having ASTM colour L0.5, kinematic viscosity at 40°C 10.0 to 16.0 cSt, sulphur <10.0ppm, saturates >99.0% and aromatics <0.2%; lighter petroleum fraction of distillation range 220°C to 290°C, kinematic viscosity of 2.2 to 2.7 cSt and ASTM colour L0.5 and long chain alkyl (methyl, propyl or ethyl) esters of vegetable oil is selected from rapeseed oil, mustard oil, palm oil, karanjia oil, jatropa oil, sun flower oil, jojoba oil, soybean oil, rice bran oil and similar type of edible and non edible oils having different physico-chemical properties, were prepared in the laboratory.
[48] In order to make carrier oil compositions, the hydro processed paraffinic oil was
taken in a beaker and heated to 30 to 35°C. Now fraction of lighter petroleum oil was added and the blend was stirred for half hrs. Subsequently, vegetable oil and/or its ester was added and the final blend was stirred for 1 hrs. If no visual separation of the components was observed within two hrs than the blend was used for lab testing. One of the most promising composition containing highly paraffinic oil upto 30 weight % and alkyl ester of vegetable oil from 5 to 90 wt% and lighter petroleum fraction from 10 to 80 wt% was field evaluated for spray of copper oxy chloride by dispersing 8 Kg copper oxychloride in 40 liters of proposed carrier oil and spraying it over an area of one hectare on mature plantation of a variety of RRIM 600 in Kerala State.
[49] However, best results were obtained when the carrier oil composition is
containing paraffinic oil upto 20 wt% and alkyl ester of vegetable oil from 5 to 40 wt% and lighter petroleum oil fraction from 30 to 70 wt%. After the spraying retention leaves was observed 37.1% and 39.4% respectively at two different locations. Copper retention on leaves was also determined by first measuring surface area and weight of the leaves than burning these leaves in controlled atmosphere and determining presence of copper in the ash generated by

ICAP technique. Excellent copper retention was observed with disclosed composition of carrier
oil.
[50] The embodiments of the present invention given herein are for illustration only
and not to be construed as limitative. Other possible embodiments of the invention will be
apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the
invention disclosed herein. The scope and spirit of the invention are governed by the following
appended claims.

WE CLAIM
1. An environment-friendly carrier oil composition for spray of fungicides on plants/ trees comprising a combination of one or more of vegetable oils and/oT esters thereof, a paraffinic oil and a lighter petroleum oil fraction.
2. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vegetable oil is selected from edible and/or non-edible oils.
3. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vegetable oil is selected from one or more of rapeseed oil, mustard oil, palm oil, karanjia oil, jatropa oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil, soyabean oil, ricebran oil and the like.
4. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ester of vegetable oils is selected from alkyl esters such as methyl, ethyl, propyl esters and the like.
5. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ester of vegetable oils is selected from long chain alkyl esters.
6. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ester of vegetable oils is prepared by transesterification.
7. The composition as claimed in claims 1, wherein the vegetable oils used are 100% bio-degradable.

8. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the paraffnic oil used is having a kinematic viscosity of 10-16 cSt at 40°C, unsulphonated residue of more than 95% by wt, aromatic content of less than 0.5 % by wt and saturates more than 99% by wt.
9. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lighter petroleum oil fraction is having a boiling range of 2O0-300°C and aromatics <10 wt%.
10. The composition as claimed in claim I, wherein the concentration of paraffmic oil is up to 30 wt%, that of vegetable oil and/or ester thereof 5 to 90 wt% and that of lighter petroleum fraction from 10-80 wt%,
11. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the concentration of paraffmic oil is up to 20 wt%, that of vegetable oil and/or alkyl ester from 5-40 wt% and that of lighter petroleum oil fractions from 30-70wt%.
12. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fungicide to be applied with the carrier oil is preferably copper oxychloride.
13. An environment-friendly fungicidal spray oil composition comprising a blend of one or more fungicides with a carrier oil composition of claims 1-11.
14. The composition as claimed in claim 13, wherein the fungicide is copper oxychloride.

15. An environment-friendly fungicidal spray oil composition as claimed in claims 13 or 14 for controlling various diseases of plants and other crops particularly abnormal leaf fall disease in rubber plants.
16. A method of controlling fungi on plants/trees comprising spraying fungicidal spray oil composition of claim 13 on the plants/trees.
17. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the plants/trees are rubber plants/trees or other crops.
18. A method of controlling various diseases of plants and other crops particularly abnormal leaf fall disease in rubber plants comprising spraying fungicidal spray oil composition of claim 13 or 14 on the plants/trees.