FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10; rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Improved Fungicidal Formulation Suitable For Organic Agriculture
2. APPLICANT(S)

1 2
(a) NAME:Excel Crop Care Limited(b) NATIONALITY: Indian Company(c) ADDRESS:184-87 S.V. Road, Jogeshwari (West), Mumbai 400102, Maharashtra, India. (a) NAME:C. C. Shroff Research Institute(b) NATIONALITY: Indian(c) ADDRESS:Ram House, 2nd Floor, Gaiwadi Industrial Estate, Goregaon (West), Mumbai 400 062, Maharashtra, India
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:
The following complete specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed


Improved Fungicidal Formulation Suitable For Organic Agriculture
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a novel granular formulation of sulfur useful as a fungicide for organic agriculture, method of manufacturing and using the same. In the said formulation, all eco-friendly ingredients have been used which are of natural origin and do not exhibit phytotoxicity.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
Sulfur is a natural bio-pesticide particularly used as fungicide and insecticide on hundreds of food and feed crops, turf, ornamentals and residential sites. It is also used as a fertilizer. It is effective for reclamation of alkaline soils.
Sulfur in finely divided dust form is blown on the crops. There are many brands which contain sulfur dust. The disadvantage of this form is that it forms aggregation into large particles which are difficult to retain on the vegetation. In addition, dust form is difficult to handle.
To overcome abovementioned aggregation problem with sulfur dust, invention described in US 1629528 discloses use of magnesium carbonate. US2069568 discloses use of dicalcium phosphate to obtain free flowing sulfur dust.
US3461080 describes a dispersible formulation of sulfur prepared by homogenizing emulsion of molten sulfur in an aqueous solution of alkali metal lignosulphonate followed by drying the emulsion to obtain dry powder. As melting point of sulfur is about 113°C which is above boiling


point of water, a pressure vessel is required in this process. The ratio of lignosulphonate to sulfur in the formulation of said invention is at least 1:1.5. Moreover, the product obtained is in powder form which is to be dispersed in water and sprayed. Powder form is not convenient from packing and handling point of view. There is high proportion of inactive component in this formulation.
Therefore there is a need for a granular formulation of sulfur which overcomes abovementioned disadvantages.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
The main object of present invention is to provide an eco-friendly granular formulation of sulfur which is non-dusty and easy to handle.
Another object of invention is to provide a granular formulation of sulfur which is cost-effective.
Another object of invention is to provide a simple and non-hazardous process for manufacturing granular formulation of sulfur.
Another object of invention is to provide a method of using the invented formulation for effective control of plant disease.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
The inventors of present invention have developed a granular formulation of sulfur and a process for manufacturing thereof, using appropriate ratio of sulfur to alkali metal lignosulphonate in such a way that it performs effectively as dispersing as well as binding agent. The formulation when manufactured by said process has desired qualities of


being adequately loaded with the active component and at the same time it is dust free, easy to handle and use.
Though technically any alkali metal lignosulphonate can be used to prepare the formulation of present invention, sodium lignosulphonate may be preferred due to economic reasons as well as easy availability thereof.
The granular formulation of present invention may be prepared either by extrusion or by spray-granulation process.
The first method (extrusion) includes the steps of (1) grinding technical sulfur containing at least 1% moisture so as to eliminate fire hazard during the process of particle size reduction (2) adding an eco-friendly dispersing cum binding agent and mixing (3) further reducing the particle size by a suitable process such as air-jet milling so that more than 90% particles become <10 m (4) adding water and mixing to prepare dough (5) extruding dough to form granules (6) drying the granules preferably at 50-65°C.
The second method (spray-granulation) includes the steps of (1) grinding technical sulfur containing at least 1% moisture so as to eliminate fire hazard during the process of particle size reduction (2) adding an eco-friendly dispersing cum binding agent & water, and mixing to prepare slurry (3) further reducing the particle size by a suitable process such as bead-milling so that more than 90% particles become <10 m (5) passing the slurry through spray granulator to obtain granules.
EXAMPLE-1
81.8 g. Sulfur containing 1% moisture was ground to obtain material passing through 60 mesh. 19.2 g. sodium lignosulphonate was added.


The mixture was subjected to air-jet milling for further reduction in particle size to obtain more than 90% of particles with particle size below 10 m. 18 ml water was added to the mixture to prepare dough which was extruded and dried at 55°C to obtain free-flowing granules.
EXAMPLE-2
61.6 g. Sulfur containing 1% moisture was ground to obtain material
passing through 60 mesh. 39.4 g. sodium lignosulphonate was added.
The mixture was subjected to air-jet milling for further reduction in
particle size to obtain more than 90% of particles with particle size below
10 m- 16 ml water was added to the mixture to prepare dough which was
extruded and dried at 55°C to obtain free-flowing granules.
EXAMPLE-3
71.7 g. Sulfur containing 1% moisture was ground to obtain material
passing through 60 mesh. 29.3 g. sodium lignosulphonate was added.
The mixture was subjected to air-jet milling for further reduction in
particle size to obtain more than 90% of particles with particle size below
10 m. 20 ml water was added to the mixture to prepare dough which was
extruded and dried at 55°C to obtain free-flowing granules.
EXAMPLE-4
91.9 g. Sulfur containing about 1% moisture was ground to obtain material passing through 60 mesh. 9.1 g. sodium lignosulphonate was added. The mixture was subjected to air-jet milling for further reduction in particle size to obtain more than 90% of particles with particle size below 10 m. 18 ml water was added to the mixture to prepare dough which was extruded and dried at 55°C to obtain free-flowing granules.


EXAMPLE-5
81.8 g. Sulfur containing 1% moisture was ground to obtain material
passing through 60 mesh. 19.2 g. sodium lignosulphonate was added.
50 ml water was added to prepare slurry. The mixture was subjected to
bead-milling for further reduction in particle size to obtain more than
90% of particles with particle size below 10 m. It was then subjected to
spray-granulation and drying at 65°C to obtain free-flowing granules.
EXAMPLE-6
61.6 g. Sulfur containing 1% moisture was ground to obtain material passing through 60 mesh. 39.4 g. sodium lignosulphonate was added. 50 ml water was added to prepare slurry. The mixture was subjected to bead-milling for further reduction in particle size to obtain more than 90% of particles with particle size below 10 m- It was then subjected to spray-granulation and drying at 65°C to obtain free-flowing granules.
EXAMPLE-7
71.7g. Sulfur containing 1% moisture was ground to obtain material passing through 60 mesh. 29.3 g. sodium lignosulphonate was added. 50 ml water was added to prepare slurry. The mixture was subjected to bead-milling for further reduction in particle size to obtain more than 90% of particles with particle size below 10 m. It was then subjected to spray-granulation and drying at 65°C to obtain free-flowing granules.
EXAMPLE-8
91.9 g. Sulfur containing 1% moisture was ground to obtain material
passing through 60 mesh. 9.1 g. sodium lignosulphonate was added. 50


ml water was added to prepare slurry. The mixture was subjected to bead-milling for further reduction in particle size to obtain more than 90% of particles with particle size below 10 m. It was then subjected to spray-granulation and drying at 65°C to obtain free-flowing granules.
The formulation of present invention is a contact fungicide which can be used by spraying an aqueous dispersion of said formulation. A dispersion of 1.8 - 2.5 Kg. of the formulation prepared as given in Example-1 in about 1000 lit. water can be sprayed per hectare to control powdery mildew. Formulation prepared in accordance with other Examples can be similarly used by taking dose rate of 1.5 - 2.0 Kg of active component per hectare.


CLAIMS
1. A process for preparation of granular formulation of sulfur comprising steps of (1) grinding 62-92 w% technical sulfur containing at least 1% moisture (2) adding 9-40 wt% dispersing and binding agent(s) and mixing (3) further reducing the particle size (4) adding water and mixing to prepare dough (5) extruding dough to form granules (6) drying the granules.
2. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dispersing and binding agent(s) include alkali metal lignosulphonate
3. A process as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said dispersing and binding agent is sodium lignosulphonate.
4. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein particle size is further
reduced as per step-3 thereof, to obtain more than 90% of particles below
10 m.
5. A granular formulation of sulfur which is prepared in accordance
with the process claimed in any of the claims 1-4.
6. A process for preparation of granular formulation of sulfur comprising steps of (1) grinding 62-92 w% technical sulfur containing at least 1% moisture (2) adding 9-40 wt% dispersing and binding agent(s) 8B water and mixing to prepare slurry (3) further reducing the particle size (4) passing the slurry through spray granulator to obtain granules (5) drying the granules.
7. A process as claimed in claim 6, wherein said dispersing and binding agent(s) include alkali metal lignosulphonate


8. A process as claimed in claims 6 or 7, wherein said dispersing and binding agent is sodium lignosulphonate.
9. A process as claimed in claim 6, wherein particle size is further reduced as per step-3 thereof, to obtain more than 90% of particles below 10 m.

10. A granular formulation of sulfur which is prepared in accordance with the process claimed in any of the claims 6-9.
11. A method of controlling fungus by spraying an aqueous solution of the granular formulation of sulfur as claimed in claims 5 or 10.

ABSTRACT
A granular formulation of sulfur useful as a fungicide for organic agriculture and a method of manufacture thereof has been disclosed. The formulation is eco-friendly, non-dusty, easy to handle and use. The manufacturing process is simple and non-hazardous.