Tenon - A novel non-ionic wetter and spreader

Interagro are introducing a new non-ionic wetting and spreading agent, Tenon, which offers advantages of safer transportation and environment profiles as well as effective enhancement of partner product performance.

"Tenon has been developed from new chemistry and is compliant with the new legislation which has recently banned the inclusion of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) in any adjuvant or crop protection formulation. It may be used as a replacement for any adjuvant based on NPE such as Agral and Wetta Plus. Products containing NPE in their formulation had their approval revoked with effect from the 31st December 2006, so it is opportune that the approval of Tenon has come in at this time," explains Alan East, Technical Manager for Interagro UK Ltd.

"Tenon is designed to lower the surface tension of the spray solution, improving the wetting and spreading of the plant protection product over the intended target. Results from a Draves Wetting Test, a standard industry test, shows that Tenon has a much more rapid wetting time (3.3 seconds at 0.10% concentration) compared to NPE based wetters (14 seconds for Agral at 0.10 % concentration and 8 seconds for Agral at 0.15%, ensuring maximum coverage and better control. It is effective for difficult to wet situations such as waxy leaves or dense crop canopies. It also works well in both high and low temperatures and under poor growing conditions," says Alan.

Tenon is not included in the Dangerous Goods legislation and has an improved ecotox profile compared to NPE. Being biodegradable it is not classified as being dangerous to the environment. Tenon may be used with plant protection products which have a requirement of a non-ionic wetter on the label, such as a range of graminicides and SU based herbicides. It is recommended at a rate of 0.1%-0.15% dilution of the final spray dilution.