Agricultural Chemicals

Breakthrough artificial antigen can detect pesticide residue on plants with simple test.
Simplicity and speed seen as impetus for commercialization.

The conventional methods of detecting and analyzing pesticide residues on plants require sophisticated equipment and is time consuming. Not any longer, so say a group of scientists reporting in the American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences. Expensive gas chromatographs or high-performance, liquid chromatography, found mostly in advanced laboratories, are being supplanted by in situ detection by immunoassay. This novel and promising analytical technique displays high specificity, sensitivity, simplicity and suitability for the analysis of a large number of plant samples in a short period of time, has exhibited potential usage in the detection of pesticide residues.

Research has shown that artificial antigens can be valuable approach in the detection of pesticide residues by directly/indirectly coupling hapten to an appropriated carrier macromolecule. This artificial antigen can induce plants to produce a hapten-specific reaction signifying the presence and level of pesticide.

Best-in-Class Agricultural Chemicals feature:

• Certificate of assay attesting to quality of the chemical purchase
• Discovery information on affects upon the dispersal of chemical in the atmosphere
• Additive processes that warn of nutrients in the environment

Top Considerations Before Buying: Agricultural Chemicals

Advance, pre-purchase manufacturer information on methods to measure agricultural compounds in water samples at environmentally relevant concentrations as well as knowledge of adverse processes on water bodies receiving drainage from agriculturally dominated watersheds.

Key Producers:

1. IodiTech, Inc. (formerly a division of West Agro Inc.) is a manufacturer and distributor of iodine derivatives, such as potassium iodide, sodium iodide and Ethylenediamine dihydroiodide (EDDI). Its sodium iodide comes as both a USP and ACS grade and is used as a stabilizer in various formulations, as a catalyst for synthesizing molecules, and as an additive in agricultural products. The company's products are used in polymers and nylon production, pharmaceutical manufacturing, industrial processing, dietary additives and laboratory reagents. Isolated, fail safe, and redundant production lines in the company's 40,000 square foot modern manufacturing facilities have eliminated potential cross-contamination issues associated with high purity products, while at the same time the dual system has served to minimize manufacturing delays.

2. A producer of agricultural chemicals, including growth regulators, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, adjuvants/surfactants, micronutrients, spray activators, defoliants/desiccants, and micronutrients/fertilizers, the Drexel Chemical Company, founded in 1972, claims to have "one of the most comprehensive lines of agricultural chemicals available...with the potential to manufacture and distribute more than 500 different products." Drexel has positioned itself as a leader in product formulation development, with its line of aqueous liquids, liquid flowable formulations, water dispersible granules, dry flowable granules, wettable powders, and emulsifiable concentrates. Drexel liquid chemical packaging and shipping comes in an array of sizes from 1 quart to 250 gallon to bulk, and in a variety of containers ranging from metal to fluorinated plastic; while dry packaging materials are available in a variety of packaging options and sizes from plastic bags, paper bags, bulk super bags, and even water-soluble packaging.

3. Producing encapsulants and other specialty products for the electronics industry and also an FDA/cGMP facility for the manufacture and packaging of ultra-pure specialty products for the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and personal care industries, Polysciences, Inc., founded in 1961 and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bangs Laboratories, Inc., also manufactures a line of laboratory products and specialty monomers/polymers for microscopy, histology, biotechnology, electronics, medical, life sciences, research communities and industrial applications. The company's specialty is in developing custom-synthesized polymers and monomers for customer-specific needs.

4. Producing chemicals and processes for products including Pioneer brand seeds, Teflon fluoropolymers, films, fabric protectors, fibers, and dispersions; Corian solid surfaces; Kevlar high strength material, and Tyvek protective material, Dupont, founded in 1802 and incorporated in 1915, has for the past 100 years focused on chemicals, materials and energy. With a portfolio of thermoplastic materials, specialty polymers and application development technology, the company provides world-class, R&D centers for global application development. Dupont offers a range of products and services for a wide array of industries, including agriculture, food, building, construction, electronics, communications, general industrial and transportation. The company’s business segments include Agriculture & Nutrition, Electronics & Communications, Performance Chemicals, Performance Coatings, Performance Materials, Safety & Protection, Pharmaceuticals, and Applied BioSciences. The company's offerings in the chemical business sector offers industrial and specialty chemical products that include plastics and coatings, textiles, mining, pulp and paper, water treatment and healthcare. DuPont Titanium Technologies is the manufacturer of titanium dioxide. The businesses principal products include its line of DuPont Ti-Pure titanium dioxide products, and Starblast abrasives. DuPont Chemicals and Fluoroproducts is a manufacturer of industrial and specialty fluorochemicals, fluoropolymers and performance chemicals. The businesses line of products that include refrigerants, lubricants, propellants, solvents, fire extinguishants and electronic gases, cover a range of industries and markets. Principal brands include DuPont Teflon, Dymel, Isceon, Suva, Vertrel, Zyron, Vazo and Virkon. DuPont

Agricultural Chemicals
Definition: Agricultural chemicals or agrochemicals (or agrichemicals), are generic terms used to denote the various chemical substance, compounds, and end products used in agriculture. Agricultural chemicals refers to the broad range of pesticides, including insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. It may also include synthetic fertilizers, hormones and other chemical growth agents, and concentrated stores of raw animal manure.