Designation: E1519 − 16

Standard Terminology Relating to

Agricultural Tank Mix Adjuvants1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1519; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope alkalinity agent, n—a material that can be added to the spray
1.1 This terminology is used or is likely to be used in test mixture to raise the pH.
methods, specifications, guides, and practices related to agri- amphoteric surfactant, n—a surface-active agent capable of
cultural tank mix adjuvants. forming, in aqueous solution, either surface-active anions or
1.2 These definitions are written to ensure that standards surface-active cations depending on the pH.
related to agricultural tank mix adjuvants are properly under- anionic surfactant, n—surface-active agent in which the
stood and interpreted. hydrophilic portion of the molecule forms exclusively a
2. Referenced Documents negative ion (anion) when placed in aqueous solution.
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 antifoaming agent, n—a material used to inhibit or prevent the
D459 Terminology Relating to Soaps and Other Detergents formation of foam.
D483 Test Method for Unsulfonated Residue of Petroleum
attractant, n—a material that attracts specific pests.
Plant Spray Oils
E609 Terminology Relating to Pesticides basic blend, n—a combination of wetting agent and buffering
D2140 Practice for Calculating Carbon-Type Composition agent that maintains a pH of the spray mixture greater than
of Insulating Oils of Petroleum Origin 7.
3. Terminology buffer or buffering agent, n—a compound or mixture that,
when contained in solution, causes the solution to resist
3.1 Terms and Definitions:
change in pH. Each buffer has a characteristic limited range
absorption, n—a process in which one material (the absorbent)
of pH over which it is effective.
takes in and retains another (the absorbate).
canopy penetrating agent, n—an adjuvant that increases the
acidifier, n—a material that can be added to spray mixtures to
penetration of the spray material into the crop canopy. See
lower the pH.
deposition aid.
activator, n—a material that increases the biological efficacy of
agrichemicals. cationic surfactant, n—a surface-active agent in which the
hydrophilic portion of the molecule forms exclusively a
active ingredient, n—a component of the formulation that positive ion (cation) when placed in aqueous solution.
produces a specific effect for which the formulation is
designed. colorant, n—a material used to alter the color of the tank mix.

adjuvant, n—a material added to a tank mix to aid or modify compatibility agent, n—a surface-active agent that allows
the action of an agrichemical, or the physical characteristics simultaneous application of liquid fertilizer and
of the mixture. agrichemical, or two or more agrichemical formulations, as
a uniform tank mix, or improves the homogeneity of the
mixture and the uniformity of the application.
1
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E35 on
Pesticides, Antimicrobials, and Alternative Control Agents and is the direct crop oil concentrate, n—an emulsifiable petroleum oil-based
responsibility of Subcommittee E35.22 on Pesticide Formulations and Delivery product containing 15 to 20 % w ⁄w surfactant and a mini-
Systems.
mum of 80 % w/w phytobland oil.
Current edition approved Sept. 15, 2016. Published September 2016. Originally
approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as E1519 – 15b. DOI:
crop oil (emulsifiable), n—an emulsifiable petroleum oil-
10.1520/E1519-16.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or based product containing up to 5 % w ⁄w surfactant and the
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM remainder of a phytobland oil.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. crop oil (non-emulsifiable), n—See phytobland oil.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 E1519 − 16
defoaming agent, n—a material that eliminates or suppresses naphtha-based oil, n—a petroleum oil containing a majority
foam in the spray tank of the naphtha fraction.
deposition aid, n—a material that improves the ability of nonionic surfactant, n—a surface-active agent that has no
agrichemical sprays to deposit on targeted surfaces. ionizable functional groups.
dormant oil, n—a horticultural spray oil applied during the oil, n—See petroleum, vegetable, paraffinic, and so forth.
dormant phase of the targeted plant. (See horticultural paraffinic oil, n—a petroleum oil (derived from paraffin crude
spray oil.) oil) whose paraffinic carbon type content is typically greater
drift control agent, n—See drift reduction agent. than 60 %. D2140
drift reduction agent, n—a material used in liquid spray penetrant, n—a material that enhances the ability of an
mixtures to reduce driftable fines. agrichemical to enter a substrate or penetrate a surface.
drift retardant, n—See drift reduction agent. petroleum oil, n—oil derived from petroleum; contains a
mixture of hydrocarbons that are broadly classified as
driftable fines, n—the percent volume of spray droplet size
paraffins, napthenes, aromatics, or other unsaturates, or
distribution that is under 105 microns.
combination thereof.
emulsifier, n—a surfactant that promotes the dispersion of one
immiscible liquid in another. phytobland oil, n—a highly refined paraffinic material with a
minimum unsulfonated residue of 92 % v/v. D483
esterified seed oil, n—a modified seed oil wherein the fatty
acids are esterified with an alcohol (such as methyl or ethyl). rainfastness agent, n—a material which improves
rainfastness. E609
evaporation reduction agent, n—a material that reduces the
evaporation rate of a spray mix during or after application, or silicone surfactant, n—a surface active agent in which at least
both. 75 % (by weight) is derived from organically modified
silicone.
extender, n—a material that increases the effective life of an
agrichemical after application. soil retention agent, n—a substance that increases the time an
agrichemical or water remains in the targeted soil zone.
foam suppressant, n—See defoamer.
foaming agent, n—a material that increases the volume or spreader, n—a material which increases the area that a droplet
stability of the foam formed in a spray mixture. of a given volume of spray mixture will cover on a target.
foliar retention agent, n—a substance that increases the time spreader/sticker, n—a material that has the properties of both
and agrichemical remains in the targeted foliar zone. a spreader and a sticker.
functioning agent, n—a component of the formulation that sticker, n—a material that assists the spray deposit to adhere to
produces a specific effect for which the formulation is the target in terms of resistance to wind, water, mechanical
designed. action.
high surfactant oil concentrate, n—an emulsifiable oil based
surface-active agent, n—a material comprised of lipophilic
product containing 25-50% w/w surfactant and a minimum
and hydrophilic parts that when added to a liquid medium
of 50% w/w oil.
modifies the properties of the surface or interface by
high surfactant crop oil concentrate, n—a high surfactant oil concentrating at the surface or interface.
concentrate where the oil is a petroleum oil. DISCUSSION—Surface-active agent is the general term which in-
high surfactant modified vegetable oil concentrate, n—a cludes soluble detergents in liquid medium, dispersing agents, emulsi-
high surfactant oil concentrate where the oil is a modified fying agents, foaming agents, penetrating agents, and wetting agents.
vegetable oil. D459
high surfactant vegetable oil concentrate, n—a high surfac- surfactant, n—See surface-active agent.
tant oil concentrate where the oil is a vegetable oil. vegetable oil, n—oil extracted from seeds; typically those of
humectant, n—a material which increases the equilibrium corn, cotton, peanut, rapeseed, sunflower, canola, or soy-
water content and increases the drying time of an aqueous bean.
spray deposit. vegetable oil concentrate, n—an emulsifiable vegetable oil
modified vegetable oil, n—an oil, extracted from seeds, that product containing 5 to 20 % w ⁄w surfactant and a minimum
has been chemically modified (for example, methylated). of 80 % w/w vegetable oil.
modified vegetable oil concentrate, n—an emulsifiable, water conditioning agent, n—a material that reduces or
chemically modified vegetable oil product containing 5 to eliminates the antagonism between a pesticide and ions
20 % w/w surfactant and the remainder chemically modified present in the application water and results in improved
vegetable oil. bioefficacy.

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 E1519 − 16
wetting agent, n—wetting agents can be considered synony-
mous with spreaders in function.

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