Optimizing alcohol ethoxylate surfactant activity at low doses

Certain linear alcohol ethoxylate surfactants with large hydrophobes enhanc ed nicosulfuron activity on giant foxtail (Setaria faberi) more effectively at low doses than surfactants with small hydrophobes and commercial standa rds. The most effective surfactants had a C16-18 hydrophobe and 12 to 30 mo les of ethoxylation or a C-24 hydrophobe with 13 moles of ethoxylation. Res ponse curve analysis showed these linear alcohol ethoxylate surfactants wer e five- to 20-fold more active on a dose basis than currently used commerci al surfactants.