Published December 1983
This report evaluates the technology and cost of making three commercial herbicides--alachlor, butachlor, and trifluralin. Each is a selective preemergent type. Patents covering their composition and use will expire within a few years.
The technology and cost of making the major intermediates for these herbicides are also evaluated because production of these intermediates is small and they contribute heavily to the cost of herbicide production. Included are 2,6-diethylaniline and chloroacetyl chloride (for alachlor and butachlor), chloroacetic acid (for chloroacetyl chloride), di-n-propylamine and p-chlorobenzotrifluoride (for trifluralin), and p-chlorotoluene (for p-chlorobenzotrifluoride). These intermediates are also used in making other pesticides: chloroacetyl chloride is an intermediate for diethatyl, propachlor, allidochlor, metochlor, xylachlor and CDAA (herbicides); p-chlorobenzotrifluoride is an intermediate for profluralin, ethalfluralin, fluchloralin and benefin (all herbicides very similar to trifluralin); and di-n-propylamine is an intermediate for isopropalin and oryzalin (herbicides similar to trifluralin in that they have a dinitroaniline structure), and EPTC (also an herbicide). Chloroacetic acid is used to make the intermediate for glyphosate. p-Chlorotoluene is a dyestuff intermediate. Chloroacetic acid has many uses in syntheses. This report, therefore, serves a broader purpose than simply covering the three subject herbicides.
The process economic data in this report are also useful for examining the degree of intermediate integration necessary to compete in the production of these herbicides. Since few pesticide producers are fully integrated into intermediate production, there may be a market opportunity here.
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