Herbicides: Characteristics
Why purity and impurity limits decide registration
What this tab covers The physical and chemical properties that set its grade, price and uses, with the commercial grades and the standards that define them.What matters commercially is active ingredient content, impurity profile (each registration specifies maximum impurities), salt form and formulation type. Generic makers must prove equivalence to the reference technical before registration.
Properties that matter commercially
| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical purity | glyphosate technical at least 95% (FAO specification, indicative) | registration equivalence and formulation strength | FAO/WHO pesticide specifications (indicative) |
| Relevant impurities | formaldehyde and N-nitrosoglyphosate limits for glyphosate (FAO, indicative) | toxicological equivalence | FAO specifications (indicative) |
| Salt form | isopropylamine, potassium, ammonium or dimethylamine salts | solubility and loading per litre | indicative |
| Formulation | SL (soluble liquid), WG (water-dispersible granule), EC, SC | handling, mixing and dose | CropLife formulation codes (indicative) |
Commercial grades
- Technical (TC, 95-98%)
- Technical concentrate (TK, e.g. 62% glyphosate IPA salt)
- Formulations: 41% SL glyphosate, 75.7% WG ammonium salt, 13.5% glufosinate SL (indicative)