Insecticides: Characteristics
Why isomer ratios decide an insecticide's punch
Why isomer ratios decide an insecticide's punch 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.Commercial value depends on active ingredient purity, isomer ratio (for pyrethroids), impurity limits set in registrations, and formulation stability. Generic makers must match the reference profile.
Properties that matter commercially
| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical purity | typically 95-98% a.i. (indicative) | registration equivalence | FAO specifications (indicative) |
| Isomer ratio | e.g. lambda-cyhalothrin is a defined pair of cyhalothrin isomers | potency per gram | indicative |
| Formulation type | EC, SC, WG, GR, ZC | safety, dose and residue | CropLife codes (indicative) |
Commercial grades
- Technical (TC)
- Formulations such as chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC, imidacloprid 17.8% SL, lambda-cyhalothrin 5% EC (indicative)
- Public health grades for nets and indoor spraying