Version 2

Guide to Soil Surfactant Chemistry

Soil surfactant products are made with several dierent classes of surfactant chemistries. These classes of
chemistry have molecules with dierent structures and therefore they have dierent modes of action in how
they interact with water and soil.
The following pages show the dierent classes of surfactant chemistries and the dierent molecular structures
they contain. By dening the capability of each class of surfactant chemistry and dening which class or
classes of surfactant chemistry each particular soil surfactant product contains, it is possible to determine the
best use for a specic product.
Anionic and blends with Anionics: Anionics are negatively charged surfactants. They can be fast wetters but
are often phytotoxic. Because of their negative charge, anionics can cause dispersion of clay particles which
can negatively impact soil structure in ne-textured soils.
Polyoxyethylene (POE): POEs are old chemistry like the original AquaGro. POEs are often very phytotoxic.
They help treat water repellency but not nearly as well as a block co-polymer. This class of chemistry can en-
hance water movement in soil.
Block Co-Polymer: This class of chemistry is commonly used in the market today. They are much safer than
POEs. This class is very eective in reducing soil water repellency. Two basic structures are used:
- Straight 8Iocks: Field observations and use show enhanced water movement in the soil and can be
helpful in leaching programs.
- Reverse 8Iocks: Field observations and use show enhanced moisture in the rootzone and can be
helpful in soils that dont hold much water.
Modied/Methyl Capped Block Co-Polymer: This class is a patented variation of the block co-polymer class.
The methyl caps change the way the molecule attaches to water repellent coatings. This results in thinner,
more continuous lms of water around soil particles and surfaces of organic matter and balances air to water
ratios in the soil for a better growing environment.
APG: Alkyl polyglycosides are made from a sugar molecule and a fatty acid. When blended with a block co-
polymer, they create a patented, synergistic blend. This blend dramatically improves water penetration rates
compared to straight block co-polymer products. Also, it improves water availability in the rootzone for better
growing conditions and water savings.
SOIL SURFACTANTS 101
With this information, you should be able to dene products correctly and help guide your customers through
the confusing and sometimes misleading information regarding soil surfactant products. Now when your
customers are looking for a certain set of benets from a surfactant product, you can help them nd the right
Aquatrols product(s) to accomplish what they want.
Classes of Surfactant Chemistry in Aquatrols Surfactant Products
Revolution is made with 100% modied/methyl-capped block co-polymer.
Aquatrols
Primer Select is made with 100% reverse block co-polymer.
Aquatrols
Aqueduct is made with 25% reverse block co-polymer and 25% straight block
co-polymer.
Sixteen 90 is made with 100% straight block co-polymer.
InlTRx is made with 20% straight block co-polymer.
Dispatch Injectable is made with 10% straight block co-polymer and 7% APG.

Dispatch Sprayable is made with 30% straight block co-polymer and 21% APG.
OLD CHEMISTRY
UNIQUE CHEMISTRY
SOIL SURFACTANT CHEMISTRY CLASSIFICATION GUIDE
Anionic Blends
AquaAid
Multi-Path
Naiad
Penterra
Pervade
Propel
Polyoxyethylene (POE)
Wetting Agents
APSA-80
E-Z Wet
FloThru
Hydro-Wet
Injector
LescoWet
Mizer
One Putt
PenMaxx
Surfside
Water-In
Wet-Sol
Blend of Straight & Reverse
Block Co-Polymers
Aqueduct
Resurge
ReWet
TriCure AD
Anionics
Introduced in 1954
POE
Introduced in 1954
Reverse 8Iock
Co-PoIymer
Introduced in 1995
Straight 8Iock
Co-PoIymer
Introduced in 1996
APG
Introduced in 2000
Modied 8Iock
Co-PoIymer
Introduced in 2004
MuIti-8ranch 8Iock
Co-PoIymer
Introduced in 20??
SOIL SURFACTANT CHEMISTRY CLASSIFICATION GUIDE
Straight Block Co-Polymer
Long-Term
Sixteen90
Brilliance
Capacity
Cascade Plus
Conduit 90
LescoFlo Ultra
Straight Block Co-Polymer
Injectable
InI7Rx
Drench
Duplex
Fairway ISP
Gateway
Straight Block Co-Polymer
Short-Term
Anity
Aquifer
Lesco-Wet Plus
Soaker
Soaker Plus
Reverse Block Co-Polymer
Short-Term
Primer SeIect
Immerse
Magnus
ReLoad
IrriCure
Syringe
UniWet
UniWet 25
Rely II
Respond 3
Retain Pro
Tournament Ready
COMMON CHEMISTRY
LT- 120
Myst
PBS-150
Remain
TriCure Micro
Modied Capped
Block Co-Polymer
Neptune
Modied Methyl Capped
Block Co-Polymer
RevoIution
Blend of APG & Straight
Block Co-Polymer
Dispatch In|ectabIe
Dispatch SprayabIe
Mulit-Branch
Block Co-Polymer
+ humic acid solubilzer
OARS
IIeet
Symphony
Anionics &
Blends with Anionics
Polyoxyethylene
(POE)
AquaAid
Naiad
Penterra
Pervade
Propel
Multi-Path
APSA-80
E-Z Wet
FloThru
Hydro-Wet
Injector
LescoWet
Mizer
One Putt
PenMaxx
Surfside
Water-In
Wet-Sol
- Anionics are negatively charged surfactants
- Can be fast wetters, but they are often phytotoxic
- Because of their negative charge, they can cause
dispersion of clay particles
- Dispersion of clay particles negatively impacts soil
structure in ne-textured soils
- Old chemistry, like original AquaGro
- Often very phytotoxic
- Helps treat water repellency, but not nearly as
well as newer block co-polymers
- Enhances water movement in soil
Because of the negative eects of anionic surfactants
on soil structure, Aquatrols does not produce any
products using this class of surfactant chemistry.
NONE
NONE
Because POEs can be very phytotoxic on turf,
and newer block co-polymers are more eective
surfactant chemistries for mineral soils, Aquatrols
has not produced any products using this class of
chemistry for use on turf since 1995.
Competitive Products
Aquatrols Product in this Category Aquatrols Position on Use of Anionics
Common Features of this Product Class
Aquatrols Product in this Category Aquatrols Position on Use of POEs
Competitive Products
Common Features of this Product Class
Competitive Long Term Products
Aquatrols Product in this Category Benets of Sixteen90
Common Features of this Product Class
Aquatrols Product in this Category Benets of Sixteen90
Competitive Short Term Products
Common Features of this Product Class
Straight
Block Co-Polymers
- 90-day protection against localized dry spot
- More eective than other long-term products
- Safe only requires a light syringing in after
application
- Economical to use on large turf areas like fairways and
athletic elds
Brilliance
Capacity
Cascade Plus*
Conduit 90
LescoFlo Ultra
LT-120
Myst
PBS-150
Remain
Tri Cure Micro
- Commonly used chemistry
- Much safer than old POEs
- Very eective in reducing soil water repellency
- Enhances water movement in soil
- Can aid leaching programs
- Some contain alcohol/alkyl ethoxylates (AE) and can
be phytotoxic*
- Flexibilty to be applied monthly at 4-6 oz/1000 ft
2
- Prevents localized dry spot by treating soil water
repellency
- Good choice when enhanced water movement in soil
is important
- Helpful in salt management programs to aid leaching
Anity
Aquifer
Lesco-Wet Plus
Soaker
Soaker Plus
- Commonly used chemistry
- Much safer than old POEs
- Very eective in reducing soil water repellency
- Enhances water movement in soil
- Can aid leaching programs
Straight
Block Co-Polymers
Competitive Injectable Products
Aquatrols Product in this Category Benets of InlTRx
Common Features of this Product Class
Aquatrols Product in this Category Benets of Primer Select
Competitive Short Term Products
Common Features of this Product Class
Straight
Block Co-Polymers
Drench
Duplex
Fairway ISP
Gateway
IrriCure
Syringe
UniWet
UniWet 25
- Economical injectable soil penetrant product
- Outperforms similarly priced injectable penetrant
products
- Improves water penetration and irrigation eciency
- The original Aquatrols soil penetrant chemistry
- Commonly used chemistry
- More eective than old POEs for injection use
- Improves water penetration and irrigation eciency
Aquatrols
- Prevents localized dry spots by treating soil water
repellency
- Helps establish matrix ow in the rootzone
- Flexible application rates and frequencies to t dierent
soil types and soil conditions
- The industry standard for over a decade
Reverse
Block Co-Polymers
- Commonly used chemistry
- Much safer than old POEs
- Very eective in reducing soil water repellency
- More eective in soils with limited water holding
capacity than straight block co-polymers or older
POEs
Immerse
Magnus
ReLoad
Rely II
Respond 3
Retain Pro
Tournament Ready
Competitive Products
Aquatrols Product in this Category Benets of Aqueduct
Common Features of this Product Class
Aquatrols Product in this Category
Competitive Stripper Products
Common Features of this Product Class
Straight /Reverse
Block Co-Polymer Blends
Multi-branched
Block Co-Polymer
Aquatrols
- Quickly treats and eliminates localized dry spots
- Promotes fast turf recovery from moisture stress
- Safe to use even under hot, stressful conditions
- The best curative surfactant chemistry available
Magnaplex
Magnus
Radius
Recover
Respond 3
Resurge
Revert
ReWet
TriCure AD
- Commonly used chemistries
- Very safe and very eective in reducing soil water
repellency
- Curative products because of enhanced water
movement tendency of straight blocks and improved
water retention tendency of reverse blocks
NONE
Aquatrols Position on Use of Strippers
Evaluation of this chemistry type and performance
claims have been conducted in our laboratory at
various times. Aquatrols research department have
been unable to substantiate the claims.
Fleet
Symphony
OARS
- Eliminates localized dry spot
- Removes organic acid coating
Competitive Products
Aquatrols Product in this Category Benets of Dispatch
Common Features of this Product Class
Aquatrols Product in this Category Benets of Revoution
Competitive Products Common Features of this Product Class
Blend of APG &
Straight Block Co-Polymer
- Patented, synergistic blend of a block co-polymer and
an alkyl polyglycoside (made from a sugar molecule
and a fatty acid)
- Dramatic improvement in water penetration rates
compared to straight blocks
- Improves water availability in the rootzone

- Greatly increases water penetration and irrigation

eciency versus straight blocks
- Save 20% - 50% in water use
- Signicantly reduces runo on sloped turf areas (low
areas arent as wet, upslope areas arent as dry)
- Increases nitrogen fertilizer eciency
NONE
Modihed Methyl-Capped
Block Co-Polymer
- Produces drier, rmer putting surfaces
- Reduced irrigation frequency & increased irrigation
run times on greens without sacricing playability
- Dramatically reduces the need to hand water
between irrigation or rainfall events
- Healthier, more stress tolerant turf
- Patented variation of the block co-polymer chemistry
changes the way the molecule attaches to water
repellent coatings
- Results in thinner, more continuous lms of water
around soil particles and surfaces of organic matter
- Balances air to water ratios in the soil for a better
growing environment for turf roots
NONE
Aquatrols
Aquatrols
- Inject 24-32 oz per acre.
- Apply monthly or as needed throughout the growing season.
- For more dicult areas, InlTRx may be applied at up to 48 oz
per acre.
- Apply 2 oz/1000 ft
2
every 14 days in 2 gallons of water;
- 4 oz/1000 ft
2
every 21 days in 2 gallons of water;
- 4-6 oz/1000 ft
2
every 30 days in 2 gallons of water;
- 7-9 oz/1000 ft
2
every 6 weeks in 2 gallons of water.
- Apply 8 oz/1000 ft
2
in 1 gallon of water.
- Re-apply 4-8 oz/1000 ft
2
in 1 gallon of water on a weekly basis
until problem is alleviated.
- Apply 6 oz/1000 ft
2
in 2 gallons of water.
- For sand rootzones water in with inch of water.
- On native soil push-up greens, apply up to inch of water.
- Inject 12-24 oz per acre weekly.
- For more dicult areas, Dispatch Injectable may be applied at
48 oz per acre.
- Spray 8 oz per acre once a week;
- 16 oz per acre every two weeks;
- 24 oz per acre every three weeks.

- Apply 16 oz/1000 ft
2
in 5 gallons of water.
l273 |mperlal way - Paulsboro, N1 08066 - USA - l-800-257-7797 - l-856-537-6003 - Pax l-856-537-60l8 - www.aquatrols.com
2012, Aquatrols Corporation of America, Inc. No part of this
document may be reproduced without written consent.
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