Blog

What Are ULV Formulations?

ULV (Ultra-Low Volume) formulations are pesticide concentrates designed to be applied without dilution, typically through fogging or aerial spraying. These formulations often contain 80% active ingredient (AI) — such as Malathion 83% EC — and are dissolved in non-aqueous solvents like xylene or aromatic hydrocarbons. This high loading creates a challenge: maintaining stability, solubility, and emulsification without phase separation, settling, or flocculation.

The Role of Surfactants in ULV Systems

In ULV and high-AI EC formulations, surfactants and emulsifiers serve several critical purposes:

o Solubilize the active ingredient in organic solvents

o Ensure emulsion stability when the formulation comes into contact with water

o Minimize technical settling or separation during storage

o Provide hard water tolerance and fine droplet dispersion in the field

o But not just any surfactant will do. The ideal emulsifier system must have

o High HLB (Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance) to ensure good oil-in-water (O/W) emulsification

o Compatibility with aromatic solvents (like xylene)

o Minimal polarity interference to avoid destabilizing the formulation

Our Surfactant Systems for Malathion 83% EC (ULV)

At Supreme Surfactants, we've engineered a range of non-ionic and amphiphilic surfactant systems that match or outperform commercial emulsifiers in high-load systems like Malathion 83% EC.

Our proprietary surfactant system is engineered to deliver:

o Excellent emulsion stability across a wide range of aromatic solvent

o Rapid emulsification for fast field dispersion and ease of use

o Robust hard water tolerance, ensuring consistent performance across geographies

o Superior compatibility with active ingredients and formulation aids

This balanced combination ensures

o Longer suspension stability

o Reduced active ingredient settling ( 0.2 mL in CIPAC tests)

o Stable emulsions in 342 ppm hard water

Why Partner with Supreme Surfactants?

With deep formulation experience and in-house R&D capabilities, we provide:

o Custom surfactant blends for EC, ULV, SC, and EW systems

o Field-tested performance in high-AI formulations like Malathion, Chlorpyrifos etc

o Support in CIPAC test validation, product scaling, and regulatory documentation

Whether you're reformulating legacy products or launching next-gen crop protection solutions, our surfactants provide the performance backbone your formulations need.

Let's Formulate the Future — Together

Have a ULV or EC project in the pipeline? Need support improving emulsion stability or reducing AI settling? Reach out to us at

info@supremespl.com | 🌐 www.supremespl.com