Abstract: The present invention relates to a herbicidal composition that is in the form of solid water dispersible granules (WDG) containing the compound N-phosphonomethylglycine (glyphosate acid) in an admixture with a surfactant that is comprised of one or more polyglycolethers, each having a waxy consistency, and each polyglycolether having a linear saturated alcohol having from about 10 to about 15 carbon atoms, which is ethoxylated with from about 30 to about 40 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. This composition provides a combination of manufacturing and weed killing (i.e., herbicidal) advantages that heretofore have been unattainable with the use of either glyphosate acid or glyphosate in salt form. The present invention also relates to methods of using this composition and a process for preparing the WDG composition that comprises mixing the glyphosate acid with the surfactant and then extruding the mixture.

Abstract: A process for the purification of technical-grade N-alkyl urea, particularly mono-ethyl urea, including an alkali metal sulphate, characterised in that it includes the steps of:treating the technical alkyl urea with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alcoholic solvent to cause the selective dissolution of the alkyl urea,separating the soluble fraction from the alkali metal sulphate which is insoluble in the alcoholic solvent, andremoving the alcoholic solvent from the soluble fraction to recover the N-alkyl urea.

Abstract: In order to remove traces of impurities constituted by tetrachloroazobenzene, tetrachloroazoxybenzene, polychlorinated diphenyl compounds and the like from crude linuron, the crude linuron is subjected to a single purification treatment of dissolution in a hot organic solvent and subsequent crystallization by cooling and recovery of the precipitated linuron. Preferred solvents are aromatic solvents, preferably chlorinated. The treatment enables the impurity content to be reduced to values less than 1 ppm.

Abstract: Crude trifluralin is subjected to a purification treatment to remove nitrosamines therefrom and to improve its content of the active principle.The treatment consists of passing through the trifluralin, kept in the liquid state at a temperature of from 50.degree. to 110.degree. C., a quantity of from 1 to 4 times its weight of saturated steam at 105.degree. to 110.degree. C.The nitrosamine content of the treated trifluraline is less than 1 ppm.