Development and Evaluation of a Controlled Release System of TBH Herbicide Using Alginate Microparticles

• Published in: Materials research (São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil) Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 225 - 235
• Main Authors: Faria, Daniela Macedo, Dourado Júnior, Sidney Macias, Nascimento, João Pedro Lopes do, Nunes, Eloiza da Silva, Marques, Renata Pereira, Rossino, Luciana Sgarbi, Moreto, Jéferson Aparecido
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: ABM, ABC, ABPol 01.02.2017; Associação Brasileira de Metalurgia e Materiais (ABM); Associação Brasileira de Cerâmica (ABC); Associação Brasileira de Polímeros (ABPol)
• Subjects: Alginates; Biodegradable Polymer; Control systems; Controlled release; Delivery systems; ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL; Field emission; Herbicides; MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY; METALLURGY & METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING; Microencapsulation; Microparticles; Surface water; Weed control; Weed control; Microencapsulation; Biodegradable Polymer; Controlled release
• ISSN: 1516-1439; 1980-5373; 1980-5373
• DOI: 10.1590/1980-5373-mr-2016-0443

The development of controlled delivery system formulations has received increasing interest in the agriculture area. Tebuthiuron (TBH) is the most commonly used herbicide for weed control in sugar cane and cotton crops. The TBH and some of its metabolites are detected in surface water by leaching process, evidencing contamination and the need for an efficient process to decrease pesticide residues. The development of a controlled system release appears as a good solution. The present investigation aimed to study the development and evaluation of alginate microparticles as a delivery system for the TBH. The calcium alginate microparticles were prepared from the crosslinking of sodium alginate by Ca super(++) containing varied amounts of TBH supplied in CaCl sub(2) aqueous solution. The particle size and morphological analysis of microparticles were determined by optical microscopy (OM) and by field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM). The encapsulation efficiency and release of TBH studies was accessed by UV-vis spectroscopy. The results show that the polymeric microparticles containing TBH can be obtained successfully through a simple method and is suitable as a controlled release carrier system for herbicides and can be effective for controlling weeds.