Application of biodiesel as carrier for insecticide emulsifiable concentrate formulation

摘要

The emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulation is a solvent-rich (approximately 10 parts to 90 parts of solvent in the formulation) delivery system for oil-soluble agrochemicals, which may cause environmental pollution. This study evaluated a combination of pesticide and biodiesel that is nontoxic and biodegradable to overcome various problems with aromatic solvents. A 40.8% chlorpyrifos EC formulation was prepared by blending with biodiesel, cosolvent and surfactants and compared with a commercial product with only aromatic solvent as the carrier. Several physical and chemical tests were processed to compare these two formulations. Residual and phytotoxicity tests were performed with cabbage plants in a greenhouse. The experimental results revealed no considerable difference between the biodegradable and commercial formulations in stability tests. The results also indicated that the 40.8% chlorpyrifos EC prepared with biodiesel was up to grade. In addition, biodiesel can reduce the unpleasant odor that is generated from chlorpyrifos because of its low volatility. The high flash point of biodiesel enabled safer storage, transportation, and application of the formulation. According to the findings from residual experiments, biodiesel may increase the amount of active ingredient (AI) on the surface of plants because of its lipophilic characteristic, which enabled more effective pest controlling of the pesticide delivery system. In the phytotoxicity test, the use of biodiesel as the carrier did not harm plants in any application ratios and may reduce environmental risks. Therefore, for oil-soluble AIs, biodiesel may be a suitable alternative carrier for EC formulations. In contrast to commercial formulations, the use of biodiesel may help to reduce the dosage, cost of food production and adverse effects. Biodiesel may also provide added value, be environmentally friendly, and less hazardous. Therefore, biodiesel is an advantageous carrier to deliver AIs and to improve their performance.