Photostabilization of bioresmethrin by organic cations on a clay surface

Abstract

Abstract Photostabilization of the pyrethroid insecticide bioresmethrin (BR) was achieved by adsorbing it onto the ciay montmorillonite with a cationic organic chromophore. Experiments in the dark showed that adsorption of BR to the surface of the clay did not inhibit its insecticidal activity. Complexes containing the organic cations methyl green (MG) or naphthylammonium (NA) retained their insecticidal activity against the flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum for 3‐5 days in sunlight whereas unprotected BR was inactivated within a few hours. Optimum stabilization was achieved by definite amounts of BR and MG adsorbed, indicating that photostabilization was due to specific intermolecular interactions on the clay surface rather than to a UV‐screening effect. The interactions between BR and MG at the clay surface were studied by Fourier transform infra‐red spectroscopy.