Encapsulation of pesticides in a starch‐calcium adduct

Abstract

Abstract A simple method of encapsulating water‐insoluble pesticides in a starch matrix is described. The method consists of mixing the pesticide with alkali starch followed by precipitation with a calcium chloride solution. A starch–calcium adduct that entraps the pesticide in small cells within granular particles is formed. Liquid and solid pesticides were successfully encapsulated by the new method. By use of the herbicide trifluralin [2,6‐dinitro‐ N , N ‐dipropyl‐4‐(trifluoromethyl) benzenamine] as core material more than 90% recovery and encapsulation was achieved. Use of acid‐modified starches and flours resulted in a lower percentage of encapsulation. Effective encapsulation was also achieved by replacing calcium chloride with strontium chloride or barium chloride.