Encapsulation efficiency and release kinetics of solid and liquid pesticides through urea formaldehyde crosslinked starch, guar gum, and starch plus guar gum matrices

This article presents our preliminary experimental data on the release kine tics and encapsulation efficiency of urea formaldehyde (UF) crosslinked mat rices of starch (St), guar g-um (GG), and starch + guar gum (St + GG) for t he controlled release of solid (chlorpyrifos) and liquid (neem. seed oil) p esticides. The data reveal variable release rates in relation to the polyme r type and especially the pesticide type. It is possible to slow the releas e rates of pesticides using cheaply available materials such as starch and guar gum. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.