Controlled release of aldicarb from lignin loaded ionotropic hydrogel microspheres.

Aldicarb loaded microspheres of carboxymethyl cellulose, CMC, of various compositions were prepared with the crosslinking action of Al(III). Into these microspheres, lignin was introduced as a filler to further regulate the rate of release. The encapsulation efficiency was low (4.15-13.00%) due to the high water solubility of aldicarb. Release into aqueous media was quite rapid and almost complete within 24h. Initial stages of the release (60% of AS released) was investigated to determine the release mechanism and it was found that release from the microspheres was governed by Fickian diffusion. Among the various parameters, the ratio of lignin to CMC and aldicarb to CMC were found to be influential on the rate of release from the crosslinked CMC-lignin microspheres. The soil behaviour confirmed the delayed release effect of the controlled release formulation compared to Temik (a commercial preparation of aldicarb), especially when lignin was incorporated.