Preparation and characterization of microcapsules of water-soluble pesticide monocrotophos using polyurethane as carrier material

Microencapsulation of the water soluble pesticide monocrotophos (MCR), using polyurethane (PU) as the carrier polymer, has been developed using two types of steric stabilizers, namely PLMA macrodiol and PLMA-g-PEO graft copolymer. The microencapsulation process is carried out in non-aqueous medium and at a moderate temperature to avoid any chemical degradation of monocrotophos during the encapsulation process. Microcapsules were characterized by optical microscopy and SEM for particle size and morphology, respectively. The effects of loading of MCR, crosslinking density of PU, and nature of steric stabilizer on the release of MCR from PU microcapsules have been studied.