Herbicide/Zn-Al-layered double hydroxide hybrid composite: synthesis and slow/controlled release properties

The herbicide glyphosate (GLY) or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acids (2,4D) was intercalated in the interlayer region of a Zn-Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH) to obtain LDH-GLY or the LDH-2,4D hybrid composite because of its controlled release. Compared to the physically mixed herbicides, the LDH-herbicide hybrid composite displayed slow-release properties in decarbonated distilled water. The release rate of herbicides was found to be dependent on the carbonate and chloride anion concentrations in solution. The time at which 50% of the herbicides were released from the hybrid composite into solution, t ₅₀, ranged from 6.5 to 18.6 h for LDH-GLY and from 10 to 21.5 h for LDH-2,4D. Our results indicate that the application of LDH-GLY or LDH-2,4D hybrid composite to agricultural areas could reduce the maximum 2,4D or GLY contamination and result in the retardation of herbicides leaching through the soil. This study demonstrates the potential applicability of LDHs as supports for the slow release of acid herbicides.