Bioziden mikrokapsulazioa eta ingurumen-osasuna

The search of alternative methods associated with the problems of environmental health is one of the great challenges of this century. The microencapsulation represents an acceptable choice to face this problem because of the numerous advantages which it has in this field. Among these advantages, the possibility of the reduction of the toxicity for the environment and the mammals, the increase of the security in the handling for the worker and the customer, and last but not least the possibility to synthesise compounds with low hydrosolubility (the solubility increases, thus the use of toxic and expensive organic solvents is eliminated) can be found. Our research group has synthesised microencapsulated products to be used as baits in the control of insect plagues. These baits contain biocides and natural bioattractants in order to create a more respectful product with the environment and the human being. Moreover, thanks to the use of bioattractants a commercially available more effective and selective product for particular species will be obtained. The microencapsulated biocides are pesticides that belong to the family of the insecticides like nicotinoid and carbamates; fungicides as tebuconazole and synergists which increase the effectiveness of the pesticides, like piperonyl butoxide. On the other hand, the natural bioattractants are volatile compounds belonging to the family of terpenes and alcohols. This research group has carried out different methods of microencapsulation: spray drying, ionic gelation and inclusion complex formation. These microencapsulation methods are fast and efficient using different encapsulation agents like polymers, gums and carbohydrates. Analytical methodologies have been also developed to determine the concentrations of the active compounds and to monitor the release of bioattractants from the encapsulated product. A static headspace coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS) method has been developed and validated for this purpose. The achieved advances in microencapsulation represent a significant milestone to solve the problems associated with environmental health.