Pesticides, particle size reduction

The BioTrol soil washing system is a patented, water-based volume reduction process used to treat excavated soil. It separates slightly contaminated, coarse, washed soil particles from heavily contaminated fine soil particles. The process operates on the premise that (1) contaminants tend to be concentrated in the fine size fraction of soil (sUt, clay, and soil organic matter) and (2) contaminants associated with the coarse soil fraction (sand and gravel) are primarily surficial. The BioTrol soil washing system can be used to treat soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), various industrial chemicals, and metals. 

Microparticles. Size matters release rates depend on surface area, ie, a function of the square of the radius of a spherical particle, and thus larger particles release for longer and are able to manipulate the external availability of the pesticide. Small microparticles are therefore limited in their scope for controlling release but can be used in traditional spraying of dispersions onto soils and crops as well as for seed dressing. Suspension concentrate formulations of matrix microparticles have been developed based on various rosins, phenoUc resins, waxes, and bitumens. These have focused on lipophilic pesticides such as trifluralin and chlorpyrifos and reductions in volatility have been demonstrated (43). 

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