Formulating Neem Oil Emulsion as Potent Agrochemicals Using a Binary Emulsifier System

Abstract

Neem oil is a natural pesticide and has excellent insecticidal properties. Hence, in this study the efforts have been made to formulate the Neem oil emulsions which would be used as agrochemicals. In order to formulate stable Neem oil emulsions, a binary emulsifier system of Hydol-6 (Polyoxyethylene Alkyl Ether-6 moles of ethylene oxids) and Hydol-10 (Polyoxyethylene Alkyl Ether-10 moles of ethylene oxids) were employed. Stability of Neem oil emulsions as a function of concentration of Neem oil, Hydol-6, Hydol-10, the amount of water, homogenization speed, and homogenization time was studied in depth. Apart from this, it was observed that the nature of water also affects the stability of the emulsions. The concentration of Neem oil in the stable emulsions was also found to exhibit the varying effects on the properties like dispersibility, spreading power, and droplet size of the emulsions. Larvasidal effects of stable Neem oil emulsions were examined.

Keywords:

• Dispersibility
• droplet size
• hydol-6
• hydol-10
• larvacidal activity
• neem oil emulsions
• spreading power

This work was supported by Unitop Industries Ltd. Mumbai, India Ltd. by providing the gift samples of emulsifiers for research work.

Notes

S.E.: stable emulsion; S: stable; CL: creamy layer.

S.E.: stable emulsion; S: stable; CL: creamy layer.

S.E.: stable emulsion; S: stable; CL: creamy layer.

S.E.: stable emulsion; S: stable; CL: creamy layer.

Note: Please refer Table 9 for the composition of various emulsions enlisted in Table 11.

Note: Please refer Table 10 for the composition of various emulsions enlisted in Table 12.