Research on the in-depth application of nanocellulose in pesticide preparations

With the acceleration of the green transformation of agriculture, the problems of of traditional pesticide preparations need to be solved through new material technology. high environmental residues, low utilization rate and poor application efficiency Nanocellulose , as a natural renewable, structurally adjustable and functionally scalable bio-based nanomaterial, is gradually playing an important role in pesticide preparations , especially suspension agents, sustained release agents and intelligent response carriers .

1. Structural characteristics and functional basis of nanocellulose

Nanocellulose is obtained by mechanical, high-pressure homogenization, acidolysis or enzymatic dissolution, and mainly includes three types:

Cellulose nanocrystals ( CNC ) : high crystallinity, small size ( 100–300 nm in length and 5–20 nm in width ), and rich hydroxyl groups on the surface;

Cellulose nanofibers ( CNF ) : long and flexible (length >1 μm , width 10–100 nm ), with a highly reticular structure and excellent rheology;

Bacterial cellulose ( BC ) : Synthesized from specific bacteria, with high purity, high crystallinity and superior film formation performance.

These characteristics determine that nanocellulose can act as a suspension, sustained release carrier, film-forming agent, stabilizer or biodegradable matrix in pesticide preparations。

2. The mechanism of action in pesticide suspension agents

Traditional pesticide suspension agents ( SC ) often reduce their activity due to particle settlement or agglomeration. Nanocellulose can improve system stability through the following mechanisms in such systems:

Three-dimensional network structure constructs
a loose crosslinked gel network in the aqueous phase, effectively captures suspended particles and inhibits Brownian motion-induced settlement and agglomeration.

Thixotropic enhancement
nanocellulose exhibits good shear thinning and recovery of rheology performance, which helps improve spraying smoothness and coverage uniformity during application.

Interface stability enhances
the surface hydroxyl groups or modified groups (such as carboxyl groups and sulfonic acid groups) to impart good interfacial activity, and improves the stability of dispersion of pesticide particles in the aqueous phase.

Compared with traditional petroleum-based thickeners (such as polyvinyl alcohol, carbomer, etc.), green alternative polymer additives
are natural, non-toxic and degradable, and are more in line with green pesticide standards.

Application example:

Pesticide type	Nanocellulose action	Improved results
Iimacloprid SC	CNF assisted suspension	Suspension rate increases >95%, no precipitation
Fibroil SC	CNC modified coating	More uniform particle size and wider spray distribution
SC​	CNF+graphene composite	Reduce the degradation rate from light by 30%, prolongs the duration of drug efficacy

3. The potential as a sustained and controlled release carrier

Nanocellulose has natural advantages in pesticide sustained release due to its nanostructure and porosity. Especially after surface modification (such as TEMPO oxidation, sulfonation, graft polymerization), its drug-carrying ability to hydrophobic pesticide molecules can be significantly enhanced.

The main release mechanisms include:

Diffusion control type : drug molecules slowly diffuse from nanofiber networks;

Degradation control type : slowly degrade nanocellulose through soil microorganisms, thereby releasing pesticides;

Responsive control type : triggers drug release based on environmental changes (such as pH , temperature, enzymes).

Through the above mechanism, precise release, prolong drug efficacy, reduce frequency, and reduce loss can be achieved .

4. Future development trends and technical challenges

1. Construction of multifunctional composite system

Combine nanocellulose with other functional materials (such as chitosan, biochar, graphene oxide) to develop new intelligent pesticide preparations with anti-ultraviolet, anti-water erosion, targeted recognition and other properties.

2. Large-scale preparation and cost optimization

The industrialization of CNF and CNC still faces the problems of high energy consumption and complex processing steps. It is necessary to optimize the process through enzyme catalysis, green solvents, co-product by-products, etc. to reduce unit costs.

3. Farmland degradation behavior and ecological security

Further research on the degradation rate of nanocellulose in soil, its impact on microbial communities and its residual behavior is needed to ensure that it is truly environmentally friendly and safe.

Conclusion

As an emerging green functional material, nanocellulose is promoting the development of pesticide preparations toward efficient, environmentally friendly and intelligent directions. Its advantages in suspending, controlled release, film formation and ecological degradation give it the potential to become a ' new infrastructure ' material in the future agrochemical industry. With the continuous integration of material modification technology and formulation engineering, the commercialization of nanocellulose in the field of pesticides will become more and more in-depth, which is worthy of continuous investment and layout of enterprises and research institutions.

If you need to customize special nanocellulose products and develop exclusive pesticide carrier solutions, please contact Nanjing Tianlu Nano Technology Co., Ltd. , which is committed to providing high-performance and sustainable material technical support for the pesticide preparation industry.