Controlled Release Study of Phenol Formaldehyde Microcapsules Containing Neem Oil as an Insecticide

Many of the biological pesticides are supposed to be more effective than synthetic ones in controlling pests. In this communication, we report a successful encapsulation of neem oil, one of the most effective biological insecticides, in phenol formaldehyde microcapsules. This was achieved by adopting an in-situ polymerization process in oil-in-water emulsion. The synthesis consists of two parts, namely emulsification of the oil and wall formation. The synthesized microcapsules were characterized by FTIR, SEM, TGA, and particle size analyzer. The controlled release was monitored by measuring optical observation in the UV range.