Encapsulation of essentials oils using biopolymers for their use in ecological agriculture

A suitable formulation to improve Lavandin essential oil applicability as biocide has been study in this project. Agrochemical formulations are required to be long-term physical stable and enhance biological performance of the agrochemical. Particle encapsulation of lavandin oil had been considered as possible formulation. Two high pressure spray techniques (PGSS and PGSS drying) had been applied to encapsulate lavandin oil in a biodegradable polymer. Operating conditions were selected to reduce oil loses due to it dissolution in SC-CO2. A comparison between the characteristics of microspheres obtained with OSA (n-octenyl succinic anhydride (OSAN)-modified starch) and PEG (polyethylene glycol) were performed. The obtained results revealed that encapsulation efficiencies of lavandin oil were higher for PEG microcapsules obtained by PGSS (14-66% of initial oil encapsulated). The morphology of these particles is spherical and presents a narrow particle size distribution, which seems to allow a controlled release of lavandin oil.