The possibility of use of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), biodegradable microbial polyesters, as a carrier for pesticides (alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane and lindane) for targeted and controlled delivery of these compounds to soil was investigated. The kinetics of polymer degradation and the dynamics of pesticide release from the extended-release formulations was studied. It is shown that pesticides embedded in a degradable polymer (PHA) carrier are released gradually and slowly, without surges, as the polymer is degraded by the soil microflora. The microbial soil component actively responded to the addition of the polymer as an additional nutrient substrate: the latter was degraded and then utilized. The rate of the pesticide release to the soil can be regulated by varying the polymer-pesticide ratio.
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Voinova et al. (2009) studied this question.
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