Sulfosulfuron incorporated in micelles adsorbed on montmorillonite for slow release formulations

Slow release formulations of the anionic herbicide sulfosulfuron (SFS) were prepared by incorporating it in micelles of an organic cation octadecyltrimethylammonium, which adsorb on the clay-mineral montmorillonite. The fraction of SFS adsorbed on the micelle-clay complex reached 98%, whereas for monomer-clay complexes, its adsorption was insignificant. Fluorescence studies showed surface contact between the micelles and the clay surface. The rate of SFS release from the micelle-clay formulations in aqueous suspensions was slow (<1%, 72 h). Spraying SFS formulations on a thin soil layer in a funnel, followed by irrigations (50 mm), resulted in complete elution of SFS from the commercial formulation (dispersible granular) versus 4% from the micelle-clay formulation. A plant bioassay in Rehovot soil showed that these respective formulations yielded 23 and 65% of shoot growth inhibition of foxtail. Consequently, the slow release micelle-clay formulations of SFS yield significantly reduced leaching and enhanced biological activity, thus providing environmental and agricultural advantages.