Controlling Pesticide Loss through Nanonetworks

This work describes the feasibility of using high-energy electron beam (HEEB)-modified natural nanoclay (attapulgite) as an effective matrix to control the loss of pesticides that tend to discharge into the environment through washing and leaching, which causes severe pollution to both soil and groundwater. After irradiation by HEEB and because of thermal, charge, and impact effects, the originally aggregated attapulgite could be dispersed and form nanoporous networks, which could be beneficial for the binding of pesticides onto attapulgite. A loss control pesticide (LCP) was obtained when such attapulgite was added to a traditional pesticide. This pesticide–attapulgite complex could be retained by the rough surface of crop leaves, which increases the adhesion of pesticides on crop leaves and reduces pesticide loss, so that sufficient pesticides are supplied and the pollution risk of the pesticide is substantially lowered.