A new vehicle for herbicide application using crude glycerin, a by-product of biodiesel production

Abstract

The supply of glycerin derived from the pre-purification of biodiesel has increased considerably in Brazil, making it necessary to identify economic and environmentally friendly applications for this byproduct. This work aimed to develop oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions using crude glycerin treated with H₃PO₄ for use as a vehicle for the application the herbicide Togar. The work was conducted in the laboratory of Marlebologia at the Federal University of Tocantins, Gurupi Campus. The preliminary emulsions were subjected to stability testing, and those that remained stable were diluted with the herbicide Togar (8% v v^-1) and characterized with respect to pH, conductivity, viscosity, density and surface tension. The crude glycerin was used to develop five stable emulsions with promising physicochemical characteristics for use as vehicle for herbicide application. The conductivity and viscosity of the emulsions were high compared to diesel.

Key words: Agrochemicals, residue, emulsions.