Essential oils (EOs) are volatile natural organic compounds, which possess pesticidal properties. However, they are vulnerable to heat and light, limiting their range of applications. Encapsulation of EOs is a useful approach to overcome some of these limitations. In this study, a novel emulsification technique is utilized for encapsulation of thymol (TY) and eugenol (EU) (EOs) within microcapsules with an unmodified cellulose shell. Use of low cost materials and processes can be beneficial in agricultural applications. In the encapsulation process, unmodified cellulose was dissolved in 7% aqueous NaOH at low temperature, regenerated to form a dispersion of cellulose hydrogels, which was rigorously mixed with the EOs by mechanical mixing followed by high-pressure homogenization (HPH). Cellulose:EO ratios of 1:1 and 1:8 utilizing homogenization pressures of 5000, 10,000 and 20,000 psi applied in a microfluidizer were studied. Light microscopy, high-resolution cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed successful fabrication of EO-loaded capsules in size range of 1 to ~8 µm. Stability analyses showed highly stabilized oil in water (O/W) emulsions with instability index close to 0. The emulsions exhibited anti-mold activity in post-harvest alfalfa plants, with potency affected by the cellulose:EO ratio as well as the EO type; TY showed the highest anti-mold activity. Taken together, this study showed potential for anti-fungal activity of cellulose-encapsulated EOs in post-harvest hay.
Keywords: cellulose; encapsulation; environmentally friendly pesticides; essential oils.