Beneficial bacteria can survive alongside agricultural chemicals in new emulsions that could be used to deliver multiple treatments to crops in one fell swoop.
The emulsions have yet to be tested in the field, but laboratory research suggests that bacteria and pesticides can coexist in the same emulsion without affecting the efficacy of the pesticide or the survival of the bacteria.
“Our formulation is more sustainable, it’s greener, it’s not based in typical microplastic-producing components,” compared to other agricultural chemicals and fertilizers, says Tahira Pirzada, a chemist and research scholar at North Carolina State Univ. (NC State) who coauthored the study. The research was led by Mariam Sohail, who earned her doctorate in chemical engineering at NC State in 2024, and John Cheadle, a doctoral candidate at NC State.
The work focused on bacteria that improve plant growth. These microbes do this in a variety of ways, from helping fix nutrients in the soil that plants require to secreting antibiotics that protect against pathogens. The problem, Pirzada notes, is that many of these bacterial species can’t survive in a shelf-stable...
Would you like to access the complete CEP News Update?
No problem. You just have to complete the following steps.
You have completed 0 of 2 steps.
-
Log in
You must be logged in to view this content. Log in now.
-
AIChE Membership
You must be an AIChE member to view this article. Join now.
Copyright Permissions
Would you like to reuse content from CEP Magazine? It’s easy to request permission to reuse content. Simply click here to connect instantly to licensing services, where you can choose from a list of options regarding how you would like to reuse the desired content and complete the transaction.
