enhancing the efficiency of pesticide application€¦ · acknowledgments this work is supported by...

Acknowledgments This work is supported by the Tata Trusts. Enhancing the efficiency of pesticide application Maher Damak, Seyed Reza Mahmoudi, Nasim Hyder, and Prof. Kripa Varanasi Massachusetts Institute of Technology Abstract and Opportunity Pesticides are an essential input in agriculture. However, they are toxic and pollute the ecosystem. Here, we are developing an additive that enhances pesticide application efficiency, thereby reducing the needed quantity. • Hydrophobic plants (i.e., wheat, onion, cabbage…) that repel sprayed pesticides are common • Indian farmers can rarely afford expensive spraying equipment (i.e., electrostatic sprayers) Proposed Solution We add oppositely charged polymers to two solutions of the liquid and spray them simultaneously. These polymers attract on the surface and form hydrophilic defects that pin the droplets, thereby enhancing the liquid retention. Results • When droplets coalesce on the surface, charged polymers precipitate into surface hydrophilic defects. These defects exert a strong local pinning force on the droplet and prevent it from bouncing. • Transition from bouncing to sticking in drop impacts translates into a much higher macroscopic retention of sprays. Value Proposition • Easy-to-use solution with no barrier to entry • Tenfold increase in pesticide retention • Reduction of production costs and environmental footprint References Bergeron, V., Bonn, D., Martin, J. Y. & Vovelle, L. Controlling droplet deposition with polymer additives. Nature 405, 772–775 (2000). De Rutter, H., Uffing, A. J., Meinen, E. & Prins, A. Influence of surfactants and plant species on leaf retention of spray solutions. Weed Sci. 567–572 (1990). Generally in India, no protective equipment is worn when spraying pesticides Drop-on-drop impacts with polyelectrolytes. The first column contains schematics of two possiblescenarios. The next columns are snapshots of individual drop impacts for each of the previous scenarios.The rightmost column contains SEM images of the surface after impact. Schematic of simultaneous spraying of opposite polyelectrolytes. Surface coverage and retained volume for water and opposite polyelectrolytes spraying on a superhydrophobicsurface.

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AcknowledgmentsThisworkissupportedbytheTataTrusts.

EnhancingtheefficiencyofpesticideapplicationMaherDamak,Seyed RezaMahmoudi,Nasim Hyder,andProf.Kripa VaranasiMassachusettsInstituteofTechnology

AbstractandOpportunityPesticidesareanessentialinputinagriculture.However,theyaretoxicandpollutetheecosystem.Here,wearedevelopinganadditivethatenhancespesticideapplicationefficiency,therebyreducingtheneededquantity.

• Hydrophobicplants(i.e.,wheat,onion,cabbage…)thatrepelsprayedpesticidesarecommon

• Indianfarmerscanrarelyaffordexpensivesprayingequipment(i.e.,electrostaticsprayers)

ProposedSolutionWeaddoppositelychargedpolymerstotwosolutionsoftheliquidandspraythemsimultaneously.

Thesepolymersattractonthesurfaceandformhydrophilicdefectsthatpinthedroplets,therebyenhancingtheliquidretention.

Results• Whendropletscoalesceonthesurface,chargedpolymers

precipitateintosurfacehydrophilicdefects.Thesedefectsexertastronglocalpinningforceonthedropletandpreventitfrombouncing.

• Transitionfrombouncingtostickingindropimpactstranslatesintoamuchhighermacroscopicretentionofsprays.

ValueProposition

• Easy-to-usesolutionwithnobarriertoentry

• Tenfoldincreaseinpesticideretention

• Reductionofproductioncostsandenvironmentalfootprint

ReferencesBergeron,V.,Bonn,D.,Martin,J.Y.&Vovelle,L.Controllingdropletdepositionwithpolymeradditives.Nature 405, 772–775(2000).

DeRutter,H.,Uffing,A.J.,Meinen,E.&Prins,A.Influenceofsurfactantsandplantspeciesonleafretentionofspraysolutions.WeedSci. 567–572(1990).

GenerallyinIndia,noprotectiveequipmentiswornwhensprayingpesticides

Drop-on-dropimpactswithpolyelectrolytes.Thefirstcolumncontainsschematicsoftwopossiblescenarios.Thenextcolumnsaresnapshotsofindividualdropimpactsforeachofthepreviousscenarios.TherightmostcolumncontainsSEMimagesofthesurfaceafterimpact.

Schematicofsimultaneoussprayingofoppositepolyelectrolytes.

Surfacecoverageandretainedvolumeforwaterandoppositepolyelectrolytessprayingonasuperhydrophobicsurface.

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