This study was conducted to elucidate the synthesis of MCPP-LDH hybrid, release pattern and their properties. MCPP, common name of mecoprop (2-(4-chloro-o-tolyloxy) propionic acid), is a selective, systemic, hormone-type phenoxy herbicide. It is applied as post emergence and is used on ornamentals and sports turf, for forest site preparation, and on drainage ditch banks for selective control of surface creeping broadleaf weeds such as clovers, chickweed, lambsquarters, ivy, plantain and others. It is also used for wheat, barley and oats cultivations ^1,2. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), or the so-called anionic clays, belong to a family of layered materials. These layered materials have received considerable attention due to their unique layered structure and high anion exchange capacities. LDHs are less frequent or rare in nature than cationic clays but relatively inexpensive and simple to synthesize. Therefore, they can be readily synthesized by coprecipitation methods under laboratory conditions ^3,4. A MCPP-LDH hybrid was synthesized from MCPP and Mg-Al complex. Release kinetics of MCPP from MCPP-LDH hybrid was slower in distilled water and soil solution but it was slower in distilled water than soil solution. MCPP-LDH hybrid has shown to be more stable condition than the CO₃^2- form of LDH in thermal and acidic condition. Clover (Trifolium pratense) seed germination was tested in soil. After 40 days observation, seeds were partially germinated when they were treated with MCPP but these were totally inhibited when treated with MCPP-LDH. Therefore, MCPP-LDH hybrid would serve as a functional and benign pesticide to minimize the harmful effects on soil environment by bulk herbicides.

1.      Tomlin, C. D. S., 1997. The Pesticide Manual, 11^th ed., British Crop Protection Council, UK, pp. 776-777.

2.      Thomson, W. T., 1982. Agricultural Chemicals Book II. Herbicides, Thomson Publications, Fresno, CA.

3.      Miyata, S., 1975. The synthesis of hydrotalcite-like compounds and their structures and physico-chemical properties. Clay Miner. 23, 369-375.

4.      Rhee, S. W., Kang, M. J., Kim, H. and Moon, C. H., 1997. Removal of aquatic chromate ion involving rehydration reaction of calcined layered double hydroxide (Mg-Al-CO₃). Environ. Technol. 18, 231-236.

Keywords: Synthesis; MCPP-LDH hybrid; Release pattern; Clover seed