Preparation of eco-friendly formulation is very essential for reducing the dependency on traditional pesticides. In this work, Pickering emulsions were prepared by using neem, corn and coconut oil. Halloysites nanotubes are added as an emulsifying or stabilizing agent and acephate is incorporated to evaluate its pesticidal activity. Microscopic images show that the interfacial tension and droplet size decrease with increasing HNT concentration. The contact angle affects the pesticide formulations adhesion, wetting, and spreading behavior on plant leaves. The majority of prepared emulsions exhibit good wettability with contact angles less than 60°. FTIR, SEM, and EDS confirmed effective adsorption of HNTs at droplet interfaces, ensuring emulsion stability. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used as bacterial strains to test the biosafety. It facilitates their secure use. Using Spodoptera frugiperda as a pest model and maize as a plant model, insecticidal tests were conducted. Neem oil-based emulsions exhibit the highest mortality rate, while corn and coconut oil emulsions show moderate effects. These results shows that HNT-stabilized natural oil emulsions provide a reliable, biosafe, and efficient platform for environmentally friendly pest control.
Keywords: Natural Oils; Halloysites; Acephate;
Spodoptera frugiperda; Emulsion Stability;