# Preparation of 3-Iodo-2-propargyl-butyl-carbamate-Loaded Microcapsules for Long-Term Mold Resistance in Bamboo

## TL;DR

This paper presents a new method to protect bamboo from mold using microcapsules loaded with an anti-mold compound, improving its durability and safety.

## Contribution

The novel use of melamine-formaldehyde resin to encapsulate IPBC for long-term mold resistance in bamboo is introduced.

## Key findings

- Microcapsules with Tween 80 surfactant showed excellent mold resistance against tested fungi.
- IPBC-loaded microcapsules achieved 20% drug loading and 80% encapsulation efficiency.
- The microcapsules demonstrated good structural and thermal stability.

## Abstract

Bamboo, recognized as a nutrient-dense biomass material, exhibits a high susceptibility to mold infestations, which can result in discoloration and a notable decrease in longevity, thereby posing potential health risks to humans. In this study, melamine-formaldehyde resin (MFR) was utilized to load 3-iodo-2-propargyl-butyl-carbamate (IPBC) via in situ polymerization, resulting in the preparation of microcapsules suitable for anti-mold protection of bamboo. The mold resistance of Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride, and Penicillium citrinum were evaluated. A scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) were used to characterize and analyze the formation process, surface morphology, structural composition, and thermal stability of the microcapsules. The effects of different surfactants (Span 80, Tween 80, SDBS, SDS, GA) on the microscopic morphology of the anti-mold microcapsules were investigated. The results show that microcapsules prepared with Tween 80 as the surfactant exhibited good mold resistance. After coating MFR with IPBC, the drug loading of I-MFR is 20%, with an encapsulation efficiency of 80%, demonstrating excellent anti-mold performance. The microcapsules show favorable anti-mold performance and have broad application prospects in bamboo protection.