Context
The carrying out of an agrochemical treatment leads to a considerable quantity of contaminated surfaces : the can having contained the uncontaminated product, the inside of the sprayer having contained the diluted product and the outside of the whole equipment (tractor + sprayer) having been in contact with the spraying spume. If not rinsed and neutralized, those residues will finally be found in the environment and will therefore take part in the direct pollution of surface waters.Objectives
As there is no standardized method (ISO, CEN, CIPAC) to assess the easiness of rinsing of a pesticide or the efficiency of a rinsing protocol, the Department of Agricultural Engineering and Pesticide Research set up, on demand of the industry, protocols aiming at checking the efficiency of rinsing detergent, of an equipment or a rinsing technique, the design of a can, …Description of tasks
The sustainable utilisation of plant protection products (PPP) nececerraly goes through a better management of contaminated « wastes » and products.In a general way, the studies carried out by the Department on the rinsing of PPP residues aims at improving the rinsing techniques themselves, at improving the rinsability of products and tanks and finally, at reducing the contamination of the environment via punctual pollutions.
Results obtained
Comparative study of rinsing-can systemsModern sprayers are equipped with an integrated system of rinsing of empty tanks. Under the patronage of the Raw Material Fund, a comparative study between 3 commercial models and a manual rinsing made it possible to put forward the efficiency and performance of such systems. Furthermore, the project required the setting up of a method extracting residues of products remaining in the can after rinsing.
Development of a manual rinsing method of empty tanks
Even though the rinsing can system usually equips modern sprayers, old models do not have it and the farmer often has to rinse empty tanks manually.
Within the framework of the gathering of empty tanks, Phytophar Recover asks the Agricultural Engineering Department to set up a manual rinsing method ensuring a sufficient cleaning of empty pesticide tanks so that they present no more danger for the environment.
The results made it possible to systematize the gathering of pesticide tanks and to use them according to a less expensive energy process.
Assessment of the efficiency of sprayers rinsing systems
Within the framework of its normative work, the Department tested and validated the measuring methods set up by the working group : ISO / TC23 / WG6 “cleaning of sprayers”. The performances of sprayers rinsing systems (inside + outside) were measured and compared.
The results made it possible to refine the standards and improve the rinsing technique of the spraying equipment.
Contribution
Department of Pesticide Research for chemical and residues analyses. Biometry Unit for the statistical analysis of the results.Partners
Phytophar, CENCRAW off coordinator
HUYGHEBAERT Bruno (Attaché scientifique)Chaussée de Namur, 146
B-5030 Gembloux
huyghebaert@cra.wallonie.be
Tél : 00 32 (0) 81 62 71 70
Fax : 00 32 (0) 81 61 58 47
MOSTADE Olivier (Attaché scientifique)
Chaussée de Namur, 146
B-5030 Gembloux
mostade@cra.wallonie.be
Tél : 00 32 (0) 81 62 71 70
Fax : 00 32 (0) 81 61 58 47
Funding
- FASFC - Federal Agency for the Security of the Food Chain
- Phytophar Recover
- CRA-W - Walloon Agricultural Research Centre
