Fumigant activity of pyrolysis fractions derived from waste licuri's pericarp (Syagrus coronata - Arecaceae) in the control the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

The large production of waste and the destination for its disposal is one of the biggest problems faced by the agro-industrial sector. Furthermore, in food production, the control of insect pests during grain storage causes great damage. Scientific research evaluating the effectiveness of pyrolysis products in insects is recent and still little studied. In this work, the aqueous phase (LAF) and bio-oil produced from the residues of licuri have been investigated which insecticidal effect. Licuri shell was subjected to slow pyrolysis carried out in a batch reactor at 400 °C, the LAF and bio-oil were collected from the condenser. The LAF was collected, generating a total of five fractions. The LAF1 was the most toxic fraction to Tribolium castaneum on fumigation assay, reaching 92.5% mortality. Analyses of these fractions by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) identified a higher content of acetic acid, furan derivates, and other compounds, including oxo-acetic acid, methyl acetate, furfural, 2-methyl furan, 2,5-dimethylfuran, and l-alanine ethylamine. With the result of this study, it may be concluded that LAF is a very promising source of fumigant against an important pest of stored grains, therefore being a sustainable source to produce a biopesticide.

Keywords

• Slow pyrolysis
• Biomass residues
• Tribolium castaneum
• Biopesticide
• Eco-friendly
• Syagrus coronata