Prosopis wood vinegar bio-repellent for termite management in arid regions

Overview

This solution proposes using wood vinegar (pyroligneous acid) extracted from Prosopis juliflora as a bio-repellent against termites. Prosopis juliflora is a well-documented allelopathic plant, meaning it naturally produces biochemicals that influence the behavior and survival of other organisms. The research leverages these inherent properties to develop a sustainable termite management product, particularly suited for arid and semi-arid regions such as Turkana, Kenya, where Prosopis is both abundant and invasive.

Wood vinegar is a byproduct of pyrolysis (thermal decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen) and contains 80–90% water alongside approximately 200 organic compounds. Prior studies have demonstrated that N-hexane extracts of Prosopis juliflora exhibit insecticidal activity against termites and cockroaches, while methanolic and dichloromethane extracts have caused high mortality in groundnut aphids. These findings support the hypothesis that Prosopis-derived wood vinegar can serve as an effective bio-repellent.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• Source material: Prosopis juliflora wood biomass harvested in Turkana West Sub-County
• Production process: Pyrolysis of chopped wood chips to produce charcoal and crude pyroligneous acid
• Yield estimates: Approximately 25 kg of charcoal and 8 kg of crude pyroligneous acid per 100 kg of wood biomass, yielding about 5 kg of refined wood vinegar
• Active components: Over 200 organic compounds with demonstrated allelopathic and insecticidal properties
• Application method: Different concentrations of Prosopis wood vinegar will be tested against termites, with pure honey evaluated as an adjuvant (a substance added to enhance effectiveness)

Technology readiness level

This research is at an early validation stage. Future work includes acquiring a pyrolysis machine for on-site production in Turkana West Sub-County, processing locally harvested Prosopis biomass, and conducting controlled efficacy trials using varying concentrations of wood vinegar against termites. The approach also addresses ecological management of invasive Prosopis by converting it into a useful pest control product.