Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Sinomax Enterprises, Ltd.

Feng Chen

Roger A Laine

Gregg Henderson

Betty C R Zhu

Donald O Heumann

Michael Saska

Rosemary Patton

Sanaa A Ibrahim

Lara Maistrello

Alan J Mandle

Several derivatives of naphthalene, including 1'-acetonaphthone, 2&#x2032;-acetpnaphthone, 1-methoxynaphthalene, and 2-methoxynaphthalene, were discovered to be effective toxicants and repellents of termites, and resulted in significant reduction in termite feeding activity. For example, 2&#x2032;-acetonaphthone was found to be an effective repellent and feeding deterrent of termites. Termites exposed to concentrations as low as 8 mg/kg sand exhibited a significant reduction in tunneling and feeding activity. Moreover, some of the dead termites had symptoms indicative of a failure to molt. At concentrations &#x2267;20 &#x3bc;g/cm, 2&#x2032;-acetonaphthone was a strong repellent. Interestingly, at 160-fold lower concentration (0.125 &#x3bc;g/cm), 2&#x2032;-acetonaphthone stimulated termite feeding activity. As a sand barrier, 2&#x2032;-acetonaphthone significantly inhibited tunneling and feeding activity in concentrations from 8.33 to 35.0 mg/kg. Molting problems were also identified in termites exposed to 2&#x2032;-acetonaphthone.

Naphthalene derivatives as termite repellents and toxicants

Extracts of vetiver oil were found to be significant repellents and toxicants of ants, ticks, and cockroaches. Nootkatone was shown to significantly decrease ant invasion and increase mortality in fire ants. Nootkatone is an effective repellent and toxicant of ants either by itself or as an addition to other substrates, including mulches made from vetiver grass roots, diatomaceous earth, alumina, silica, clays; building materials made from either aluminum or wood; and other suitable solid substances. Nootkatone was also a repellent and toxicant to ticks; and a repellent to cockroaches. Nootkatone is non-toxic to humans and other mammals and is environmentally safe. In addition, it is believed that other extracts of vetiver oil, specifically &#x3b1;-cedrene, zizanol and bicyclovetivenol, will be effective against ants, ticks, and cockroaches.

Extracts of vetiver oil as repellent and toxicant to ants, ticks, and cockroaches

Extracts of vetiver oil were found to significantly repel termites. In one extract, nootkatone was isolated and found to be a significant repellent and toxicant of termites. Nootkatone significantly decreased food consumption, decreased tunneling behavior, and increased mortality in termites. Nootkatone is an effective repellent and toxicant of termites either by itself or as an addition to other materials or substrates, including mulches made from vetiver grass roots or other wood products. Nootkatone can also be used to protect construction wood from attack by Formosan subterranean termites. Nootkatone as a repellent is non-toxic to humans and other mammals and is environmentally safe. In addition, &#x3b1;-cedrene was found to be a weak termite repellent; and both zizanol and bicyclovetivenol were found to be repellents and toxicants of termites.

Vetiver oil extracts as termite repellent and toxicant

Improved separations of xylose, mannose, galactose, arabinose, glucose, xylitol, arabitol; sorbitol, galactitol, or mannitol (and other monosaccharides and sugar alcohols) from other sugars and sugar alcohols may be achieved by chromatography over hydroxyl-form anion exchange surfaces prepared from anion exchange resins at relatively low hydroxyl concentrations. When a strong base anion exchange resin, such as a chloride-form strong base anion exchange resin, is conditioned with a low concentration of hydroxyl (for example, an NaOH solution with a concentration between 0.1 and 1000 mM, most preferably between 1 and 10 mM), the conditioned resin separates a number of sugars and sugar alcohols from one another, while still allowing ready desorption from the resin.

Process for the separation of sugars

Growing community of inventors

Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America

Feng Chen