Scientists Report Tobacco Bio-oil as Effective Pesticide
October 29, 2010| |
Tobacco has been used as a natural organic pesticide for hundreds of years and recently, it has been reported as a potential mass-produced alternative to conventional commercial pesticides in the Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research journal.
Cedric Briens and other researchers claim that the health hazard brought about by tobacco has decreased the demand for tobacco, and thus affect the livelihood of tobacco growers. Thus, scientists are searching for other possible uses of the crop such as an eco-friendly natural pesticide.
To convert tobacco to pesticide, the leaves will be exposed to heat (900 degrees Fahrenheit) in vacuum then an unrefined substance called bio-oil will be produced. Bio-oil has been tested against various insect pests and was proven effective in blocking the growth of bacteria and fungus, and killing beetles including the Colorado potato beetle, which is resistant to current insecticides. The results of the study indicate that tobacco bio-oil could be a more effective selective pesticide than others available in the market.
Read the complete report at http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/ie100329z.
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