Fatty Acid Esters as Biodegradable Insecticides

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current insecticides and arachnicides have significant environmental and health impacts, and the development of resistance by insects to these chemicals is a growing concern, necessitating the need for alternatives that are less toxic and reduce the risk of resistance development.

Innovation Solution

The use of specific fatty acid esters, such as 3-methylbutyl dodecanoate and 2-ethylhexyl caprate, which are readily biodegradable and have low toxicity to humans and animals, as insecticides and arachnicides for controlling insects and arachnids, including those in the Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera families, and arachnids like spiders and mites.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional insecticides (organochlorine, organophosphorus, pyrethroids) are used, then effective insect control is achieved, but environmental and health impacts increase and resistance development is accelerated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsect control effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental and health impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of insecticides by using fatty acid esters with specific molecular structures (formula I with defined R1 groups and chain lengths). These structural parameter changes result in compounds that maintain insecticidal activity while reducing toxicity to mammals and improving biodegradability, thus resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and environmental safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs readily biodegradable fatty acid ester compounds that break down quickly in the environment after performing their insecticidal function. This 'short-living' characteristic ensures that the active ingredient provides effective control but then degrades to avoid persistent environmental accumulation and chronic toxicity issues associated with conventional insecticides

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If conventional insecticides are used, then effective insect control is achieved, but insect resistance to these chemicals develops rapidly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsect control effectivenessVSAvoidresistance development risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces fatty acid esters with novel molecular parameters (specific chain lengths, ester positions, and structural configurations as defined in formula I) that represent a different chemical mode of action compared to conventional insecticides. This parameter change in chemical structure provides a new mechanism of action that bypasses existing insect resistance mechanisms, thereby maintaining control effectiveness while reducing resistance development risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If highly toxic insecticides (organophosphorus compounds) are used, then strong insecticidal activity is achieved, but human and animal toxicity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsecticidal activityVSAvoidhuman and animal toxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the principle of local quality by designing fatty acid esters with specific molecular characteristics that confer selective toxicity - the compounds are structurally optimized to interact with insect-specific biological targets while being inherently less reactive with mammalian physiological systems. This localized structural optimization achieves high insecticidal power with reduced human and animal toxicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Duration of action of stationary object

If stable and persistent insecticides (organochlorine compounds) are used, then long-lasting control is achieved, but environmental accumulation and bioaccumulation occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol durationVSAvoidenvironmental persistence

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs fatty acid esters that are intentionally designed with labile chemical bonds and structures that facilitate rapid biodegradation after exerting their insecticidal effect. These 'short-living' compounds provide sufficient field duration for pest control but then quickly break down into harmless degradation products, preventing the environmental persistence and bioaccumulation problems associated with stable organochlorine insecticides

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP3122186B1Use of fatty acid ester(s) as insecticide

Publication Date: 2020.03.25 OLEON NV

Figure 1~2

AI summary

The present invention relates to the use of one or more fatty acid esters, particularly 3-methylbutyl dodecanoate, or a mixture of fatty acid esters as insecticide and/or arachnicide and moreover relates to insecticide and/or arachnicide compositions containing same. The invention also relates to a method for controlling insects and/or arachnids.