Natural Terpene Compounds for Insect Repellency Without Toxicity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current insect repellents, such as DEET, pose safety concerns for humans and the environment, are not long-lasting, and often lead to insect resistance, necessitating a non-toxic, long-lasting solution that is effective against various pests without harming humans or the environment.
Innovation Solution
The use of specific compounds with a defined structure, containing 11 to 20 carbon atoms, which can be formulated into solutions, oils, creams, or aerosols, providing repellency and toxicity to certain insects while being safe for humans and the environment, including optical isomers and diastereomers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional chemical insecticides such as DDT or pyrethrin are used, then insect repellency is achieved, but safety concerns arise for humans and the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by using natural terpene compounds (citronellal, geranial, neral, citronellyl acetate) with specific carbon atom counts (10-12 carbons) and functional groups (aldehydes, ketones, esters) instead of conventional synthetic insecticides. This parameter change maintains repellency effectiveness while eliminating the toxic effects associated with DDT and pyrethrin
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs volatile terpene compounds that naturally degrade over time, replacing persistent toxic insecticides with short-lived natural compounds that break down into harmless substances, thereby eliminating long-term environmental accumulation and toxicity concerns
2Adaptability or versatility
If DEET is used as an insect repellent, then broad-spectrum insect protection is achieved, but the effect is not long-lasting and requires frequent reapplication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple terpene compounds (citronellal, geranial, neral, citronellyl acetate) with complementary repellent properties into a composite formulation. This composite approach broadens the spectrum of insect protection while the synergistic interaction of components extends the duration of effectiveness compared to single-ingredient repellents like DEET
3Reliability
If pyrethrin is used as an insecticide, then insect killing effect is achieved, but it causes irritation to human eyes, skin, and respiratory systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harm caused by pyrethrin into a benefit by using natural terpene compounds that insects find repellent and toxic, while humans tolerate these same compounds without irritation. The terpenes' natural occurrence in plant oils (citronella, rose, geranium) means they have evolved to be safe for human exposure while maintaining effectiveness against insects
4Reliability
If pyrethrin is used for insect control, then insecticidal activity is achieved, but it is particularly harmful to aquatic life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by selecting terpene compounds with specific molecular structures (10-12 carbon atoms, cyclic or acyclic structures with aldehyde, ketone, or ester functional groups) that exhibit different environmental degradation pathways compared to pyrethrin. These natural terpenes break down more rapidly in aquatic environments, reducing toxicity to aquatic life while maintaining insecticidal activity
Data Source
AI summary
Control and repellency of biting flies, house flies, ticks, ants, fleas, biting midges, cockroaches, spiders and stink bugs is obtained by contact of the insects with at least one of the compounds of the structure (I) wherein R is -OH, =O, -OC(O)R4, -OR6, or -(OR6)2, wherein each R6 is independently an alkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R4 is a branched or straight chain, saturated or unsaturated, hydrocarbyl group with zero to two double bonds and from 1 to 15 carbon atoms; X is O or CH2, with the proviso that when X is O R can only be =O: each Z is independently (CH) or (CH2); y is a numeral selected from 1 and 2; R1 is H or a branched or straight chain, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group with zero to two double bonds and from 1 to 15 carbon atoms; R2 is H and a branched or straight chain, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group with zero to three double bonds and from 1 to 15 carbon atoms; R3 is H, a branched or straight chain, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group with zero to three double bonds and from 1 to 15 carbon atoms, -(CH2)nOH, -C(O)OR5, -CH2C(O)OR7, -CH2C(O)R8, -C(O)NR9R10, or -CH2C(O)NR11 R12 where each of R5, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11 and R12 is independently H or a branched or straight chain, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group with zero to three double bonds and from 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and n is n integer of from 1 to 12;