Abstract

The objective of this research was to analyze the chemical composition and to evaluate possible purification processes (Figure 1) of the pyrolysis condensed phase of eucalyptus wood (pyroligneous liquor) to remove toxic substances. The experiment was based on three processes:

a) Simple distillation (Group 1)

b) Distillation through a still head containing charcoal (Group 2) and

c) Distillation using activated charcoal in the liquor while simultaneously passing the generated gas through a still head with activated charcoal (Group 3).

The gravimetric yield and the chemical composition of the distilled and the original pyroligneous liquors were determined through gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. It was observed that the Group 3 distillation had the highest influence on the chemical composition of the obtained product and was also the most effective process in removing one of the most toxic compounds from the pyroligneous liquors: the 2, 6-dimetoxyphenol. No differences in gravimetric yield were observed among the processes studied.

Keywords: Botanicals; Efficacy; Synthetic pesticide; Pest; Maize

Abbreviations: CRD: Completely Randomised Design; OPMVs: Open Pollinated Maize Varieties; ARDA: Agricultural Rural Development Authority; OPv: Open Pollinated varieties