Indonesia: Potential for pesticides based out of palm olein

Experts of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) carried out the study on the formulation of insecticides using active ingredient of profenofos using diananolamide (DEA) Surfactant from Olein Palm Oil. The experts are Handuweni Surtining Dewi, Mulyorini Rahayuningsih, and Erliza Hambali from the Department of Industrial Technology of Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural Technology of Bogor Agricultural University (FATETA IPB).

Mulyorini said that the aim of this study was to obtain the best profenofos insecticide solution with diethanolamide (DEA) as its surfactant, information on physico-chemical properties of insecticide solution and the effectiveness of its performance in controlling grayak caterpillar (armyworm Spodoptera exigua)

In Indonesia, soy is the third most important food crop after rice and maize. Soybeans is one of the main food commodities in Indonesia, the majority of Indonesia relies heavily on soy for food ingredients. Demand consumption of soy protein-based foods higher with increasing population annually, always increasing from year to year. Indonesian soybean consumption is dominated by human use. Unfortunately, the high demand for soybeans is not able to offset the domestic soybean production. As a result, more and more soybean imports to rise.

"One cause of the low production capacity of soybeans is the grayak caterpillar attack. Generally, the grayak caterpillar attack is controled by spraying insecticide profenofos, "he said.

He said, Profenofos is an organophosphate insecticide. It is a liquid with a pale yellow to amber color and a garlic-like odor. Profenofos is an active ingredient that can’t be applied directly because it is very toxic, so it needs to be dissolved first. Profenofos need to be dissolved, but profenofos couldn't dissolve in water. So that, it needs the right formulation between the solvent and other ingredients which can support profenofos performance. One of that ingredient is surfactant.

One of the ingredients used to form a good emulsion is surfactant. This research used surfactant diethanolamide (DEA) based on palm olein. DEA function in insecticide formulation are as homogenizer, dispersant, sticker and spreader agent.

This research used surfactant diethanolamide (DEA) based on palm olein. DEA function in insecticide formulation are as homogenizer, dispersant, sticker and spreader agent. The results showed that the DEA surfactant was able to form a good emulsion on profenofos insecticide solution and sodium ethoxide solvent. The best results were obtained on the insecticide solution formulation with the addition of 10% DEA surfactant and 40 percent profenofos active ingredient. The test results prove that as many as 574 ppm of active ingredient in water can kill half the population of grayak caterpillar. (Wied)

Source: Bogor Agricultural University