Termicidal Activity and Chemical Components of Wood Vinegar from Nipah Fruit against Coptotermes curvignathus

Abstract

The termicidal activity and chemical components of wood vinegar from two sources of biomass, nipah fruit shells (NFS) and a mixture of shells and fiber (MSF), were evaluated against Coptotermes curvignathus . A no-choice test was carried out to evaluate their termicidal activity using filter paper samples treated with 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, 10.0%, and 12.5% NFS or MSF vinegar. Both wood vinegars exhibited antitermitic activity against C. curvignathus . The results show that increased concentrations of NFS and MSF vinegar significantly increased termite mortality. In particular, the NFS vinegar caused complete mortality and the lowest filter paper mass losses at 2.18% when treated with 12.5% wood vinegar. The most abundant chemical compounds of NFS vinegar were cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride, 2,5-dichlorophenol, 2-propanone, acetic acid, propanoic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, 3,7-dimethyl-6-octenal, and trans-geraniol. Meanwhile, the main compounds in the MSF vinegar were 1,2-ethanediol, formic acid, acetic acid, ethanoic acid, 2-furancarboxaldehyde, phenol, 2-methoxy phenol, and 4-methyl phenol.