We report the synthesis of five proton-conducting ionic liquids (PCILs) by a neutralization reaction. Proton transfer from the corresponding Brønsted acid to the respective base was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Karl-Fischer titration was used to measure the water contents of the PCILs exposed to air for different time intervals at a relative humidity of 36±5% and 31±5ºC. The rate of moisture uptake by the PCILs increased with the increase in their time of exposure to air and follows pseudo-first-order kinetics. Conductivity analysis reveals that the PCILs’ ionic conductivities further rise with increasing water content and temperature. The conductivity data were fitted with the Arrhenius equation and activation energies (Ea) were deduced. The electrochemical analysis of the triethylammonium dihydrogen phosphate, TEADHP, shows that the liquid has a wide (2.8 V) electrochemical window (EW) at the Pt electrode at 60ºC and 5% water. The EW narrows as the temperature and water content of the TEADHP increase due to the increase in the rate of the water electrolysis. The data showed that during positive-going scans, Pt-oxides were formed due to the oxidation of water in the PCIL which plays an electrocatalytic role during formic acid oxidation in the medium.
Background
The Khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium (Everts) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) is one of the most destructive pests of stored wheat and barley worldwide. The broad practice of insecticides has been connected with insect resistance development coupled with the renaissance treated primary insects, environmental contamination, and toxicity to animals, man and other non-target organisms. These harms have invigorated the usage of alternative methods of managing this insect pest.
Results
For biocontrol potential, four species of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) were tested: Steinernema pakistanense PCSIR-10, S. bifurcatum PCSIR-39, S. saimkayai PCSIR-6 and S. abbasi PCSIR-17, against adult and larval stages of Khapra beetle under laboratory conditions. At 250 IJs/ml, S. pakistanense and S. bifurcatum caused 100 and 90% at larval stages and 92 and 89% against adult beetles, respectively.
Conclusion
This study documented that EPNs had a potential to control stored grain pest and could be utilized as alternatives of insecticides, which provide an adequate control of insect pest at postharvest stage, but in future more experiment will be required in commercial storage conditions.
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