Month: September 2015

23092015_Presentation draft

  1. Recap of the first presentation.
  2. Information on why mosquito prefers to bite some people more than the others; a glance on the mosquito anatomy (which part sense the CO2)
  3. Direction of project: To come up with a product which confuse the mosquito about the CO2 source.i. product which produces carbon dioxide to attract mosquitoes.
    – mosquito might be attracted to the product instead of us
    – ways to produce CO2: fermentation, combustion, dry ice, baking soda + vinegar, (plant?)
    – ingredients for ways above are readily available, and at market price.
    – highly unlikely to be wearable, but we can make it portable.
    – can be a DIY / additional product to an existing product which has already had the technology / an amalgamation to another existing product.
    – research difficulty: to determine which product is the best for amalgamation or add on, what is the rate of CO2 produced using the above ways to produce CO2.

    ii. product which absorbs the carbon dioxide we produce.
    – mosquito might not be able to detect the CO2 we produce hence they might not bite us.
    – ways to absorb CO2: NaOH, active carbon
    – ingredients for ways above are readily available, and at market price.
    – NaOH reaction is highly exothermic – may not be suitable for people on tropical countries
    – should be a wearable to absorb the ‘direct’ CO2 we exhale.
    – research difficulty: to determine how exothermic is the chemical reaction even in the smallest possible set up, whether the absorption of CO2 method will work or not (the journal that I have requested are not available for free download, so still waiting for the access request to be approved), effect on the environment.

18092015_Research_CO2 absorption

Instead of creating a product to produce CO2, why not create product that absorb the CO2 and or or lactic acid we produce during respiration?

“Carbon dioxide draws in the blood-sucking insects, making them capable of tracking people from a distance. However, once they get close to their host, they are drawn to skin odors and steer away toward exposed areas such as ankles and feet, according to recent research.”

But does absorbing CO2 we exhale affect our own respiration? And how far does this method work? I found this article online, but NTU library does not have the access to it. Currently, I am still waiting for a friend’s help in downloading this material.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1495024

To absorb carbon dioxide, there is a carbon dioxide scrubber.

Here are some methods taken from Wikipedia which I thought relevant and can be applied to a daily product.

Using minerals:

First, CO2 is absorbed by an alkaline NaOH solution to produce dissolved sodium carbonate. The absorption reaction is a gas liquid reaction, strongly exothermic, here:

2NaOH(aq) + CO2(g) → Na2CO3(aq) + H2O(l)
Na2CO3(aq) + Ca(OH)2(s) →-> 2NaOH(aq) + CaCO3(s)
ΔH° = -5.3 kJ/mol

Note: if we convert kJ to celcius,that means, 1 kJ = 0.526565076466 degree Celcius.

That means the reactions above produce a large amount of heat, and hence we need to use it in small scale.

Using activated carbon:

Air with high carbon dioxide content, such as air from fruit storage locations, can be blown through beds of activated carbon and the carbon dioxide will adsorb onto the activated carbon. Once the bed is saturated it must then be “regenerated” by blowing low carbon dioxide air, such as ambient air, through the bed. This will release the carbon dioxide from the bed, and it can then be used to scrub again, leaving the net amount of carbon dioxide in the air the same as when the process was started.

Sources:

http://www.universityherald.com/articles/6037/20131206/mosquitoes-are-attracted-to-the-smell-of-carbon-dioxide-exhaled.htm#ixzz3m4mbLgmn

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131205141852.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activated_carbon

http://www.buyactivatedcharcoal.com/how_to_make_activated_charcoal

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-reusable-materials-pull-co2-from-air/

08092015_Research_CO2 emission

Methods to produce CO2:

a dry ice setup, baking soda and vinegar drip set up, or a fermentation setup.

Dry Ice

All that is needed to set up a dry ice CO2 generator is a small cooler and dry ice. In order for the CO2 to escape from the cooler, you will need to poke a few holes in the lid. The more holes in the lid, the faster it melts, and the more CO2 released. The amount of dry ice and the amount of holes in the container will decide how much CO2 is released. A pound of dry ice is approximately equal to a pound of CO2. The down side is regulating the amount of gas produced.  Some clomid online gardeners use insulated or foam ice coolers to slow down the thawing process, however once the dry ice begins to melt, it does not stop.

fermentation process

CO2 is released when water, sugar and yeast are combined. The yeast breaks down the sugar and naturally creates CO2 and alcohol. For people interested in brewing beer and wine along side of their garden, this is an easy way to enhance the CO2 levels on a small scale. For people interested in generating CO2 for gardening purposes, you need a gallon jug, three quarts of warm water, one cup of sugar, and a packet of brewer’s yeast. Make sure you punch a small hole in the cap of whatever jug you chose to use. The hole will allow for the CO2 to be released. I recommend purchasing a fermentation lock if you chose this method. The lock can be found in stores that sell brewery equipment. The lock will keep contaminants from entering the small CO2 generator. A great thing about this method is as long as the yeast continues to grow and bubble, the mixture can last indefinitely. The downside is you need to change the yeast solution a few times a day (Pour out half of the mixture and add 1.5 quarts of water along with another cup of sugar). Fermentation is an easy and inexpensive way to produce CO2, however you need a few of these fermentation jug CO2 generators to see results, and there is an unpleasant odor associated with the process.

baking soda and vinegar drip set up

Simply create a system whereby you drip vinegar into a bed of baking soda. The problem with this CO2 system is the levels of CO2 produced are erratic, and it takes a long time for the CO2 to reach a level that will benefit the plants.

 

040915_Mosquito repellents and other related products research

Terminating / Eliminating

1. insecticides

Repeated use of synthetic insecticides for mosquito control has disrupted natural biological control systems and led to resurgences in mosquito populations. It also resulted in the development of resistance, undesirable effects on non-target organisms, and fostered environmental and human health concern . Insecticides from natural sources as they are considered safer, more cost effective, biodegradable and are target specific against mosquitoes.

Two popular insecticides are:

  • Malathion – an organophosphate often used to treat crops against a wide array of insects. It can be sprayed directly onto vegetation, such as the bushes where mosquitoes like to rest, or used in a 5 percent solution to fog the yard. In the small amounts used for mosquito control, it poses no threat to humans or wildlife. In fact, malathion is also used to kill head lice.
  • Permethrin – one of a group of chemicals called pyrethroids, it is a synthetic form of a natural insecticide found in chrysanthemum flowers. It usually is mixed with oil or water and applied as a mist, about 1/100th of a pound per acre. Like malathion, permethrin kills mosquitoes by disrupting their central nervous systems. Not harmful to people and animals in small amounts, but it is toxic to fish and bees.

Both malathion and permethrin are also available in sprays for use inside the home. There is also timed spray 

The insecticides will work for several days when applied to shrubbery or grass, but will break down over time, especially in rain. When released into the air through fog or mist, they usually are good only for a few hours before they become too dissipated to be effective.

2. Mosquito Trap

Because mosquitoes find their prey by detecting CO2, octenol and other chemical odors, as well as light and heat, most mosquito traps use some combination of artificial smells and lighting displays to lure mosquitoes.

Brands like the Mosquito Magnet burn propane both to power the trap and to release CO2, while simpler machines like the Mega-Catch Mosquito Traps may rely on a octenol and a lighting array of oscillating frequencies proven to attract mosquitoes.

Propane vs CO2.  CO2 canisters are less expensive to run (one 20-pound canister can last up to fours months), while some propane burning traps can go through one tank a month.

And their prices are quite expensive too.

mega catch
mosquito magnet

3. Nature

  • Mosquitofish
  • Dragonfly
  • Citrosa, lemon thyme and rosemary
  • Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (naturally occurring bacteria as a larvacide in ponds)

4. Light Trap

5. Electronic Zapper

6. Air flow

 

Surveillance / Prevention

1. Surveillance for government agency

click

2. Daily, Weekly or monthly measures 

click

(Personal) Protection

1. Spray / patch / band

2. Mosquito Nets

3. Wearing Light Color Clothings

4. Avoid using perfume

5. Minimise alcohol consumption

 

 

Sources:

http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezlibproxy1.ntu.edu.sg/science/article/pii/S2222180813600067

http://www.denguetools.net/

http://www.mosquitoworld.net/

http://pestcontrol.about.com/od/diybitinginsectcontrol/a/Controlling-Pests-That-Pester-You-Part-7-Mosquitoes.htm