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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 73 records · Page 4

Gas-phase stability of large lanthanide:diglycolamide clusters evaluated using collision-induced dissociation

Efficient utilization of long-term deep geologic storage repositories is critical for the large-scale deployment of nuclear energy. As the minor actinides (americium and curium) are the largest contributor to the decay heat of used nuclear fuel after a few hundred years, their removal from used fuel prior to disposal can significantly increase the amount of waste that can be stored in a given volume. The development of ligands that can effectively separate the minor actinides from other components of used nuclear fuel are crucial to efficient utilization of geological storage repositories. N,N,N’,N’-tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) is a promising extractant for the separation of lanthanides and the minor actinides from other components of used nuclear fuel. While the use of TODGA in f-element separations has been investigated in process-based formulations, gas-phase metal ion cluster experiments enable the study of covalent interactions in reprocessing systems absent from solvent effects. Exploring fundamental differences in lanthanide-ligand covalent interactions can impact the development and implementation of actinide-lanthanide separation systems in nuclear fuels reprocessing. In this study, lanthanide-TODGA clusters were synthesized in the gas-phase and identified using mass spectrometry fragmentation experiments. Large europium and samarium clusters were identified that contained up to 8 and 10 bound TODGA ligands, respectively; this was surprising due to the size and multidentate binding that is normal for TODGA. In addition, while smaller clusters showed evidence of sequential ligand fragmentation, larger clusters displayed the loss of neutral TODGA with applied collision voltage. Interestingly, the voltage required for this removal decreased as more TODGA ligands were bound to the metal, suggesting that the metal coordination sphere was becoming more saturated and TODGA ligands were more weakly bound as the clusters got larger.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

G2Aero Database of Airfoils - Curated Airfoils

This dataset contains a curated set of 19,164 airfoil shapes from various applications and the data-driven design space of separable shape tensors (PGA space), which can be used as a parameter space for machine-learning applications focused on airfoil shapes. We constructed the airfoil dataset in two main stages. First, we identified 13 baseline airfoils from the NREL 5MW and IEA 15MW reference wind turbines. We reparameterized these shapes using least-squares fits of 8-order CST parametrizations, which involve 18 coefficients. By uniformly perturbing all 18 CST coefficients by +/-20% around each baseline airfoil, we generated 1,000 unique airfoils. Each airfoil was sampled with 1,001 shape landmarks whose x-coordinates followed a cosine distribution along the chord. This process resulted in a total of 13,000 airfoil shapes, each with 1,001 landmarks. In the second phase, we gathered additional airfoils from the extensive BigFoil database, which consolidates data from sources such as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) airfoil database, the JavaFoil database, the NACA-TR-824 database, and others. We undertook a thorough pre-processing step to filter out shapes with sparse, noisy, or incomplete data. We also removed airfoils with sharp leading edge and those exceeding our threshold for trailing edge thickness. Additionally, we thinned out the collection of NACA airfoils-- parametric sweeps of NACA airfoils with increasing thickness and camber present in BigFoil database-- by selecting every fourth step in the parameter sweeps. Finally, we regularized the airfoils by reparametrizing them with an 8-order CST parametrization (with 1,001 shape landmarks with x coordinated following cosine distribution along the chord) and removing airfoils with high reconstruction errors. This data pre-processing resulted in a set of 6,164 airfoils. In total, our curated airfoil dataset comprises 19,164 airfoils, each with 1,001 landmarks, and is stored in the curated_airfoils.npz file. Using this curated airfoil dataset, we utilized the separable shape tensors framework to develop a data-driven parameterization of airfoils based on principal geodesic analysis (PGA) of separable shape tensors. This PGA space is provided in PGAspace.npz file.

airfoils↗

SPRUCE: Peat Core Sample Collection Metadata, Marcell Experimental Forest, Minnesota, August 2024

This data set contains metadata associated with peat core samples collected from the Spruce and Peatland Responses Under Changing Environments (SPRUCE) experiment in August 2024. This sample metadata contains no analytical results and is a reference for analytical datasets. To ensure accessibility and discoverability, each sample was assigned an International Generic Sample Number (IGSN), a persistent identifier, using System for Earth and Extraterrestrial Sample Registration (SESAR). These samples were used for downstream analysis by multiple teams of researchers the results of which will be reported separately. This dataset contains one data file in comma separate (.csv) format. Additional metadata are provided: one data dictionary and a file-level metadata file in comma separate (.csv) format and a user guide in PDF (*.pdf) format. An aliquot of most samples is stored at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and may be available for further analysis. Access this collection event on SESAR https://doi.org/10.58052/IEJ9B00VQ. To inquire about obtaining archived samples for analysis, reach out using the Contact Sample Owner form located on the bottom of the landing page in SESAR. Note: Only dried and ground material from C Cores are available for new analysis.

Birkebak, Joshua [ORNL] (ORCID:0009000955611494)↗

Exploratory Synthesis for Reactive f-Element Separations without Solvent

Solvent extraction is commonly used to separate different f-metals found in spent nuclear fuel, but this process results in large volumes of highly contaminated liquid waste that must be remediated or stored at significant expense. The project funded under this award was aimed at addressing solvent-related issues encountered in conventional f-metal separations. Our strategy focused on using solvent-free mechanochemical reactions to prepare lanthanide and actinide borohydride complexes so that they could be separated based on differences in their volatility. Key deliverables described in this report include proof-of-principle results demonstrating that borohydrides called aminodiboranates can be used for volatile lanthanide/lanthanide and lanthanide/uranium separations, as we proposed. Moreover, exploration of a closely related class of borohydrides called phosphinodiboranates allowed us to identify underlying chemical factors that control the volatility of trivalent lanthanide and uranium borohydride complexes with identical structures. Details of published and pending research products are provided, and these include comprehensive synthesis and characterization efforts required to support fundamental studies related to the proposed separations. These technical efforts supported the training of nine graduate students and three undergraduate researchers, and they established air-sensitive transuranic capabilities at the University of Iowa to enhance radiochemical workforce development.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Exploratory Synthesis for Reactive f-Element Separations without Solvent

Solvent extraction is commonly used to separate different f-metals found in spent nuclear fuel, but this process results in large volumes of highly contaminated liquid waste that must be remediated or stored at significant expense. The project funded under this award was aimed at addressing solvent-related issues encountered in conventional f-metal separations. Our strategy focused on using solvent-free mechanochemical reactions to prepare lanthanide and actinide borohydride complexes so that they could be separated based on differences in their volatility. Key deliverables described in this report include proof-of-principle results demonstrating that borohydrides called aminodiboranates can be used for volatile lanthanide/lanthanide and lanthanide/uranium separations, as we proposed. Moreover, exploration of a closely related class of borohydrides called phosphinodiboranates allowed us to identify underlying chemical factors that control the volatility of trivalent lanthanide and uranium borohydride complexes with identical structures. Details of published and pending research products are provided, and these include comprehensive synthesis and characterization efforts required to support fundamental studies related to the proposed separations. These technical efforts supported the training of nine graduate students and three undergraduate researchers, and they established air-sensitive transuranic capabilities at the University of Iowa to enhance radiochemical workforce development

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Technology Strategy Assessment: Findings from Storage Innovations 2030 Supercapacitors

Electrochemical capacitors, which are commercially called supercapacitors or ultracapacitors, are a family of energy storage devices with remarkably high specific power compared with other electrochemical storage devices. Supercapacitors do not require a solid dielectric layer between the two electrodes, instead they store energy by accumulating electric charge on porous electrodes filled with an electrolyte solution and separated by an insulating porous membrane. Supercapacitors offer large specific capacitance and high power output. They can be charged and discharged very quickly, offer excellent cycle life and long operational life, and operate over a broad temperature range. The major drawbacks of supercapacitors are low energy density and a high self-discharge rate. For example, a supercapacitor passively discharges from 100% to 50% in a month compared with only 5% for a lithium-ion battery [1]. The high capital cost and low energy density of supercapacitors make the unit cost of energy stored ($/kWh) more expensive than alternatives such as batteries. Their attributes make them attractive for uses in which frequent small charges/discharges are required (e.g., ensuring power quality or providing frequency regulation). Their attributes and cost make them less attractive for long-duration energy storage, which favors technologies with low self-discharge that cost less per unit of energy stored.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Dehumidification energy storage using a stratified liquid desiccant tank

Liquid desiccants can play an important role in reducing dehumidification energy requirements in the built environment. Because they are in a liquid state, the desiccant can be easily stored and then used to dehumidify buildings during peak energy consumption periods. By maintaining stratification between concentrated and diluted desiccant solutions, a single tank can be used to store liquid desiccant for energy storage purposes. Using a stratified tank instead of separate tanks for dilute and concentrated solutions will reduce storage costs and increase energy storage densities for liquid desiccant systems. This paper describes the experimental validation and one-dimensional modeling of a stratified liquid desiccant tank. The stratified tank prototype developed achieved 80 % of the theoretical energy storage density based on an imposed desiccant concentration change. Here, the stratified tank model was able to reasonably reproduce the experimental results. Using this model, the impact of varying operational conditions on the energy density of the stratified liquid desiccant energy storage was evaluated. Depending on the operating conditions, stratified liquid desiccant energy storage using aqueous LiCl up to 40 wt% can achieve energy storage densities in excess of 330 kWh/m 3 .

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

A Novel Scalable Array Design for III-V Compound Semiconductor-based Nonvolatile Memory (UltraRAM) with Separate Read-Write Paths

The dream of achieving a universal memory that can provide robust non-volatile memory states along with low-energy operation has been the key driving force of memory research. Despite dominating the memory market, conventional charge-based memories cannot satisfy these requirements. However, UltraRAM, an oxide-free charge-based memory cell, aims to achieve both of these requirements. This device achieves non-volatility (with an endurance of over 10 7 cycles and a retention of over 1000 years) along with switching at low-voltage (±2.3 V) utilizing a triple-barrier resonant tunneling (TBRT) structure made of InAs/AlSb. In this work, we propose an array design for UltraRAM-based memory devices. Our proposed memory array features separate read-write path and eliminates the possibility of accidentally switching the memory states stored in the array. Moreover, our design allows us to read all the cells in a column in one cycle without imposing any limit on the scalability. Besides, since the read operation in our proposed design is independent of the write mechanism, there is flexibility to optimize the read operation for memory and in-memory computing applications.

Alam, Shamiul↗

PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL FOR THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE IN BUILDINGS BASED ON SODIUM SULFATE DECAHYDRATE AND DISODIUM HYDROGEN PHOSPHATE DODECAHYDRATE

The worldwide increasing energy demand and 2050 net zero carbon target urge the globe to solve the energy challenge. Thermal Energy Storage (TES) has received significant attention in recent years as TES can be integrated into heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems where the energy would be stored during low-demand times and dispatched during high-demand times, resulting in controlling the peak load and improving energy savings. Material development is an integral part of TES. Salt hydrates are appealing due to cost-effectiveness, low- to no toxicity, and their high melting enthalpy, where energy is stored as latent heat. However, most salt hydrates are prone to incongruent melting (i.e., phase separation upon melting), which results in poor stability and large supercooling. In this study, we produced a highly stable novel energy storage material at a composition of 32 wt% sodium sulfate decahydrate, 52 wt% sodium phosphate dibasic dodecahydrate, 12 wt% milled expanded graphite, and 4 wt% borax. The material has a melting temperature of 28°C and an energy storage capacity of 167 kJ/kg with a supercooling of less than 3°C. The system showed no loss in energy storage performance after 150 cycles. The findings suggest that the novel energy storage material developed in this might be utilized in building heating and cooling applications.

Turnaoglu, Tugba↗

Spark Channel Dynamics of Electrostatic Discharges

When two differently-charged objects are brought in close proximity to each other, the resulting high electric fields can cause electron avalanche breakdown of the air gap separating the objects, a process known as electrostatic discharge (ESD). If enough initial charge is stored on the objects, the electrical breakdown can proceed to ionize the air to such a degree that a highly conductive filament of plasma forms in the gap, known as a spark channel. The spark electrically bridges the air gap, resulting in a rapid pulse of current that neutralizes the charge difference. The current pulse produces significant heating of the gas in the spark, resulting in dissociation, ionization, thermal radiation, and hydrodynamic expansion. ESD presents a hazard to electrically-sensitive devices, with consequences such as economic losses (e.g. damaged electronics) or unsafe response (e.g. unintended ignition of flammable gas mixtures, initiation of detonators, etc.). For this thesis, the ESD spark is taken to occur between two conducting electrodes, with the spark channel being axisymmetric in a cylindrical coordinate system centered on the channel. An RLC-type circuit is used for the discharge model of the ESD event. The spark is treated as a time-dependent resistance that is in series with a capacitance, an inductance, and (optionally) a load resistance representing a “victim” component under threat from the ESD event. The primary motivation of this work is to use a numerical hydrodynamic model to understand the energy dissipation and transport processes in the spark. The model consists of the compressible Euler equations of mass, momentum, and energy conservation together with an Eddington/P1 approximation for thermal radiation transport. To close the hydrodynamic system, an equation of state (EOS) was fitted from tabular data for air that accounts for the dissociation and ionization of air species. The hydrodynamic equations are solved using a conservative Lagrangian finite volume method. These partial differential equations are coupled to the circuit equations by calculation of the spark resistance via numerical integration of the electrical conductivity of the channel. Computational results are compared against experimental measurements of discharge current and radial density of the spark channel.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Techno-Economic Analysis of a Thermally Integrated Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and Compressed Air Energy Storage Hybrid System

Natural-gas-fueled solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems have the potential for high-efficiency conversion of carbon to power due to the underlying electrochemical conversion process while readily facilitating carbon capture through the separation of the fuel and oxidant sources. Compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology can potentially store significant quantities of energy for later use with a high round-trip efficiency and lower cost when compared with state-of-the-art battery technology. The base load generation capability of SOFC can be coupled with CAES technology to provide a potentially flexible, low-carbon solution to meet the fluctuating electricity demands imposed by the increasing share of intermittent variable renewable energy (VRE) production. SOFC and CAES can be hybridized through thermal integration to maximize power output during periods of high electrical demand and then store power when either demand is low or renewable generation reduces power prices. The techno-economics of a low-carbon hybrid SOFC and CAES system was developed and investigated in the present study. The proposed hybrid system was found to be cost-competitive with other power-generating base-load facilities when power availability was considered. The hybrid system shows increased resilience to changes in a high VRE grid market scenario.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Alternative Treatment of Defense Waste Processing Facility Recycle via Reuse of Existing Liquid Waste Facilities - 20097

The Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) at Savannah River Site (SRS) has been immobilizing high level waste since 1996. The chemical process within DWPF generates a large volume of condensate, which is recycled to the SRS H-Area Tank Farm. The recycle stream includes a small quantity of sludge solids, as well as soluble cesium that is volatilized during melter operation. The recycle waste is currently received into a large, underground waste tank that separates insoluble solids via decanting. The supernate is treated by an evaporator with a concentrate stream that is stored for future processing. The evaporator overheads are collected and sent to the Effluent Treatment Project (ETP) for final polishing and testing prior to discharge to local surface water. Recycle storage and treatment as described above complicates the overall mission within the tank farms, which are primarily engaged in waste retrieval and preparation activities that support sludge and salt disposition, as well as tank characterization and closure. The need to devote a portion of available storage space to recycle treatment limits operational flexibility, and ultimately the DWPF recycle stream must be diverted to fully close all the SRS waste tanks. An alternative treatment process is being explored to decouple the recycle stream from the tank farm. The proposed treatment process will accomplish solids separation via crossflow filtration and will utilize a wiped film evaporator to volume-reduce the filtrate stream. Evaporator overheads will continue to be further processed in ETP while the solids stream and evaporator concentrate stream will be returned for reprocessing with the DWPF and Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF). This process will utilize existing facilities within DWPF and the tank farm that were previously dedicated to Interim Salt Disposition (ISD), but no longer have an identified mission with the startup of SWPF. The reuse of these facilities will remove several constraints from the current Liquid Waste (LW) System Plan without expanding the current footprint of Department of Energy Environmental Management (EM) infrastructure within LW. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Enabling Ultralow Volume Analysis with a High-Resolution Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Platform

Of all the molecules thought to exist in the universe, it is estimated that researchers only know the chemical structures of 5% of them. Identifying the chemical structures of the remaining 95% has proven extremely challenging because many molecules exhibit low abundance, are contained in small volumes (e.g., <10 nL), do not readily ionize, exhibit similar structures to other molecules, etc. No single analytical technique exists to definitively identify the structure of an unknown molecule, and thus multiple different molecular measurements are typically made (i.e., multi-modal approach). Ion mobility (IMS) and mass spectrometry (MS) are two key tools that researchers use to determine the chemical structures of unknown molecules, and recently high-resolution and ultrahigh resolution IMS-MS instruments have provided greater confidence than ever before. However, HR-IMS-MS instruments typically exhibit low ion utilization efficiency, meaning they require large amounts of sample for an analysis (e.g., >10 µL). Unfortunately, this limitation prohibits the analysis of small volume samples where many unknown molecules exist. Described herein are the efforts made to enable the analysis of ultralow volumes with an HR-IMS-MS platform. A new scanning technique, termed a ‘stuttered traveling wave scan’, was developed as a replacement for the dual-gated scanning technique and works by halting the traveling waves after allowing ions to separate and then repeatedly restarting and stopping the traveling waves to incrementally move ions from the SLIM to the Orbitrap. Ions were stored inside the SLIM while the TWs were stopped, allowing the Orbitrap to perform high-resolution mass analysis. When the Orbitrap was ready, the TWs were restarted for short periods of time (<10 ms) to move ions from the SLIM to the Orbitrap. It was discovered that lower TW amplitudes and speeds than used during IMS separation were required to produce IMS peaks with the highest signal intensities and best resolving powers. The stuttered TW scan was found to produce similar resolutions and signal intensities compared to the dual-gated scanning technique. A new IMS design possessing an intersecting ‘tee’ with a reversible traveling wave was also developed to improve ion utilization efficiency during cyclic operation, which is necessary when only a single IMS spectrum can be acquired, such as when analyzing ultralow volume samples. The new capabilities described in this report lay the groundwork for acquiring HR-IMS-MS spectra of ultralow volume biological samples, such as single cells, where HR-IMS-MS can help elucidate the structures of unknown compounds.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Density variance dynamics in disparate shock tubes

This report discusses two experiments which investigate thin layer, heavy curtain fragmentation from the perspective of a Reynolds-Averaged mix model, in drastically disparate experimental regimes. The first, the centimeter/millisecond-scale “Horizontal Shock Tube” (HST) is a compressed-gas piston-driven shock tube experiment. The second, the “Multishock thin layer” (Mshock) experiment performed at the National Ignition Facility, is a micrometer/nanosecond-scale laser-driven shock tube experiment. Both are situations in which a heavy plane layer (a ‘curtain’) is initially suspended in a lighter medium. After being shocked from at least one side, the layer translates while its interfaces evolve due to the excitation of the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability at its surfaces. The evolution of density variance, which initially exists only on the surface of the layer, as it comes to encompass the whole layer interior is used as a description of layer fragmentation and dissolution. These experiments have each been simulated in the Los Alamos National Laboratory multi-physics code xRAGE, which includes fundamental hydrodynamics, extended plasma physics and radiation effects which are important to drive the high-energy density experiment, and the Besnard-Harlow-Rauenzahn (BHR) turbulence model. In each, the principal diagnostic for comparison is an experimental metric for the density (co)variance, b, which tracks the moments of the density field at the curtain interfaces and body. Due to experimental constraints in different regimes (i.e. optical diagnostics can be deployed on conventional shock tubes, while the plasma shock tubes must be imaged by x-rays; interfaces can be imposed to specification on laser-driven experiments, which are stored in the solid phase, while conventional experiments have imperfect control of the flow fields which separate the layer, etc.) the experiments are not designed to be perfect scaled cognates of one another. However, despite the separation of six orders of magnitude of scaling in time, and four in space, we are able to demonstrate that the same turbulence model, operating in the same fashion in the same computer code, is able to reproduce results in each experiment, by tracking evolution due to common relevant physics. Additionally, we will present preliminary work toward density variance comparisons in a single-interface Richtmyer-Meshkov configuration, the conventional fluid “Vertical Shock Tube” (VST) experiment, and the Modal Initial Conditions (ModCons) campaign fielded at the OMEGA-EP laser facility.

42 ENGINEERING↗

SPRUCE Peat Core Sample Collection Metadata, Marcell Experimental Forest, Minnesota, August 2025

This data set contains metadata associated with peat core samples collected from the Spruce and Peatland Responses Under Changing Environments (SPRUCE) experiment in August 2025. This sample metadata contains no analytical results and is a reference for analytical datasets. To ensure accessibility and discoverability, each sample was assigned an International Generic Sample Number (IGSN), a persistent identifier, using System for Earth and Extraterrestrial Sample Registration (SESAR). These samples were used for downstream analysis by multiple teams of researchers the results of which will be reported separately. This dataset contains one data file in comma separate (.csv) format. Additional metadata are provided: one data dictionary and a file-level metadata file in comma separate (.csv) format and a user guide in PDF (*.pdf) format. An aliquot of most samples is stored in the SPRUCE archive and may be available for further analysis by request. Access this collection event on SESAR https://doi.org/10.58052/IEJ9B05LW. To inquire about obtaining archived samples for analysis, reach out using the Contact Sample Owner form located on the bottom of the landing page in SESAR.

EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > TERRESTRI↗

SPRUCE: Shrub-Layer Vegetation Biomass Collection Metadata, Marcell Experimental Forest, Minnesota, August 2025

This data set contains metadata associated with shrub-layer vegetation samples collected from the Spruce and Peatland Responses Under Changing Environments (SPRUCE) experiment in August 2025. This sample metadata contains no analytical results and is a reference for analytical datasets. To ensure accessibility and discoverability, each sample was assigned an International Generic Sample Number (IGSN), a persistent identifier, using System for Earth and Extraterrestrial Sample Registration (SESAR). These samples were used for downstream analysis by multiple teams of researchers the results of which will be reported separately. This dataset contains one data file in comma separate (.csv) format. Additional metadata are provided: one data dictionary and a file-level metadata file in comma separate (.csv) format and a user guide in PDF (*.pdf) format. An aliquot of most samples is stored in the SPRUCE archive and may be available for further analysis by request. See below under 7 Sample Access. Access this collection event on SESAR https://doi.org/10.58052/IEJ9B069L. To inquire about obtaining archived samples for analysis, reach out using the Contact Sample Owner form located on the bottom of the landing page in SESAR.

Birkebak, Joshua [ORNL] (ORCID:0009000955611494)↗

Effect of ionizing radiation on PuO2 and surrogate oxide materials under storage conditions

The stockpile of plutonium separated from used nuclear fuel amounts to many 100s of tonnes. The majority of this plutonium is stored as PuO2 powder packaged in multi-can containers. The conditions during the packaging of reprocessed PuO2 for long term storage are closely controlled to limit water uptake as radiolytic decomposition of any adsorbed water will lead to the formation of both a potentially flammable atmosphere containing molecular hydrogen as well as reactive oxygen species which may be incorporated into the oxide phase. Consequently, the safety case for the long-term storage of PuO2 requires a complete understanding of the fundamental physical, chemical and materials degradation processes occurring at the water-oxide interface inside the storage canisters. This study investigates the effect of ionizing radiation on PuO2 and various surrogate oxides under atmospheres potentially encountered in storage canisters.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

A Biomass Pyrolysis Oil as a Novel Insect Growth Regulator Mimic for a Variety of Stored Product Beetles

Abstract As fumigants face increasing regulatory restrictions, resistance, and consumer pushback, it is vital to expand the integrated pest management (IPM) chemical toolkit for stored products. The production of biomass derived insecticides (e.g., bio-oil fraction) from byproducts of biofuel production may be a promising alternative source of chemistries for controlling stored product insects. These potential insecticidal bio-oils were fractionated based on boiling points (ranging from 115 to 230°C in one series and 245–250°C in another). Fractions were analyzed using GC-MS, and were found to be unique in composition. The lethality of these fractions was tested on Tribolium castaneum, Tribolium confusum, and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae). Fractions were tested at concentrations ranging from 5–260 mg/ml to screen for efficacy against adults for durations of 2–8 hr sprayed on concrete arenas. In addition, a separate assay evaluated adult emergence of larvae after 6 wk with supplemental food in arenas, while repellency was evaluated against four stored product insect species in a laminar wind tunnel. A greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions life cycle assessment was also performed, which found the use of the bio-oil fraction could reduce GHG emissions associated with the insecticide supply chain by 25–61% relative to a fossil-fuel based insecticide or pyrethroid. While adults were largely unaffected, we found that larval emergence was significantly suppressed compared to controls by roughly half or more. We also determined that there was minimal repellency to most fractions by most species. We conclude that the use of bio-oil fractions is a climate-friendly choice that may support IPM programs.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗