CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Pesticides are chemical substances that are meant to kill pests. In general, a pesticide

is a chemical or a biological agent such as a virus, bacterium, antimicrobial, or

disinfectant that deters, incapacitates, kills, pests.

This use of pesticides is so common that the term pesticide is often treated as

synonymous with plant protection product. It is commonly used to eliminate or

control a variety of agricultural pests that can damage crops and livestock and reduce

farm productivity. The most commonly applied pesticides are insecticides to kill

insects, herbicides to kill weeds, rodenticides to kill rodents, and fungicides to control

fungi, mold, and mildew.

Neem seed is best known for its anti-aging properties. Due to its antioxidant

properties, neem seed protects the skin from harmful UV rays, pollution and other

environmental factors. The vitamins and fatty acids in neem seed improve and

maintain the elasticity of the skin, reduce wrinkles and fine lines.

Medicinal plants are part of human society and are used to combat diseases, not only

those of animals but of plants as well, from the dawn of civilization. Azadirachta

indica A. Juss (syn. Melia Azadirachta) is well known in India and its neighboring

countries for more than 2000 years as one of the most versatile medicinal plants

having a wide spectrum of biological activity. A. indica A. Juss and M. azedarach are

two closely related species of Meliaceae. The former is popularly known as Indian

neem seed (Margosa tree) or Indian lilac, and the latter as the Persian lilac. Neem seed

is an evergreen tree, cultivated in various parts of the Indian subcontinent. Every part

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of the tree has been used as traditional medicine for household remedy against various

human ailments, from antiquity. Neem seed has been extensively used in ayurveda,

unani and homoeopathic medicine and has become a cynosure of modern medicine.

The Sanskrit name of the neem seed tree is ‘Arishtha’ meaning ‘reliever of sickness’

and hence is considered as ‘Sarbaroganibarini’. The tree is still regarded as ‘village

dispensary’ in India

1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In developing countries, the losses of crops due to pest, plant disease and competition

from weeds is great. In households, pest and insects such as mosquitoes, cockroaches,

mice etc. pose risks such as the destruction of furniture, clothing and to the causation

of various diseases, most seriously; malaria Pesticides/insecticide produced to kill

these pests in order to prevent these damages, also tend to have adverse effects on

humans in various ways, most especially those produced from synthetic materials.

These adverse effects of headache, dizziness, catarrh worth investigating. The

insecticides range from agricultural to household pesticides. Every category has its

own effect, both on the targeted pest/insect and the environment lives. This research

targets insecticide produced from natural products and the need to choose these

pesticides rather than those of synthetic origin.

1.2 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study is to produce chemical insecticide using neem seed oil and the

objectives are:

i. To extract oil from neem seed and back

ii. To produce the insecticide

iii. To know the chemical composition of the insecticide produced.

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1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

Production of Chemical Insecticides Using Neem seed Oil encompasses various

stages of research, development, testing, and assessment. The project focuses on

exploring Neem seed oil as a key active ingredient for formulating chemical

insecticides and evaluating their efficacy, safety, and potential applications. The study

aims to contribute to sustainable pest management solutions by utilizing neem seed

oil's insecticidal properties.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Production of Chemical Insecticides Using Neem seed Oil" holds substantial

significance in addressing pressing global challenges in pest management,

environmental sustainability, and public health. The study's findings and outcomes

have the potential to influence various sectors and stakeholders due to its multifaceted

benefits and contributions.

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 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 NEEM SEED

Neem seed, (Azadirachta indica), also called nim or margosa, fast-growing tree of

the mahogany family (Meliaceae), valued as a medicinal plant, as a source of organic

pesticides, and for its timber. Neem seed is likely native to the Indian

subcontinent and to dry areas throughout South Asia. It has been introduced to parts

of Africa, the Caribbean, and numerous counties in South and Central America. The

plant has long been used in Ayurvedic and folk medicine and is used in cosmetics and

in organic farming applications. Neem seed trees can reach 15–30 metres (49–98 feet)

in height and have attractive rounded crowns and thick furrowed bark.

The compound neem seed have toothed leaflets and are typically evergreen but do

drop during periods of extreme drought. The small fragrant white flowers are bisexual

or staminate (male) and are borne in clusters in the axils of the neem seed. The fruit is

a smooth yellow-green drupe and has a sweet-flavored pulp.

Nearly all parts of the neem seed tree are useful, and many of its medicinal and

cosmetic uses are based on its antibacterial and antifungal properties. Neem seed is

commonly used in shampoos for treating dandruff and in soaps or creams for skin

conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and athlete’s foot. It is also a component in some

toothpastes and mouthwashes, especially in the Indian subcontinent, and young twigs

are used directly as crude toothbrushes in rural areas. Neem seed have long been used

as a traditional treatment for diabetes, and there is some clinical evidence suggesting

that it may help control blood sugar levels. Neem seed oil and neem seed bark and

neem seed are unsafe for consumption by pregnant women and can cause miscarriage.

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Oil extracted from the neem seeds can be used directly as

an insect and mite repellent, insecticide, and fungicide and is the source of many

commercial pesticide products, including dusts, granules, and concentrates. The

primary active insecticidal ingredient, azadirachtin, works to disrupt

the hormones involved with insect molting, preventing larvae from developing

properly into adults, and is a feeding inhibitor. Neem seed oil can kill soft-bodied

insects on contact and decreases mating and reproductive behaviours, reducing pest

fecundity. As a fungicide, neem seed oil is used to control rust, black

spot, mildew, scab, anthracnose, and blight. Given that neem seed oil breaks down

quickly with exposure to ultraviolet light, repeated applications are often necessary.

Neem seed-based pesticides generally have low toxicity for mammals and are

common in organic farming applications.

2.2 TRADITIONAL USES

Neem seed has a long history of use in traditional medicine for its various therapeutic

properties. It has been used to treat skin disorders, digestive issues, and other ailments.

Different parts of the neem seed tree, including neem seed, bark, neem seeds, and oil,

have been used in traditional remedies.

2.3 NEEM SEED OIL

Neem seed oil is extracted from the neem of the neem seed tree. It is a rich source of

bioactive compounds, primarily azadirachtin, which gives neem seed its insecticidal

properties. Neem seed oil is used in various forms, such as raw oil, emulsifiable

concentrates, and formulations for pest control in agriculture.

2.4 INSECTICIDES

Insecticides are pesticides used to kill insects. They include ovicides

and larvicides used against insect eggs and larvae, respectively. Insecticides are used

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in agriculture, medicine, industry and by consumers. Insecticides are claimed to be a

major factor behind the increase in the 20th-century's agricultural productivity. Nearly

all insecticides have the potential to significantly alter ecosystems; many are toxic to

humans and/or animals; some become concentrated as they spread along the food

chain. Insecticides can be classified into two major groups: systemic insecticides,

which have residual or long-term activity; and contact insecticides, which have no

residual activity. The mode of action describes how the pesticide kills or inactivates a

pest. It provides another way of classifying insecticides. Mode of action can be

important in understanding whether an insecticide will be toxic to unrelated species,

such as fish, birds and mammals. Insecticides may be repellent or non-repellent.

Social insects such as ants cannot detect non-repellents and readily crawl through

them. As they return to the nest they take insecticide with them and transfer it to their

nest mates. Over time, this eliminates all of the ants including the queen. This is

slower than some other methods, but usually completely eradicates the ant colony.

2.5 USES OF INSECTICIDES

Certain insects carry disease, while others prey upon crop plants. The use of chemical

insecticides helps keep these harmful insects under control. Chemists are producing

new insecticides, always looking for one that will be safe, specific, and even more

effective. It is also possible to create plants with built-in insect resistance, using

genetic modification.

However, the widespread use of insecticides has been associated with many problems.

They kill useful insects, as well as harmful ones, and also cause damage to other

wildlife. Insects often evolve a resistance to insecticides and become even harder to

kill, so farmers are on a kind of treadmill, trying out one chemical after another on

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their crops. Some insecticides are difficult to break down in the environment and may

travel long distances, accumulating in the food chain. The long-term impact of many

insecticide residues on human health remains unknown

2.6 TYPES OF INSECTICIDES

There are three different types of insecticides. They are:

Systemic – This type of insecticide is introduced into the soil for it to get absorbed by

the plant roots. Once the insecticide enters the roots, it moves to external areas such as

neem seed, fruits, twigs, and branches. It forms a layer on the plant surface area and

acts as a poison to any insect that comes to chew the plant.

Ingested – Some examples of ingested pesticides are rats and roaches.

Contact – These types of insecticides act like bullets that aim only at a particular

target to kill insects by its application. Usually, household insect spray works like

contact insecticides as it must directly hit the insect.

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 CHAPTER THREE

3.0 MATERIAL AND METHOD

3.1 MATERIALS

i. Weighing balance

ii. Beaker

iii. Neem seed

iv. Solvent

v. Filtration equipment

vi. Mixing and blending equipment

vii. Emulsifier and stabilizer.

3.2 METHOD

3.2.1 Sample collection

Neem seed are collected from ripe neem tree fruits. The neem seeds are then cleaned

to remove debris and dried to reduce moisture content. Alternatively, neem seed

kernel powder can be used directly.

3.2.2 Solvent Extraction

The extraction of Neem seed oil from Neem tree involves several stages to separate

the oil from the neem seeds and any other unwanted components. The two main

methods for extracting Neem seed oil are solvent extraction and cold pressing. Here

are the stages involved in each extraction method:

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3.2.2.1 Neem seed Cleaning and Preparation:

Neem seed are collected from ripe Neem fruits and cleaned to remove dirt, debris, and

other impurities. Proper neem seed preparation ensures better extraction efficiency.

3.2.2.2 Grinding or Crushing:

The cleaned Neem seed are typically ground or crushed to create a Neem seed powder.

This increases the surface area and facilitates better contact between the neem seeds

and the solvent.

3.2.2.3 Extraction with Solvent:

The Neem seed powder is mixed with a suitable solvent, commonly hexane, in an

extraction vessel. The solvent helps to dissolve the oil and other lipophilic compounds

present in the neem seeds.

3.2.2.4 Extraction Process:

The mixture of Neem seed powder and solvent is agitated or stirred to ensure

thorough contact between the solvent and the oil-bearing components. The solvent

dissolves the oil and extracts it from the neem seed matrix.

3.2.2.5 Separation of Solvent and Extract:

The mixture is then separated into two phases: the solvent-extracted mixture and the

residual neem seed solids. This can be done using centrifugation or filtration.

3.2.2.6 Solvent Recovery:

The solvent-extracted mixture contains the dissolved Neem seed oil and other

compounds. The solvent is removed from this mixture using evaporation or

distillation techniques, leaving behind the Neem seed oil.

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3.2.3 Cold Pressing:

3.2.3.1. Neem seed Cleaning and Preparation:

Similar to the solvent extraction process, Neem seeds are cleaned to remove

impurities.

3.2.3.2. Mechanical Pressing:

Cleaned Neem seeds are subjected to mechanical pressing, where they are placed

between two surfaces and pressure is applied to extract the oil. The oil is released as

the neem seed cells rupture under pressure.

3.2.3.3. Separation of Oil and Solids:

The resulting oil and solid mixture is separated. This can be done through filtration or

centrifugation.

3.2.3.4. Clarification:

The pressed Neem seed oil might contain some solid particles or impurities. To

achieve clearer oil, the extracted oil can be further clarified through settling, decanting,

or using a centrifuge.

Both solvent extraction and cold pressing methods have their advantages and

disadvantages. Solvent extraction can yield a higher oil quantity and efficiency, but it

requires additional steps for solvent recovery and may result in residual solvent traces

in the oil. Cold pressing is more straightforward and typically results in a more natural

and less processed oil, but it might yield a slightly lower quantity of oil compared to

solvent extraction.

After extraction, the obtained Neem seed oil can be further processed, refined, and

formulated for various applications, such as in agriculture, cosmetics, and personal

care products.

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3.3 Preparation of the insecticide

A weighed quantity of dried Neem seed were blended into powder with a blender

to obtain a homogeneous mixture. The dried N e e m s e e d powder was used

for making the insecticide while thefresh blended neem seed were used for the

extraction.

10.00g of the powdered Neem seed sample was weighed into a 200ml beaker.

5.0g of a binding material (starch) was weighed and added to the Neem seed

sample in the beaker. The mixture was stirred to obtain a homogeneous mixture.

5.0ml of distilled water was added gradually to the mixture in quantity of 1.0ml

while stirring.

The cleaned weighed beaker (M1) was filled with the mixture and the weight

taken (M2). To obtain the true weight of the prepared mixture (M), the difference

between the weights M2and M1was computed as M. thus M= M2-M1

The beaker with the wet insecticide mixture was dried in an oven at a regulated

temperature range of 30o-40oC. The sample was weighed after every 10 minutes

until a constant dried weight was obtained after 30minutes. The beaker with the

dried insecticide was weighed to obtain the accurate weight by deducting from

that of M.

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