Controlled release of 2‐heptanone using starch gel and polycaprolactone matrices and polymeric films

Varroa jacobsoni is a parasitic mite that is threatening the honeybee industry in many parts of the world. 2‐Heptanone, a natural product made by honeybees at low concentrations, is effective at elevated concentrations in controlling mite populations in honeybee colonies, especially when released over a 42 day period. An extrusion process was used to encapsulate 14, 18, and 25% 2‐heptanone in a polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix. Less than 18% of the 2‐heptanone was encapsulated in the PCL matrix. The high vapor permeability of PCL to 2‐heptanone resulted in a high flux rate and limited the usefulness of PCL as an encapsulation matrix for controlled‐release devices. A starch gel containing three times its weight in 2‐heptanone was prepared from starch‐based microcellular foam (MCF). The gel had compressive, tensile, and flexural strength values in the range of 0.56 to 1.9 MPa. 2‐Heptanone quickly evaporated from non‐laminated gels. However, when the gel was laminated with different polymeric films, a wide range of flux rates was obtained. The T₅₀ for gels laminated or coated with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVAL, 99% hydrolyzed) and ethylene‐vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVAL) was 72 and 1030 days, respectively. The most promising film was a starch/glycerol film that released 50% of the 2‐heptanone (T₅₀) in approximately 13 days. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.