Resumen
[0001] The present invention provides an emitter of semiochemical substances that comprising a support and a semiochemical subsistence adsorbed in the same, is characterized in that said support is a sepiolite and in that the retaining force between said sepiolite and said semiochemical substance is regulated in such a way that a controlled emission kinetics of said semiochemical substance is obtained. [0002] The process for the manufacture of said emitter comprises the operations of modifying a natural sepiolite and of associating it to a semiochemical substance, in such a way that the same is retained with a force such that the emitter has a controlled release kinetics of the substance. [0003] The cited emitter is especially useful in the agricultural sector, for insect plague control in crops.
Reivindicaciones
1. Emitter of semiochemical substances that comprising a support and a semiochemical substance adsorbed in the same, is characterized in that said support is a sepiolite and in that the retaining capacity between said sepiolite and said semiochemical substance is regulated in such a way that a controlled emission kinetics of said semiochemical substance is obtained. 2. Emitter of semiochemical substances according to claim 1, characterized in that said retaining capacity is regulated by one or both of the following modifications: modification of the sepiolite, and modification of the degree of compacting between the sepiolite and the absorbed semiochemical substance. 3. Emitter of semiochemical substances according to claim 2, characterized in that said modification of sepiolite is selected among one or several of the group formed by: - modification of the surface cations of the sepiolite; and - modification of the specific surface of the sepiolite. 4. Emitter of semiochemical substances according to claim 2, characterized in that said modification of the degree of compacting between said sepiolite and said absorbed semiochemical substance is selected between one or both of the group formed by: - modification of the compacting pressure, and - modification of the surface/weight ratio of said emitter. 5. Emitter of semiochemical substances according to claim 3, characterized in that said modification comprises the modification of the surface cations of the sepiolite. 6. Emitter of semiochemical substances according to claim 5, characterized in that said modification of the surface cations comprises the substitution of part or all of the surface octahedral magnesium cations by metal cations of Group IA and IIA or by protons. 7. Emitter of semiochemical substances according to claim 6, characterized in that the level of substitution of magnesium cations by other cations is of 0-40%. 8. Emitter of semiochemical substances, according to claim 6, characterized in that said substitution of cations is done by treating natural sepiolite with an acid or a base. 9. Emitter of semiochemical substances, according to claim 8, characterized in that said substitution is carried out by treating natural sepiolite with an acid. 10. Emitter of semiochemical substances, according to claim 9, characterized in that said substitution is carried out by treating natural sepiolite with sulfuric acid. 11. Emitter of semiochemical substances, according to claim 8, characterized in that said substitution is carried out by treating natural sepiolite with a base. 12. Emitter of semiochemical substances, according to claim 11, characterized in that said modification is carried out by treating natural sepiolite with sodium hydroxide. 13. Emitter of semiochemical substances according to claim 3, characterized in that said modification comprises the specific surface of the sepiolite. 14. Emitter of semiochemical substances according to claim 13, characterized in that said specific surface is modified in such a way that the sepiolite support acquires a specific surface value between 80 and 600 m<2>/g. 15. Emitter of semiochemical substances according to claim 4, characterized in that said modification of the degree of compacting comprises the modification of the compacting pressure between the sepiolite support and the semiochemical substance. 16. Emitter of semiochemical substances according to claim 15, characterized in that said modification of the compacting pressure is done during the processing of the emitter. 17. Emitter of semiochemical substances according to claim 4, characterized in that said modification of the degree of compacting comprises the modification of the surface/weight ratio. 18. Emitter of semiochemical substances according to claim 16, characterized in that said modification of the surface/weight ratio is done during the processing of the emitter. 19. Process for the manufacture of an emitter of semiochemical substances, according to any of the claims 1 to 18, characterized in that it comprises the operations of modifying a sepiolite and of associating it with a semiochemical substance, in such a way that the retaining capacity of the same on the part of the sepiolite permits a controlled release kinetics of said semiochemical substance. 20. A process according to claim 19, characterized in that said retaining capacity is regulated by one or both of the following modifications: modification of the sepiolite, and modification of the degree of compacting between the sepiolite and the adsorbed semiochemical substance. 21. A process according to claim 20, characterized in that said modification of the sepiolite is selected among one or several of the group formed by: - modification of the surface cations of the sepiolite; and - modification of the specific surface of the sepiolite. 22. A process according to claim 20, characterized in that said modification of the degree of compacting between said sepiolite and said adsorbed semiochemical substance is selected between one or both of the group formed by: - modification of the compacting pressure, and - modification of the surface/weight ratio of said emitter. 23. A process according to claim 21, characterized in that said modification comprises the modification of the surface cations of the sepiolite. 24. A process according to claim 23, characterized in that said modification of the surface cations comprises the substitution of part or all of the surface octahedral magnesium cations by metal cations of Group IA and IIA or by protons. 25. A process according to claim 24, characterized in that the level of substitution of magnesium cations by other cations is of 0-40%. 26. A process according to claim 24, characterized in that said cation substitution is carried out by treating natural sepiolite with an acid or a base. 27. A process according to claim 26, characterized in that said substitution is carried out by treating natural sepiolite with an acid. 28. A process according to claim 27, characterized in that said substitution is carried out by treating natural sepiolite with sulfuric acid. 29. A process according to claim 8, characterized in that said substitution is carried out by treating natural sepiolite with a base. 30. A process according to claim 29, characterized in that said modification is carried out by treating natural sepiolite with sodium hydroxide. 31. A process according to claim 21, characterized in that said modification comprises the modification of the specific surface of the sepiolite. 32. A process according to claim 31, characterized in that said specific surface is modified in such a way that the sepiolite support acquires a specific surface value between 80 and 600 m<2>/g. 33. A process according to claim 22, characterized in that said modification of the degree of compacting comprises the modification of the compacting pressure between the sepiolite support and the semiochemical substance. 34. A process according to claim 33, characterized in that said modification of the compacting pressure is carried out during the processing of the emitter. 35. A process according to claim 22, characterized in that said modification of the degree of compacting comprises the modification of the surface/weight ratio. 36. A modification according to claim 34, characterized in that said modification of the surface/weight ratio is carried out during the processing of the emitter. 37. Use of an emitter of semiochemical substances according to any of the claims 1 to 18, for insect plague control in agriculture. 38. Use of an emitter of semiochemical substances according to claim 37, for plague control with techniques selected from the group formed by control of the insect population, massive capture of the insects, sexual confusion of the insects or an attracticidal trap. 39. Use of an emitter of semiochemical substances according to claim 37, wherein said emitter is applied in a form selected among powder, granulate or a conglomerate. 40. Use of an emitter of semiochemical substances according to claim 37, wherein said emitter is applied manually or by means of a mechanical device.
