Pesticidal treatment of stored goods, enclosures, structures and works of art, with sulphur compounds

Abstract

The present invention is directed to the pesticidal treatment of stored foodstuffs, chambers, structures and works of art, using a volatile sulphur compound of general formula: in which R represents an alkyl or alkenyl radical containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, n is equal to 0, 1 or 2, x is a number ranging from 0 to 4, and R′ represents an alkyl or alkenyl radical containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or, only if n=x=0, a hydrogen atom. These sulphur compounds (in particular dimethyl disulphide) are applied by nebulization directly to the material to be treated.

1 . Pesticidal treatment of stored foodstuffs, chambers, structures and works of art, comprising appling by nebulization at least one volatile sulphur compound of general formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     in which R represents an alkyl or alkenyl radical containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, n is equal to 0, 1 or 2, x is a number ranging from 0 to 4, and R′ represents an alkyl or alkenyl radical containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or, only if n=x=0, a hydrogen atom:  
   
   
       2 . Treatment according to  claim 1 , wherein R and R′ of formula (I) are selected from the group consisting of methyl, propyl, allyl and 1-propenyl radicals.  
   
   
       3 . Treatment according to  claim 1 , wherein n is equal to zero.  
   
   
       4 . Treatment according to claims  1 , wherein said sulphur compound is a disulphide.  
   
   
       5 . Treatment according to one of claims  1 , wherein said sulphur compound is dimethyl disulphide.  
   
   
       6 . Treatment according to one of claims  1 , wherein said sulphur compound is applied by nebulization in the form of an aqueous emulsion, a microemulsion or a solution in a biodegradable solvent.  
   
   
       7 . Treatment according to one of claims  1 , wherein the product CT of the concentration of sulphur compound applied (C) and of the time (T) for which the sulphur compound is allowed to act, in order to obtain complete destruction of the target organisms, is between 20 and 200 ghm −3 .