This paper deals with the adsorption of an essential oil (EO) on a kaolinite-rich clay and a smectite-rich clay. The two clays were modified with a quaternary alkyl ammonium surfactant to create a lipophilic environment for better adsorption of the EO. The preparation of the clay/EO hybrids avoided the use of a slurry and organic solvent. The selected EO was that of Lippia multiflora. This EO has insecticidal properties. The surfactant was trioctyl methylammonium (TOMA). The modified clays were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The smectite-rich clay displayed greater adsorption of the L. multiflora EO compared to the kaolinite-rich clay. The interlayer space of the kaolinite-rich clay was not affected by the adsorption of the TOMA and/or EO molecules, which suggests that the adsorption in this clay took place on the external surface. By contrast, a significant increase in the interlayer space of the smectite-rich clay was observed, suggesting that the adsorption process of TOMA and/or EO took place on both the external and internal surfaces. The IR analysis showed that the surfactant loading in the interlayer space of the smectite-rich clay introduces a gauche conformation in the alkyl chains. A formulation mixing this local smectite-rich clay and the L. multiflora EO has potential for the manufacture of new biopesticides.

The insecticidal activity of essential oils extracted by steam distillation from six aromatic plants from Togo, Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Spreng., C. citratus (D.C.) Stapf., C. nardus (L.) Rendle, Lippia multiflora Moldemke, Eucalyptus citriodora Hook., Diplolofium africanum Turcz., was tested against the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus F. Concentrations of 6.7; 10.0; 16.7 and 33.3 μ1/1 were evaluated. The chemical composition of the essential oils used was established by GC/MS analysis. Only C. schoenanthus oil showed significant insecticidal activity at 6.7 μl/1 oil (LC50 2.3 μ1/1). At concentrations higher than 33.3 μ1/1, all test plants showed similar insecticidal activity; more than 90% of the test insects died within 24 hours of exposure. Oviposition was also reduced significantly by the essential oil treatments.