Formulations from Chemtura AgroSolutions aimed at malaria, dengue fever

Chemtura AgroSolutions has developed a variety of formulations of its Dimilin® larvicide to control mosquitoes around the world in an effort to combat the diseases they carry - primarily malaria and dengue fever in the developing regions of Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.

The active ingredient – diflubenzuron – kills mosquitoes by preventing their larvae from molting.

Dimilin, which does not affect humans, mammals or birds, is formulated as a wettable powder for spray application, an effervescent granule for broadcasting into breeding sites in shallow water, and an effervescent tablet for use in rain-collection potable water tanks.

The specifications for the active ingredient and formulations have been published by the World Health Organization (WHO) Pesticide Evaluation Scheme following an evaluation of quality standards by a joint WHO and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization committee. This allows Chemtura to participate in public tenders issued by such organizations as WHO, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Chemtura’s diflubenzuron and the granule and tablet formulations also have received the WHO recommendation to be used for treating drinking water.  Drinking water in containers is the main breeding site for Aedes aegypti, the mosquito vector of dengue fever.  A significant percentage of the populations of Latin America and Asia do not have fresh running water at home and are obliged to collect rain water for drinking, washing and cooking.

In addition, Chemtura is conducting a multi-year project in Ivory Coast to demonstrate the value of a larvicide strategy in combination with indoor residual spraying to reduce the incidence of malaria.

According to UNICEF, malaria kills 1 million of the 350 million to 500 million clinical cases contracted globally each year. Sub-Sahara Africa is the world’s hardest-hit region for malaria. Over 80 percent of each year’s global deaths – 800,000 – occur among African children under age 5: three of these children die of malaria every two minutes.

In Latin America, Chemtura is in the process of registering Dimilin in Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay for Aedes aegypti control to reduce the number of dengue cases. In Brazil alone, there are about 600,000 cases of dengue fever each year and 300,000 cases of malaria.

For the last 10 years, Chemtura’s bromine enterprise has focused on a “Greener is Better” approach to product development, with attention to manufacturing and new product introductions that help protect and improve the environment.

GeoBrom™ products are among the latest offerings under Chemtura’s “Greener is Better” umbrella of products, in response to the global need to cut mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants and boilers.

Studies carried out at coal-fired power plants have shown that inorganic brominated derivatives like calcium bromide or sodium bromide are effective in oxidizing mercury into species that are more easily captured on sorbents, in flue gas desulfurization scrubbers and in electrostatic precipitator units. The bromine derivatives are added to the coal prior to, or after, pulverization; to the combustion zone in the boiler; or to the flue-gas upstream of the remediation controls.  Removal efficiencies of up to 90 percent have been demonstrated with these types of technologies.

Other studies have shown that bromine and brominated derivatives such as sodium bromide can be used to produce halogenated activated carbon that is injected into the flue downstream from the boiler to oxidize and capture the mercury on the sorbent. This technology has also been demonstrated to remove up to 90 percent of the mercury from the power plant units burning coal fuel.

GeoBrom™ products have been designed for incorporation into new technologies that use bromine or brominated derivative products for the efficient removal of toxic mercury emissions.  It is one of many ways in which Chemtura is delivering a cleaner future through chemistry.

Emerging technologies hold the potential to supplement the world’s energy mix with options that convert solar energy into electricity – and one of the most promising is the thin-film photovoltaic (TFPV) technology.

Chemtura Organometallics Specialties plays a major role as a leading producer of diethylzinc (DEZ), an essential precursor in the production of TFPV panels – the type of solar panel increasingly favored in various markets – including China and Europe, the world’s largest markets for domestic PV panels – because they have a cost advantage and use less energy to produce than other types of solar technologies.

On the electricity consumption side, Chemtura Organometallics Specialties is applying its expertise to the production and marketing of trimethylaluminum (TMA), a key material used in the manufacture of high-purity metal organic precursors for use in the production of High Brightness LED (HB LED) chips. The HB LED market is experiencing intensive growth, fueled by backlighting and general illumination applications which require more energy efficiency.

Chemtura – delivering an energy-efficient future through chemistry.

Ozone-depleting refrigerants, waste oil disposal and automotive emissions are important issues that affect the health of our planet.  With  approximately 60 percent of its portfolio* composed of greener products, Chemtura’s Petroleum Additives business is helping end-users reduce their environmental impact.

Chemtura’s Hatcol® and Everest® green refrigeration oils are compatible for use with the non-ozone depleting refrigerants that are mandated to replace ozone-depleting refrigerants across the globe.

Fill-for-life industrial and automotive oils are made possible by Chemtura’s Synton® line of polyalphaolefins.  Synton® 40 is used in wind turbine gear oils and helps reduce emissions from alternate generation. 

Chemtura anti-oxidants are used to prolong lubricant life and help reduce automotive emissions as mandated by the U.S., European Union, Japan and increasingly China and Russia.

Advanced friction modifiers from Chemtura help vehicle manufacturers meet the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards. 

*2009, based on volume