PHOTODECOMPOSITION OF THE SEX-PHEROMONES OF CYDIA-POMONELLA AND LOBESIA-BOTRANA IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS

The ultraviolet photodescomposition of two of the main components of t he sex pheromone of the insects, the Cydia pomonella and Lobesia botra na ((E,E) 8,10 dodecadien-1-ol and (E,Z) 7,9 dodecadienyl acetate) has been studied at room temperature and different conditions of acidity (pHs: 3,5,7,8 acid 10) and dissolved oxygen content (3 and 6 mg/L) Acc ording to the experimental results, the degradative process of (E,E) 8 ,10 dodecadien-1-ol and the (E,Z) 7,9 dodecadienyl acetate follows a f irst order kinetic. For the (E,E) 8,10 dodecadien-1-ol the degradation rate increases as the pH decreases, and, on the contrary, the degrada tion rate increases as the pH increases for ecreases the (E,Z) 7,9 dod ecadienyl acetate. In both compounds, an increase in oxygen concentrat ion favours the descomposition rate. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.