Friday, October 10, 2008 Mysterious wood vinegar, demystified (somewhat) By Bethzaida N. Bustamante
IT CAN kill insects and fungus. It controls microorganisms' germination. It eliminates noxious odor in fecal discharges of animals. These are only some of the things that this mysterious liquid can do.
This liquid is one component of the project for better farm income by the organic-based vegetable production in the Philippines. It was launched on February 7 at the demonstration site in Induyan, Alno, La Trinidad, Benguet.
It is being implemented by the Japan Agricultural Exchange Council (JAEC), Department of Agriculture (NAFC, BSWM, BPI, ATI, AMAS, FOS, DA-RFU-CAR), Japan Agricultural Exchange Council Alumni Association (JAECAAP), Benguet State University (BSU), Municipality of La Trinidad, and the Province of Benguet.
The supporting agencies are the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) and rural-based organizations.
The mysterious liquid
Wood vinegar is a by-product of a "dry distillation-cooling down-condensation" process of organic materials, which include wood, coconut shell, bamboo, grass, etc. In the demonstration project in Alno, bamboos and coconut shells are being used.
These organic materials undergo dry distillation turning them into organic substances as water, carbon dioxide and smoke. These substances will be cooled down and condensed to come up with the wood vinegar that has pH 2 to 3 and 10 to 20 percent organic compounds with over 200 chemical substances.
Content of the Wood Vinegar
In a study done, the wood vinegar contains 200 chemical substances which include: organic acids (formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, etc); phenol group; carbonyl group (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, etc.); alcohol (ethanol, methanol, etc); neutral materials (levoglucosan, acetol, maltol, etc); base (acidic substances like ammonia, methylamine, dimethylamine, etc.)
However, they have not found all chemical properties and actions of the wood vinegar yet. Many researchers are still doing further studies on the mysterious liquid.
Uses of the mysterious liquid
According to Jay Sano, manager of the wood vinegar and charcoal demonstration project, wood vinegar is primarily used in composting in the region. It is sprayed or sprinkled in the soil to enhance decomposition. It also serves as soil conditioner enhancing beneficial microorganisms.
It is also utilized as insect and pest repellant. However, it should be allowed to settle for four to six months because it is too concentrated.
Finally, it is used as odor eliminator especially in the composting site. It is being sprayed on the composed and mixed.
Meanwhile, the JAEC is continuously introducing the wood vinegar technology to the farmers in the Cordillera. It is being done through trainings.
The wood vinegar and charcoal demonstration is a two-year project. It is continuously producing the liquid, which is being sold to farmers at a reasonable price.
