Salt against ants May 8th, 2018
There seemed to be situations when ants really bothered us, but we didn’t really know how to protect ourselves from them. They seem to describe the methods here, but I have never heard of them in my life.
Have you tried any of this?
1. Salt on the doorstep
The easiest and laziest way to repel ants from your home is to sprinkle salt on the threshold. And at the same time, window sills, all passages and places of mass accumulation of many-legged pests.
This method is by no means just another modern life hack. It was first described back in 1937 on the pages of Times magazine. The article, titled “Salt v. Insect,” gave very vague explanations: either the ants must die en masse from thirst (after all, salt absorbs moisture), or from dehydration of their exoskeleton. But since then, more than one generation of people suffering from the ant problem has been actively sprinkling salt on their thresholds. And he claims that it works.
2. Salt and water
Are there any outdoor gatherings planned? If you have a table in your yard and ants are actively encroaching on it, prepare four plastic containers. Fill each with water, adding a little salt, and use the containers as “stands” for table legs (as in the photo). Ants will not be able to get through such a “ditch”, and the most stubborn of them will not survive a bath with salt. So insects definitely won’t taste your food.
3. Sugar and boric acid
An effective remedy against ants can be made using not only salt, but also sugar. In a deep container, mix a glass of sugar and a tablespoon of boric acid, carefully and slowly pour in the glass warm water and wait. The mixture should foam and crystallize slightly.
Now dip several cotton pads into the resulting cocktail and place them in places where you constantly notice ants. Insects will be attracted to such a “delicacy”, and they will even bring its crumbs to their nest. But the ant organism will not withstand such an explosive mixture and in a matter of hours it will finish them off.
sources
FORMIC ACID SALTS
SECTION VI 29 2915 … 2915 12 000 0
SECTION VI. Products of chemical and related industries
29 Organic chemical compounds
VII. CARBOXYLIC ACIDS AND THEIR ANHYDRIDES, HALONAHYDRIDES, PEROXIDES, PEROXY ACIDS AND THEIR HALOGENATED, SULFONATED, NITRATED OR NITROSED DERIVATIVES
2915 Saturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids and their anhydrides, acid halides, peroxides and peroxyacids; their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives:
formic acid, its salts and esters:
2915 12 000 0 formic acid salts
Examples of declarations using this code
2915 12 000 0
FORMIC ACID SALTS IN THE FORM OF CRYSTALS. WHITE POWDER, USED AS AN ACCELERATOR FOR HARDENING OF BUILDING MIXTURES AND CONCRETE, AND ALSO AN ANTI-FROST ADDITIVE IN CONCRETE, CALCIUM FORMATE MIN. 98%-50375. 00 KG. , 2015 BAGS OF 25 KG. ; (FIRM) SHANDONG PULISI CHEMICAL CO. ,LTD; (TM) AVAILABLE
2915 12 000 0
FORMIC ACID SALT: ; SODIUM FORMATE, WHITE CRYSTAL POWDER: USED AS A TECHNOLOGICAL RAW MATERIAL ADDITIVE IN THE PRODUCTION OF CONSTRUCTION MIXTURES AND CONCRETE ADDITIVES. CHEM. COMPOSITION: SODIUM FORMATE > 97%, DOES NOT CONTAIN ETHYL ALCOHOL, PRESSURE. NOT FOR RETAIL ; (FIRM) PERSTORP SPECIALTY CHEMICALS AB; (TM)PERSTORP
2915 12 000 0
CHEMICAL REAGENTS FOR USE IN BIOCHEMICAL LABORATORY FOR ANALYTICS, RESEARCH AND CONTROL. NOT FOR VETERINARY USE. PURPOSE OF EXPORT - FOR REGISTRATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF FURTHER PRODUCTION OF MEDICINES. THE CARGO IS DELIVERED FREE OF CHARGE, IS NOT SUBJECT TO SALE, FOR CIVIL PURPOSE. ; ELUENT A ELUENT ACCQ-TAG ULTRA A; (FIRM) WATERS; (TM) AVAILABLE
2915 12 000 0
ROWELAN: FORMIC ACID SALTS: ; FEED ADDITIVE ROWELAN R IS INTENDED TO ENRICH AND BALANCE THE RATIONS OF FARM ANIMALS, INCLUDING BIRDS, IN CALCIUM. CONTAINS CALCIUM FORMATE AS AN ACTIVE SUBSTANCE (CONCLUDED IN FORMIC ACID - NO LESS; (FIRM) LANXESS DISTRIBUTION GMBH; (TM) DEUTSCHE VILOMIX
2915 12 000 0
FORMIC ACID SALTS: LITHIUM FORMIC ACID 1-HYDRATE, 98%. CAS NUMBER: 6108-23-2 CHEMICAL FORMULA: LIOOCH XH2O. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES: WHITE CRYSTAL POWDER. FIELD OF APPLICATION: USED IN THE LABORATORY IN FINE ORGANIC SYNTHESIS AS A CATALYST FOR THE POLYMERIZATION OF ALKYD RESINS, ACRYLIC POLYMERS, AND POLYESTERS. NOT INTENDED FOR OTHER PURPOSES, DOES NOT CONTAIN NATIVE, INFECTIOUS OR RADIOACTIVE AGENTS. SUPPLEMENT SUBSTANCES AND MATERIALS NOT INTENDED FOR VETERINARY USE AND ARE NOT WASTE. :; LITHIUM FORMIC ACID 1-HYDUS, 98%. CAS NUMBER: 6108-23-2 CHEMICAL FORMULA: LIOOCH XH2O. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES: WHITE CRYSTAL POWDER. FIELD OF APPLICATION: USED IN THE LABORATORY IN FINE ORGANIC SYNTHESIS AS A CATALYST; (FIRM) ALFA AESAR; (TM) ALFA AESAR
2915 12 000 0
ADDITIVE "FORMI NDF" FOR ANIMALS IN THE FORM OF MICROGRANULATED POWDER, TO NORMALIZE THE MICROFLORA OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT AND IMPROVE DIGESTION IN PIGS AND POULTRY: ; FORMI NDF DOES NOT CONTAIN GMOs. PACKED IN 25 KG BAGS WITH P/E LINER. COMPOSITION-SODIUM DIFORMITE-96. 5-97. 5% (OBTAINED BY SYNTHESIS OF FORMIC ACIDS AND SODIUM FORMIATE), SILICON DIOXIN-1. 5-2. 0%, WATER-1. 5-2. 5 %. THE ADDITIVE HAS ANTI-MICROBIAL EFFECT. ; (FIRM) ADDCON NORDIC AS; (TM) FORMI
2915 12 000 0
ALUMINUM TANNING AGENT FOR LEATHER PRODUCTION: ; TECHNICALLY PURE CRYSTALLINE ALUMINUM TRIFORMATE (FOMIC ACID SALT), DOES NOT CONTAIN ALCOHOL, NOT FOR VETERINARY: 12 PAPER BAGS OF 25 (KG), WEIGHT OF 1 PALLET 23 (KG); (FIRM) "ZSCHIMMER & SCHWARZ GMBH & CO KG"; (TM) "ZSCHIMMER & SCHWARZ",
2915 12 000 0
ANTI-ICE REAGENT BASED ON SODIUM FORMATE (98.2%) WITH THE ADDED CORROSION INHIBITOR IN THE FORM OF IRREGULAR-SHAPE GRANULES WITHOUT ETHYL ALCOHOL AND FOREIGN INCLUDES. DESIGNED FOR PROCESSING AIRPORT RUNWAYS. IS NOT A PRODUCTION WASTE. NOT FOR MEDICINE, VETERINARY OR FOOD INDUSTRY. CHEMICAL FORMULA OF THE MAIN COMPONENT HCO2NA. ; DEICING REAGENT (GRANULATED SODIUM FORMATE), SUPPLIED IN BAGS WEIGHING 25 KG EACH AND PLACED ON PALLETS OF 40 PCS; (FIRM) LLC "OXIDE"; (TM) "DEFROST SF"
2915 12 000 0
FORMIC ACID SALTS: TECHNICAL SODIUM FORMATE, CONTENT OF BASIC SUBSTANCE 92.5%, IN THE FORM OF WHITE CRYSTAL POWDER, CAS No. 141-53-7, CHEM. FORMULA HCO2NA, DOES NOT CONTAIN ALCOHOL/ALCOHOOL ADDITIVES, IS NOT USED IN VETERINARY, IS NOT A PRODUCTS FOR MEDICAL PURPOSE, IS NOT A PLANT PROTECTOR, IS NOT A FIRE RETARDANT, IS USED IN CONSTRUCTION AS A PROTECTOR TIVOFROST ADDITIVES AND IN DRY CONSTRUCTION MIXTURES, SOLUTIONS AND CONCRETE; (FIRM) MEIHUA CHEMICAL COMPANY LIMITED; (TM) AVAILABLE
2915 12 000 0
SODIUM SALT OF FORMIC ACID, CHEMICAL NAME SODIUM FORMATE 92%, CHEMICAL FORMULA (НСООNA), CAS 141-53-7, APPEARANCE - WHITE CRYSTAL POWDER, USED AS AN ANTI-FROST ADDITIVE FOR WHO FOR MONOLITHIC STRUCTURES, NOT FOR USE IN PHARMACEUTICAL AND VETERINARY . ; APPEARANCE: WHITE CRYSTAL POWDER, USED AS AN ANTI-FROST ADDITIVE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MONOLITHIC STRUCTURES; (FIRM) PUYANG PENGXIN CHEMICAL CO. ,LTD; (TM) AVAILABLE
2915 12 000 0
FORMIC ACID SALT FOR USE AS LABORATORY REAGENTS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. THEY ARE NOT MEDICINES AND PHARMACEUTICALS. SUBSTANCES. NOT FOR VETERINARY USE. DO NOT CONTAIN ETHYL ALCOHOL: ; AMMONIUM FORMATE (CAS No. 540-69-2) IN PACK. PO 50G, ; (FIRM) SIGMA-ALDRICH; (TM) SIGMA-ALDRICH
2915 12 000 0
FORMIC ACID SALTS. ; REAGENT FOR LABORATORY STUDIES AMMONIUM FORMATE, APPEARANCE - POWDER; (FIRM) ABCR GMBH; (TM) ABCR GMBH
2915 12 000 0
FORMIC ACID SALTS; AMMONIUM FORMATE, BUFFER SOLUTION (MIXTURE OF WEAK ACID WITH A CONJUGATED BASE), 1-5%, (SYNONYM: AMMONIUM FORMIC ACID), FORMULA CH5NO2, FOR HPLC-MS (HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY AND MASS) SPECTROMETRIC SYSTEMS) AND; (FIRM) "AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES"; (TM) AGILENT
2915 12 000 0
FORMIC ACID SALTS IN THE FORM OF AQUEOUS SOLUTION. FOR CHROMATOGRAPH CALIBRATION. NOT FOR USE AS A PHARMACEUTICAL SUBSTANCE. ; KIT FOR CALIBRATION OF LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPH WITH MASSELECTIVE DETECTOR FOR ANALYSIS OF BIOPOLYMERS. CONTAINS 7 AMPOULES OF 2.2 ML: 1M AMMONIUM FORMATE IN WATER (90% WATER, 10% AMMONIUM FORMATE).; (FIRM) AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SARL; (TM) AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES
2915 12 000 0
FORMIC ACID SALT: ; SODIUM FORMATE USED AS A TECHNOLOGICAL RAW MATERIAL ADDITIVE IN THE PRODUCTION OF CONSTRUCTION MIXTURES AND ADDITIVES IN CONCRETE, CHEMICAL. COMPOSITION: SODIUM FORMATE > 97%, WITHOUT ETHYL ALCOHOL, IN THE FORM OF WHITE CRYSTAL POWDER, NOT PACKED; (FIRM) PERSTORP SPECIALTY CHEMICALS AB; (TM)PERSTORP
2915 12 000 0
FORMIC ACID SALTS, RAW MATERIALS INTENDED FOR OWN PRODUCTION, ARE NOT ORGANIC CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS, ARE NOT SATURATED ACICLIC MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS: ; CALCIUM FORMATE, BULK POWDER FROM WHITE TO YELLOW-BROWN COLOR, ADDITIVE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF DRY CONSTRUCTION MIXTURES, CALCIUM FORMATE FROM 98%, IMPURITIES UP TO 2%, IN BAGS OF 1000 KG; (FIRM) BRENNTAG AUSTRIA GMBH; (TM)BRENNTAG
Formic acid is a monobasic carboxylic acid registered as a food additive with code E236 according to the international classification, which is used as a preservative. It is considered the first representative in the series of saturated monobasic carboxylic acids.
Chemical formula HCOOH.
General characteristics of Formic acid
Formic acid is a transparent liquid without color, odor and with sour taste. The substance has the property of dissolving in glycerin, benzene and acetone and miscible with water and ethanol. Formic acid was named after the Englishman John Ray isolated it from a huge number of red forest ants (calorizator). Chemically produced as a by-product of synthesis. Natural suppliers of formic acid are pine needles, and excretions of bees and ants.
Useful properties of Formic acid
Basics useful property formic acid - slowing down the processes of decay and rotting, respectively, increasing the shelf life and use of products. It has been noted that formic acid stimulates cell metabolism and is an irritant to nerve endings.
Harm E236
Food additive E236 Formic acid can cause allergic reactions and serious disorders gastrointestinal tract in case of overdose. If formic acid in its pure form gets on the skin or mucous membranes, as a rule, a burn occurs, which must be treated as quickly as possible with a solution and immediately contact a medical facility for qualified help.
Contact with concentrated formic acid vapor may cause damage to the eyes and respiratory tract. Accidental ingestion of even diluted solutions causes severe necrotizing gastroenteritis.
The danger of formic acid depends on the concentration. According to classification European Union, a concentration of up to 10% has an irritating effect, more than 10% has a corrosive effect.
Application of E236
The food additive E236 is most often used as an antibacterial and preservative agent in the production of livestock feed. In the food industry, the properties of E236 are used in confectionery, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, canned fish and meat. Formic acid is also used in the chemical industry, medicine and pharmaceuticals, in the production of woolen fabrics and leather tanning.
Use of E236 in Russia
In the territory Russian Federation the use of food additive E236 as a neutral preservative is permitted, subject to compliance with the standards established Sanitary rules RF.
Ants bring many benefits to nature. They destroy pests, enrich the soil with potassium and fluorine, and loosen the soil. Therefore, one found in the forest cannot be touched. But garden individuals become enemies of the crop. Insects acidify the soil too much and... Many people use salt to kill ants in their gardens and apartments. It helps destroy pests quickly and without unnecessary chemicals.
How to use in an apartment
It is not always possible to use it in a closed space. They can be swallowed by a curious baby or pet. And adults are at risk when they use poison. In this case, salt helps. It quickly removes ants from any part of the house.
On a note!
It is better to use regular table salt. It's inexpensive and helps a lot.
To force ants to leave human habitation, the garden should use the following recipes:
- Sprinkle fine salt into cracks, window sills and doors.
- Mix salt and salt in equal proportions. Treat ant paths with the mixture.
- Mix the substance with hot pepper. Fall asleep in places where pests accumulate.
Insects prefer to move to more safe place and leave the human home.
How to use in the garden
They cause the most problems. But even here ordinary salt can cope with them.
I don’t touch the ants in the forest, but kill them in the garden with salt. I once read that boiling water helps get rid of them. Regular boiling water didn’t help me, but salty water did. I'm waiting for evening to come and the insects to go to their nest. Then I cook strong brine, bring it to a boil and pour it on the pests. But this method is not suitable for trees. It helps to wrap the barrel with polyethylene, covered with .
Tamara Lvovna, Moscow
Salt against ants in the garden is used as follows:
- A thin trail of sweet water flows from the anthill. When the ants begin to run towards, they are sprinkled with the product or trampled under foot. The next day the procedure is repeated.
- Hot water is poured into the spray bottle salty water and sprayed on pests.
- The ant nest is filled with table salt.
If you can’t kill insects using these methods, then it’s worth a try.
Formic acid is more effective than other means in removing ice from runways and roadways without harming the environment.
Nature as the largest producer
Ants and jellyfish use this substance for their own protection and for obtaining food. Many have repeatedly experienced its effect on own experience accidentally touching nettle leaves. It's about about formic acid, a pungent, odorous liquid of natural origin that has attracted the attention of people for several centuries.
This simplest carboxylic acid was first isolated in its pure form by the English naturalist John Ray in 1671. He placed red forest ants in a glass flask with water, brought the vessel to a boil, and in the resulting distillate he discovered an acidic liquid, which he called formic acid. The first successful laboratory synthesis of this substance dates back to 1855. It was carried out French chemist Marcelin Berthelot. BASF began to show interest in formic acid in the 1920s and began large-scale production in 1935, after the product became in demand in many industries.
Currently, formic acid is a widely used chemical. Dr. Tatiana Levy, innovation manager at BASF Intermediates, calls it “a truly versatile product.” For several decades, formic acid has been successfully used in the most different areas. Thus, it is used in the manufacture of animal feed (as a preservative), in leather and textile production, and also as a component of drilling fluids in the development of oil fields. “In addition, in close cooperation with customers, we are constantly finding new applications for formic acid,” adds Dr. Levy.
Formic acid salts
Formates, used as reagents for removing ice and snow in winter, are more expensive than salts and anti-slip agents (pea gravel or sand). However, the difference becomes less significant when all subsequent costs are taken into account. So, salt (sodium chloride) disrupts water regime and balance nutrients in the soil, and also leads to corrosion of structural elements of buildings, road surfaces and bridges. The effectiveness of anti-slip agents is controversial, as they pollute urban environments and are labor-intensive to clean up. On the contrary, formic acid salts are environmentally friendly and have low corrosive activity; they reliably protect roads and sidewalks from snow and ice (without unwanted side effects). At the same time, there is no need for additional costs associated with replanting trees and shrubs, as well as repairing buildings.
Treating the airport area using formates
European airports combat icing with chemicals. “Salts of formic acid within ten s extra years are used to remove ice from airport runways and taxiways,” explains Dr. Levy. The addition of these salts, also known as formates, ensures that water does not freeze when the temperature drops to 0°C. Depending on the concentration of the deicer, the freezing point can be brought to −50 o C, which differs significantly from the ambient temperature. Accordingly, formates quickly remove thin ice and effectively prevent snow deposition and the formation of new ice on runways. Moreover, these substances do not pose a danger to the environment. “Salts of formic acid together with melt water can end up in drains, but the harm from them (compared to other deicers) can be minimal - due to the ability of formates to biodegrade, during which a very small amount of oxygen is consumed,” emphasizes Tatyana Levi.
The snow removal service at Zurich Airport has been using formates since 2005. “We have very high hopes for reliable, non-damaging de-icers. environment, explains Hans-Peter Moll, responsible for airfield maintenance at Zurich Airport. – It is necessary that these compounds quickly react with ice on runways and taxiways, have a long service life, combine well with other materials and remain harmless. Our experience shows that formic acid salts are superior to any other deicer based on these criteria.”
Municipal services are showing growing interest in formates
The positive experience of airports in using formates as alternative deicers has aroused the interest of municipal authorities. Snow removal services in Scandinavia, Switzerland and Austria use these chemicals to remove ice from roadways, bike paths and sidewalks where extra care is required (for example, tree-lined boulevards or historic areas). In Basel, snow has been removed from the artificial surfaces of sports arenas in a similar manner for many years. In this case, first the cleaning is done mechanically, and then the thin remaining layer of snow is melted using formates. Thanks to their effective anti-icing effect, it is possible to quickly bring sites into a condition suitable for sports competitions. “We were very impressed by the ability of formic acid salts to biodegrade when low temperatures. Thus, they do not create obstacles for athletes during competitions. In addition, artificial surfaces and Sports Equipment(balls, rackets, bars, nets) suffer less damage and are better preserved during the winter period when formates are used to remove snow and ice,” summarizes Eric Hardman, responsible for the condition of sports facilities in Basel.
It is worth noting that the absolute leader in the production of formic acid is precisely animals and plants, which together produce larger quantities of this substance than all chemical industry enterprises combined.