Wood vinegar’s role in termite control: from mystery to reality

Wood vinegar (WV), also known as pyroligneous acid, is a liquid byproduct of making charcoal or biochar. The range of biomass feedstock used to produce WV includes agricultural residues, forestry residues, nuts, seeds, grasses, aquatic plants, and wood-processing waste. WV is made up of various organic compounds, including acetic acid, methanol, acetone, as well as phenols, aldehydes, ketones, and several other compounds. It has a variety of potential uses in agriculture and other industries. It is believed to possess insecticidal properties and can be applied as a termiticide. Despite promising preliminary data suggesting reduced environmental impact compared to conventional chemical treatments, wood vinegar’s termiticidal efficacy remains unclear due to disparate research efforts and inconclusive outcomes. This critical review systematically synthesizes existing literature to provide clarity on the efficacy of wood vinegar as a sustainable termite control agent.