By: Dvykaliuk Roman

Fig. 1. A 3D mannequin of CPI (Clever Collector of Propolis) (Breyer, 2016)
Notes: A – case for stacking the collector; B – Clever Collector of Propolis; C – insert board for closing the outlet within the case

Propolis is a sticky resinous substance collected from the buds, leaves and stems of untamed vegetation and processed by bees, which has bactericidal properties and is utilized by bees to seal cracks in a hive, polish partitions of wax cells and embalm corpses of enemies (mice, reptiles, and so on.) (DSTU 4662, 2006). The sources of propolis are vegetation from which honey bees acquire resin. Nonetheless, not all vegetation that secrete resin are sources of propolis. The bodily properties of plant resin, accessibility to bees, and anatomical options of a honey bee exoskeleton underlie the speculation of plant choice for propolis assortment (Langenheim, 2003; Salatino and Salatino, M. L. F., 2017). Within the gentle local weather zone Ukraine belongs to, honey bees acquire plant resins primarily from Populus nigra L., Populus tremula L. and Betula pubescens L., which determines chemical and bodily properties of the yield. Subsequently, bees convey plant resins to the nest and use them to seal cracks or to construct their buildings (Isidorov et al., 2016; Przybyłek and Karpiński, 2019).

Utilizing the bees’ instincts to seal cracks within the nest, defend the nest from pests and the necessity to keep the microclimate of the bee nest on the correct degree, beekeepers acquire propolis in industrial volumes primarily in two methods. The primary one is to change partitions of hives and use collectors, and the second is to position nets (grids) over the honey bee nest (Breyer, 2016; Tsagkarakis et al., 2017).

Fig. 2. Inexperienced propolis obtained in Brazil (picture by the creator, 2022)

In nations with a tropical local weather, the place the surface temperature resembles the microclimate of the bee nest, propolis collectors are positioned on holes within the outer partitions of hives (Fig. 1, 2).

Placement of this kind of collector implies that merchandise (honey, pollen) won’t be taken from bee households. The presence of meals within the nest helps to extend productiveness of the bee household. One other necessary technological side is that propolis apiaries migrate to areas wealthy in plant sources of propolis. It ought to be famous that such a technique as transferring to propolis sources just isn’t utilized in gentle local weather zones.

Right this moment, in keeping with the state register, there are 54,406 beekeeping households in Ukraine with 2,579,453 bee colonies. Since registration is voluntary, these figures are usually not last. There are two methods to gather propolis in Ukraine: the primary is to wash the nest components (frames, elements of the hive, and so on.) with a beekeeper’s chisel; the second is to position elastic nets or plastic grids over the honey bee nest within the hives. The primary methodology talked about of extracting propolis is unproductive and outdated and yields in a small quantity of propolis, which is especially contaminated with wooden splinters and elements of bee our bodies. Such propolis is used for private and technical wants. The second methodology, which makes use of particular assortment tools, similar to elastic nets and plastic grids, is extra productive for giant apiaries. On the identical time, acquiring 300-500 nets or grids coated with propolis on a farm requires their cleansing. The shortage of kit to automate the method of nets or grids cleansing of propolis and the usage of guide labor result in larger product costs, decrease high quality and unprofitable manufacturing. The usage of guide labor to wash propolis could also be accompanied by a violation of sanitary and hygienic circumstances because of the human issue.

Fig. 3. Experimental 3D mannequin of a tool for gathering propolis.
Notes: 1 – a set of gears; 2 – decrease and higher pair of shafts, protrusions of which match one-to-one; 3 – an electrical motor; 4 – a gap for inserting nets with propolis; 5 – an outlet; 6 – an electrical cable; 7 – a swap; 8 – a protecting chamber; 9 – an influence cable compartment; 10 – a steel body

As a part of our dissertation analysis on “Scientific and technical help of the method and tools for propolis manufacturing” on the Nationwide College of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine in 2020-2023, we designed, manufactured and examined a tool for cleansing propolis-coated elastic nets (Fig. 3).

Manufacture of the system and its introduction into manufacturing assist to fill in gaps within the expertise of acquiring prime quality propolis.

To extract propolis utilizing the system, beekeepers comply with the sequence of actions:

• place elastic nets in hives to gather propolis (it’s endorsed to make use of nets manufactured from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA));
• place nets on the higher bars of frames after they’re cleaned of wax residues and current propolis;
• examine bee colonies as is customary on the farm;
• after the bees cowl nets with propolis, shift them in order that a whole web is roofed with propolis (roughly 20-30 calendar days, relying on availability of the plant base and propensity of the bee household to build up propolis);
• acquire nets from bee colonies and roll for straightforward transportation and additional cooling (Fig. 4, B);
• for high-quality cleansing of nets with propolis utilizing the system, it is sufficient to cool nets at a temperature of +5°C for 60-90 minutes, relying on the kind of propolis;
• insert the cooled nets into the cleansing system (Entry the creator’s accounts YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/QktpMJc-0hY?si=MOMb8R6w7LrkgJ2C).

Fig. 4. Propolis obtained at Ukrainian beekeeping farms utilizing the brand new expertise (picture by the creator, 2021) Notes: Proper – propolis purified from elastic nets utilizing the system; Left – elastic nets coated with propolis obtained from beekeeping farms in Ukraine

After the cleansing is accomplished, nets are returned to the bee colonies, if mandatory, and the obtained propolis is packed and saved for additional use.

Nets within the system are cleaned mechanically. One web could be cleaned with the system 100 or extra instances with out seen mechanical injury. The specifically designed shafts of the system are pulled into the web and concurrently bend it in a wave-like method. Throughout this bending, the propolis is shed within the decrease tray. For snug work of the operator, the room temperature could be +20-22°C. In nations with tropical climates, it’s attainable to position the web cleansing system in honeycomb storages, the place the temperature is at all times saved low, which is able to present extra financial savings on room cooling. The propolis harvesting system can be utilized by beekeepers to wash 227 nets in a single working day (eight hours). The developed system has been patented: patent No. 139736 “Gadget for gathering propolis” (UA). Particulars of the event and operation of the system have been introduced on the forty seventh Apimondia Congress (Istanbul) (PP-177).

For extra detailed info on the operation of the system for cleansing nets from propolis and different analysis papers of the creator, please use the hyperlink by QR code (Entry the creator’s account within the scientific social community ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.web/profile/Roman-Dvykaliuk).

Dvykaliuk Roman, Chairman of the Board of BeesAgro Managed Pollination Affiliation; PhD candidate of the Nationwide College of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine; Kyiv, Ukraine.
E-mail: Roman.Dvykaliuk@delta-sport.kiev.ua

References
DSTU 4662:2006 “Propolis (Bee Glue). Specs” (2007). Kyiv: State Requirements of Ukraine
Salatino, A., & Salatino, M. L. F. (2017). Why do honeybees exploit so few plant species as propolis sources. MOJ Meals Processing & Know-how, 4(5), 158–160. https://doi.org/10.15406/mojfpt.2017.04.00107
Langenheim, J. H., 2003. Plant Resins: Chemistry, Evolution, Ecology, and Ethnobotany. Timber Press., Portland,OR, USA.
Isidorov, V. A., Bakier, S., Pirożnikow, E., Zambrzycka, M., Swiecicka, I. Selective behaviour of honeybees in buying European propolis plant precursors. Journal of chemical ecology. 2016. Vol. 42(6), Р. 475–485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-016-0708-9
Przybyłek, I., & Karpiński, T. M. (2019). Antibacterial properties of propolis. Molecules, 24(11), 2047. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24112047
Breyer, H. F. E., Breyer, E. D. H., & Cella, I. (2016). Produção e beneficiamento da própolis [Production and processing of propolis]. Boletim Didático, 1, 30. https://publicacoes.epagri.sc.gov.br/BD/article/view/405 [in Portuguese]
Tsagkarakis, A. E., Katsikogianni, T., Gardikis, Okay., Katsenios, I., Spanidi, E., & Balotis, G. N. (2017). Comparability of Traps Gathering Propolis by Honey Bees. Advances in Entomology, 5(02), 68. 5. https://doi.org/10.4236/ae.2017.52006
Gadget for gathering propolis [Prystrii dlia zboru propolisu]: pat. 139736 Ukraine. № u 201910696; decl. 29.10.2019. publ. 10.01.2020. Bul. № 1. (in Ukrainian)