Ethylene removal in fruit and vegetable storages using a plasma reactor

Fruit, vegetable, and floricultural products are highly susceptible to post harvest quality losses. A significant factor contributing to these losses can be directly related to uncontrolled low-level ethylene exposure during storage. A liquid electrode plasma was studied as a method for ethylene con trol. Research showed the plasma system worked under storage facility condi tions without excessively increasing storage air temperature or decreasing humidity and that it was effective in destroying up to 75% of the ethylene after only a single pass through the reactor. No harmful or uncontrollable by-products were created in the process. The liquid electrode plasma also o ffers inherent safety and low cost.