Phytoparasitica (1996) 24, p. 230 (Adler et al.)

C.S. Adler, Ch. Ulrichs and Ch. Reichmuth (1996)
On-site production of nitrogen for stored-product disinfestation
Phytoparasitica 24 (3), 230-230
International Conference on Controlled Atmosphere and Fumigation (CAF) in Stored Products, April 21-26, 1996, Nicosia, Cyprus, lecture
Abstract: Controlled atmosphere (CA) treatments for the disinfestation of stored products and materials are considered to be environmentally friendly, residue-free and safe for workers at doses of up to 5000 ppm (CO₂) or higher (N₂). In some areas of stored-product protection, CAs may replace the use of toxic fumigants or contact insecticides. The use of this alternative, however, is limited to highly gastight enclosures with leakage rates that do not render the treatment uneconomical. While the costs for structural sealing and treatment supervision may not be reduced easily, the costs for gas supply - especially in areas remote from industrial gas production sites - could be cut by flexible on-site production. A membrane system and a pressure swing absorption (PSA) unit were tested under semipractical and practical conditions. It was demonstrated that at ~20°C, an O₂ content of 0.5% was sufficient to kill the granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius, and other stored-product pests within 6 weeks in a very gastight welded steel silo bin. When N with 0.5% residual O₂ and a flow rate of 5 m³/h was introduced from below into a grain-filled 188 m³ concrete silo bin with a pressure half-life of >30 sec, diffusion of O₂ into the silo resulted in O₂ contents of 3% at the top. It is concluded that membrane and PSA systems are valuable techniques for the on-site production of large or smaller quantities of hypoxic atmospheres, but that the use of N is limited to well sealed silo bins, containers or chambers. Such gastight seals could be achieved by metal covers, glass, plastic foils or gas-impermeable coatings.
Database assignments for author(s): Cornel S. Adler, Christian Ulrichs

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sitophilus granarius