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The authors thank to Generalitat Valenciana, Conselleria of Education, Universities and Employment for the PhD -scholarships of Alberto Guirao Carrascosa. Ref: CIACIF/2022/270.

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A new ethylene scrubber reactor that also eliminate ozone: Practical application confirmed with broccoli heads

Publicated to:Scientia Horticulturae. 328 112939- - 2024-01-30 328(), DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2024.112939

Authors: Guirao, Alberto; Garcia-Pastor, Emma; Valverde, Juan Miguel; Garcia-Ponsoda, Paula; Diaz-Mula, Huertas Maria; Valero, Daniel; Serrano, Maria; Serradilla, Manuel Joaquin; Martinez-Romero, Domingo

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Abstract

Ethylene is a plant hormone that induces changes and accelerates the senescence process in plant organs, even at low concentrations. In this regard, removing ethylene from the atmosphere surrounding fruits and vegetables is necessary to maintain their quality. The aim of the current research was to evaluate, for the first time, the effect of a new VUV (Vacuum Ultraviolet) reactor on the removal of ethylene from storage chambers of fruits and vegetables. To assess the efficiency of this reactor, three experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, the ethylene removal efficiency of the reactor, equipped with two VUV light lamps, one operating at 254 nm and the other at 254 + 185 nm, was evaluated. In the second experiment the ethylene removing efficiency of this reactor connected to NaOH solutions to eliminated the ozone generated was assessed. In the third experiment, the efficacy of this reactor was assayed with broccoli head, which were exposed to ethylene for 24 h in the presence of the reactor and subsequently stored at 2 degree celsius for 21 days. This was compared to broccoli heads treated with ethylene in chambers without the reactor and broccoli without ethylene treatment as controls. Results from the first experiment showed that the reactor with the 254 + 185 nm lamp was the most efficient, achieving a reduction in ethylene concentration of 99.9 %, resulting in final concentrations of < 0.02 mu L L-1. However, this reactor increased the ozone concentration to > 5 mu L L-1 in the chamber. For the second experiment, it was shown that the use of 0.1 N NaOH solution connected to the reactor allowed the reduction of ozone concentration to values below < 0.01 mu L L-1 without affecting the final percentage of ethylene eliminated. Finally, the third experiments showed that the removal of ethylene from the chambers with the reactor and ozone trap during the 24-h of ethylene treatment led to better maintenance of overall broccoli quality as compared with broccoli treated with ethylene in chambers without the reactor and the control groups. Lower respiration rate, weight loss, color changes, softening, and chlorophyll degradation, as well as higher scores for visual evaluation were observed in broccoli treated with ethylene in the chamber with the reactor during the 21 days of storage were observed in broccoli treated with ethylene in chamber connected with the reactor. Thus, the reactor equipped with the ozone trap would be useful to efficiently eliminate ethylene in store chambers, avoiding the detrimental effects of ozone.

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