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| Ozone is ozone-friendly fumigant
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| Purdue entomologist Linda Mason
used mesh bags filled with corn and other grains and infested
with insects to test ozone as a fumigant alternative. (Photo
by Tom Campbell) |
Taking a clue from air purification systems used in
surgical suites, Purdue researchers have discovered that ozone
can eliminate insects in grain storage facilities without harming
food quality or the environment.
Ironically, the gas is being touted as a fumigant
alternative in response to an international treaty banning the use
of ozone-layer harming chemicals currently used to rid food storage
facilities of insects.
“Ozone has a very short half-life, and we’re using
relatively low dosages, but enough to kill an insect,” says Purdue
entomologist Linda
Mason.
The research was reported in the January issue of
the Journal of Stored Products Research.
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