Comparative analysis between traditional cereal preservation methods and controlled atmospheres utilizing high | N₂ | /low | O₂ | in sealed bulk storage: Current methods

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INSECTS AND MITES:

• Difficult recognition of developing infestations, especially in large bins.
• Losses of the stored grains, due to the biological activity of all stages of insects, before the recognition of infestations, cannot be avoided.
• Formation of off-odours and residues due to insects.
• Temperature and moisture increase due to the formation of hot spots.
• Treatments using toxic chemicals cause harmful residues in the products.
• Fumigations are difficult to carry out in large storage facilities.
• Fumigations require specialized personnel. In the event of leakage, fumigants are dangerous for the outside environment.
• It may be necessary to transfer the whole content of the bins to allow efficient pest control measures.
• The effect of the treatments is limited in time and reinfestations are possible.
• Chemical insecticide-resistant strains may build up.
• In the future further pest control chemicals will be prohibited by Health Authorities.
• Explosion and fire hazards exist for many chemical fumigants.

RODENTS AND BIRDS:

• Losses of the stored grains before recognition of the attack.
• Difficult chemical and mechanical control. Necessity of transfers and cleaning of damaged products.

MOULDS AND YEASTS:

• At critical moisture content, frequent shifting of grain is necessary in order to avoid moulding.
• Drying may be necessary, shortened storability in time.
• Formation of off-odours. Death of caryopses.
• Contamination by mycotoxins.
• Hot spots, increase in moisture and temperature of the bulk.

OXYDATION REACTIONS:

• Take place without control, especially at critical mositure contents of the products. Formation of off-odours.
• Degeneration of fats.
• Heating, autocombustion may occur.

VIABILITY OF CARYOPSES:

• Free respiration causes a progressive redution of the germinative energy and capacity.
• Frequent transfers, aeration or refrigeration are required.

TECHNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES:

• Progressive deterioration especially at critical temperatures and moisture contents.
• Necessity of ventilation.

NITROGEN ENRICHED ATMOSPHERES

INSECTS AND MITES:

• Full kill of insects, at all stages of their development, by relatively short treatments.
• Any loss is excluded, since the biological activity of insects at all stages of their development is inhibited.
• No formation of off-odours.
• No formation of Hot spots or variation in the temperature and moisture content of the bulk.
• No residue in the stored products.
• Easy disinfestation due to total penetration of the inert gas throughout the bulk.
• Simplicity and automatic requlation of most of the operations.
• No danger from accidetal leakage.
• Shifting of the stored cereals is not required. By maintaining an inert interstitial atmosphere, reinfestations are excluded.
• Insect resistance to anoxia is excluded.
• Health hazards due to the inert gas treatment are excluded.
• Inert gas interstitial atmospohere excludes explosions an fire outbursts.

RODENTS AND BIRDS:

• Infestations excluded.
• No loss of the stored grains.
• No control measure needed.

MOULDS AND YEASTS:

• Their proliferation is significantly retarded, and completely inhibited in convenient conditions.
• Grains can be preserved for significantly longer preiods at critical and high moisture contents.
• Formation of off-odours excluded.
• Viabllity of caryopses preserved.
• Mycotoxin contamination during storage excluded.
• Increase in moisture and temperature of the bulk excluded.

OXIDATION REACTIONS:

• Their evolution may be checked and stopped at the desired stage.
• Formation of off-odours excluded.
• Protection of fats.
• Explosions and left-ignition are excluded.

VIABILITY OF CARYOPSES:

• The germinative energy and capacity are maintained for long periods of time.
• Possibility to store seeds and cereals for malt production in large storage structures.

TECHNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES:

• Satisfactory preservation for long periods without any special measure.
• No ventilation necessary.

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