1996 Volume 22 Issue 4 Pages 191-197
Ethylene has undesirable effects on the retention of quality in fruits and vegetables. Many ethylene absorbents and ethylene scrubbers are available. However, their effects have not yet been well confirmed. Activated carbon, molecular sieve and palladium (Pd), which are commonly used as ethylene absorbents, were examined for their efficiency. The activated carbon and the molecular sieve 4A, 5A and 13X were effective in reducing ethylene, however, some amount of ethylene remained. The molecular sieve 3A had no effect on the removal of ethylene. The other molecular sieves were significantly affected by a humid environment, and they lost efficiency. The activated carbon as well as the molecular sieve, released the absorbed ethylene when it was moistened by water. On the other hand, the removal of ethylene by PdCl2 was accelerated under highly humid conditions or by the presence of water. PdCl2 converted most of the ethylene into acetaldehyde. Palladium carbon and palladium activated carbon were more effective under dry conditions than a highly humid environment, and they functioned as a catalyzer rather than an absorbent.
