Abstract
Some commercial ethylene absorbents and natural materials were evaluated for their ethylene removal efficiency at different moisture conditions. Among the 13 commercial ethylene absorbents, 6 of them had some deficiencies in the ethylene removal rate or efficiency even under dry conditions. Three of the ethylene absorbents such as artificial zeolite lost their efficiency at high humid conditions. Five of the absorbents released the absorbed ethylene when they were moistened with water. Four of the commercial ethylene absorbents, for example, activated carbon with palladium chloride and molecular sieve treated with potassium bromate, were effective at all moisture conditions. No significant ethylene removal effect was found in natural materials such as green tuff (Oyaishi) and rice hulls. Packed broccoli with polyethylene film was stored at 10°C with or without ethylene absorbents, and the chrolophyll, ascorbic acid and surface color were analyzed. The activated carbon with palladium chloride showed the better effect on the retention of freshness than the activated carbon or artificial zeolite. The results obtained by the evaluation of ethylene absorbents and the effect of ethylene absorbents on the retention of freshness of broccoli were well correlated.
