Mitigate
Ethylene
Gas
Prevent
Premature
Ripening
Inhibit
Mold and Bacterial
Cross-Contamination
Contamination
Waste
Approved
Prevent Premature Ripening
Ethylene is a key chemical associated with the ripening process. Ethylene triggers and promotes the ripening of produce like apples, avocados, and other climacteric fruit where ethylene sensitivity is higher than average. The removal of ethylene gas from cold rooms is critical for preventing premature ripening and prolonging shelf life of stored fresh produce. Zentox Pure Air utilizes a specialized PCO catalyst for ethylene reduction. The ZPA catalyst is extremely powerful in breaking down double-bonded carbons in VOCs like ethylene.(1)
Prevent Mold, Fungus, Mildew, and Bacterial Cross Contamination
Airborne mold, mildew, fungus, and bacteria are also perilous during post-harvest storage and transportation of fresh fruits and vegetables. Cross-contamination is a significant threat that will lead to additional waste and returns. Zentox Pure Air molecularly destroys these pathogens 40% more efficiently and at half the capital equipment cost than the leading PCO competitor.
Safe for everyone
For the protection of your employees and the sensitive produce they handle, your air purification system should avoid the use of potentially toxic chemicals or output any harmful emissions – as some air purifiers do. Zentox Pure Air safely sanitizes the air of ethylene without using ozone, hydrogen peroxide, or any other harmful chemicals. Zentox’s formulation of photocatalytic oxidation takes place entirely inside the air purification system. The Zentox Pure Air system draws in ethylene, viruses, fungus, mold, mildew, and bacteria and molecularly breaks them down to CO2, H2O, and a few trace elements. One of the other benefits of Zentox Pure Air is that it breaks down any airborne molecular carbon chain and thus removes odors from the air. (Some employees have been known to dislike this mechanism during the strawberry season but do appreciate it during onion season.)
Zentox Pure Air protects your employees as well as your products and leaves only clean air.
Applications
- Cold Storage & Repacking
- Food Banks, Food Pantries
- Dairies, Meat, Seafood & Bakeries
- Food Service, Commercial Kitchens and Restaurants
- Breweries & Distilleries
- Florists
- Quality Control Labs & Clean Rooms
Half the Capital Equipment Cost with 40% improved performance
Fresh fruits are important for a healthy diet; however, their shelf-life can be shortened because of ethylene, a key chemical associated with the ripening process. As a result, due to fruit production seasonality, regional-specific cultivation, and perishability, a large proportion of fruits and vegetables are discarded before reaching the consumer. It is estimated that about 10 percent of the total food loss occurs at the post-harvest, processing, and packaging stages of the produce supply chain.
Therefore, detecting ethylene concentration at trace levels and regulating its activity by safe and effective approaches are of paramount importance in extending postharvest shelf-life and controlling the maturity of fruit and vegetables.(1)
A Deeper Look
In addition to ethylene, other airborne contaminants are also perilous during post-harvest storage of fresh fruits and vegetables. These other contaminants include airborne fungus/mold, mildew, and bacteria.
Precision Indoor Air Quality samples were taken for the following categories:
1) Ethylene
2) Fungus Mold, and Mildew
3) Bacteria.
Each of these measurements was taken at elevations of 5’, 15’, 30’, 3 times/week for 3 weeks with FSP’s current air purification systems to establish baseline readings. We also note during this period the shelves were filled at ~55% capacity. During Phase 2 testing Zentox Pure Air 500 units were installed. Precision Indoor Air Quality samples were collected at the same frequency, elevations, and contaminant array as the baseline testing. Noted: Shelves during most of phase 2 testing were at 95% capacity due to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. This is factored into the data analysis results.
FSP Installed Air Purification System Baseline Test Data
Fungus, Mold/Mildew
Test Period Total CFU/M3 = 26,240
Daily Average CFU/M3 = 3,280
With a Produce Load of 55% Shelf Space Occupied
Zentox Pure Air 500 Phase 2 Test Data
Fungus, Mold/Mildew
Test Period Total CFU/M3 = 16,920
Daily Average CFU/M3 = 1,880
Represents 43% Reduction in Fungus, Mold/Mildew
With a Produce Load Increase = 73%
FSP Installed Air Purification System Baseline Test Data
Bacteria
Test Period Total CFU/M3 = 1,066
Test Period Daily Average CFU/M3 = 133
With a Produce Load of 55% Shelf Space Occupied
Zentox Pure Air 500 Phase 2 Test Data
Bacteria
Test Period Total CFU/M3 = 742
Daily Average CFU/M3 = 82
Represents 38% Reduction in Bacteria
With a Produce Load Increase = 73%
FSP Installed Air Purification System Baseline Test Data
Ethylene
Test Period Average 0.51 PPM
Aisles 28–32 shelf capacity at ~55%
Zentox Pure Air 500 Phase 2 Test Data
Ethylene
Test Period Average 0.98 PPM
Represents a 53% Increase in Ethylene
With a Produce Load Increase = 73%
Zentox Pure Air 500 Results in a 20% decrease in Ethylene
Conclusions
Zentox Pure Air model 500 was able to reduce airborne bacteria, mold, fungus, and mildew by ~40% under a 72% load increase with one-third the number of units and at one-half of the price of the total number of FSPs currently installed air purification systems in at the FSP facility in Ephrata, PA. The Zentox Pure Air 500 also reduced ambient ethylene by 20%.
On a per cubic foot basis, Zentox Pure Air performed with significantly greater efficacy at a cost of less than $ 0.05/ft3 at 5 air turns per day compared to FSP’s currently installed air purification systems at $.10/ft3 with a single air turn per day.