Gaseous ozone has been shown to effectively combat mold and bacteria in a cold storage environment and directly on produce in cold storage. The main benefit of using gaseous ozone is that mold and bacteria can be controlled both in the air and on the surface of the product. Additionally, gaseous ozone oxidizes and destroys ethylene gas that is released when fruits and vegetables begin to ripen by the following reaction:

Thus, the use of gaseous ozone can reduce ripening while in storage.

Amfil has researched, tested, and collected data on the effects of ozone on a range of fruits and vegetables in cold storage.

“Continuous ozone exposure at 0.3 ppm inhibited aerial mycelial growth and sporulation on ‘Elegant Lady’ peaches wound inoculated with Monilinia fructicola, Botrytis cinerea, Mucor piriformis, or Penicillium expansum and stored for 4 weeks at 5C and 90% humidity. Gray mold nesting among ‘Thompson Seedless’ table grapes was completely inhibited under 0.3 ppm ozone when the fruit was stored for 7 weeks at 5C.”

“The number of colony forming units (cfu) of fungi, yeasts and bacteria naturally present on the berry [grape] surface was considerably reduced by a 20 minute exposure to ozone. Ozone treatments significantly reduced the extent of berry decay caused by fungi following cold storage and increased shelf-life.”

“Ozonizing the air in a cold storage room can reduce the level of ethylene in the air. Ozone generators may be of most use in places where ethylene-producing and ethylene-sensitive fruits and vegetables may be stored in the same room.”

Ozone Gaseous Treatment Benefits

• Air-borne and surface-borne microbial control
  
• Ethylene removal
  
• Ozone generated and applied automatically on-site
  
• Maintain mold-free storage room surfaces
  
• Product “Insurance” – help maintain product quality in cases of increased hold times (5-10 day increased storage life)
  
• Odor Control – “fresh and clean” smell with ozone
  
  

Amfil Advantages

• Ozone Generation
  
  • Corona Discharge ozone technology
    
  • Concentrated oxygen feed gas using integrated oxygen concentrator(s) to eliminate ozone cell fouling and nitric acid production
    
• Ozone Monitoring and Control
  
  • Set-point control of ozone concentration
    
• Personnel Safety
  
  • Ozone generation indicator lights
    
  • Ozone set-point alarms, ozone shut-down
    
• Professional system integration to provide safe and effective application of ozone