This study was conducted to develop and evaluate an appropriate control device for a purge type controlled atmosphere (CA) storage in Korea. To determine ideal performance, oxygen and carbon dioxide control capability and airtightness were analyzed according to the postharvest management manual of CA storage of Fuji apples. In shortened experiments for CA storage, the condition was delayed CA at 0-0.5°C for three days and stored at 0.1-0.5% carbon dioxide levels for 3 days and then further stored 6 days under 1% carbon dioxide. As a result, the temperature control range of a developed CA container was 0.0-0.5°C, and the relative humidity was more than 90%, except for the defrosting step for the freezer during the storage period. The rate of pressure reduction for the CA container in the negative and positive pressure states was 0.45 and 0.21 mmH2O/min, respectively, and it was twofolds higher than standard airtightness for CA storage. After nitrogen injection, oxygen concentration was achieved at 2%, and carbon dioxide concentration was maintained at 0.1-0.5% for 6 days. Afterwards, carbon dioxide levels were tightly controlled between 0.1-1.0%. These results suggest that a developed purge type CA container could be effective in commercially maintaining the quality of agricultural products.
This study was conducted to develop the domestic production of a controlled atmosphere (CA) storage system, including nitrogen generator and carbon dioxide eliminator using selective gas separation membrane and operating program. Generally, the gas composition inside general cold stores constantly changes due to the metabolic activity of the respiring vegetables and fruits and leakage of gases through doors and walls. However, the CA container developed by our research team is able to control of the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide inside the reefer, making it simple and effective in operation. The efficiency of the nitrogen generator to replace oxygen with nitrogen inside the CA container was approximately 1.33% per hour. The change in oxygen concentration inside the CA container during the operation refrigerator almost did not show any difference for 8 days. Therefore, CA storage container should be a promising approach to maintaining the high quality of agricultural products during storage.
This study was conducted to propose the conditions of controlled atmosphere (CA) storage suitable for the storage of winter Chinese cabbage and to investigate the maximum storage period of Chinese cabbage based on the results of the quality analysis for CA storage. The weight loss rate of Chinese cabbage stored at 194 days in low temperature storage was about 2 times higher than that in CA storage. The trimming loss rate of Chinese cabbage stored at low temperature was 1.5 times higher than that of CA storage after 83 days of storage. Bolting of Chinese cabbage was observed in only low temperature storage. The Chinese cabbage firmness of CA storage was not different in the range of 5.7-6.2 N, while low temperature storage gradually increased after 83 days of storage and was 7.5 N at 194 days. The incidence of mold occurred after 83 days in low temperature storage, while in CA storage it occurred after 153 days. In the quality evaluation, CA storage for Chinese cabbage was rated 1.5-1.9 points higher than the low temperature storage. The maximum storage period of Chinese cabbage at low temperature storage was 83 days and that at CA storage 153 days.