Ethylene-Permeable Membrane for Agricultural Storage Atmosphere Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Uncontrolled ethylene exposure leads to rapid ripening and senescence in agricultural products during storage and transportation, resulting in significant quality losses and economic costs, as existing methods like refrigeration and controlled atmospheres are energy-intensive and costly.
Innovation Solution
A method using an ethylene-permeable membrane to remove ethylene from the container atmosphere surrounding agricultural products, which can be used alone or in conjunction with other preservation techniques like refrigeration and ethylene absorbents, to slow down ripening and senescence processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If refrigeration and controlled atmosphere storage are used to control ethylene and slow plant metabolism, then storage life and product quality are improved, but energy consumption and operational costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts ethylene gas from the storage container atmosphere using activated carbon filters and gas absorption technology, removing the harmful substance directly rather than controlling it through energy-intensive refrigeration or atmospheric modification. This extraction approach extends storage life while significantly reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces activated carbon filters and gas absorption materials as intermediary substances that capture ethylene from the atmosphere. These intermediaries enable ethylene removal without requiring refrigeration systems or controlled atmosphere generation, thereby extending storage life with minimal energy input.
2Reliability
If ethylene absorbents and controlled atmosphere storage are deployed to maintain low ethylene concentrations, then ripening and senescence are slowed, but capital costs and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable or replaceable activated carbon filters and absorption packets that can be easily installed and replaced in storage containers. These simple, low-cost components maintain reliable ethylene control without requiring complex monitoring systems, control mechanisms, or infrastructure, thereby ensuring quality maintenance with minimal system complexity.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional ethylene control methods are used, then ripening is slowed, but the loss of volatile aroma molecules and overall product quality deterioration occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality control by selectively targeting ethylene molecules for removal while leaving other volatile compounds intact. The activated carbon filters and absorption materials are positioned and configured to selectively adsorb ethylene based on its specific molecular properties, thereby extending storage life without causing significant loss of desirable volatile aroma molecules that contribute to product quality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The ethylene-permeable membrane effectively extends the storage life of agricultural products by reducing the rate of deterioration and maintaining product quality, while reducing energy requirements for maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
Implementation Method 1
providing a membrane that is permeable to ethylene; and contacting said membrane with said container atmosphere to permeate ethylene from the container atmosphere
Data Source
AI summary
A method for removing ethylene from the atmosphere surrounding an agricultural product that is sensitive to ethylene, which promotes climacteric ripening and senescence, is disclosed. The method uses a membrane for selective ethylene permeation and removal from a container that is used to store, transport, and preserve the agricultural product.