JPH07114674B2 - Agricultural products and food quality preservation method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for maintaining the quality of agricultural products and foods, and more particularly, to the quality of agricultural products and foods that are deteriorated due to various causes in the process of distribution, storage, etc. by a simple means. Regarding how to hold.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various factors that cause deterioration in the quality of agricultural products and foods, and among these factors are pests such as insects and mites. Agricultural products and food quality maintenance methods that have been performed conventionally are
For example, gas fumigation, sterilization (heat sterilization, cold sterilization, pressure sterilization),
It is based on sterilization, suppression (low temperature, drying, concentration, vacuum, additives), blocking (packaging), etc., but each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages.

[0003] In recent years, people's interest in food has been particularly oriented to safety, and it is strongly desired that no residue is left on agricultural products or foods after the above-mentioned treatment for quality preservation. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for maintaining the quality of agricultural products and foods by physical means that does not leave a residue.

[0004]

According to the present invention, an agricultural product or food contained in a hermetically sealed container is pressurized to 5 to 60 atmospheres and then instantaneously discharged.
Depressurize rapidly in 10 minutes to 10 minutes
5) A method for maintaining the quality of agricultural products and foods characterized by killing things and agricultural products or foods stored in closed containers
The present invention relates to a method for preserving the quality of agricultural products and foods, which comprises pressurizing to 60 atm and gradually reducing the pressure over 20 minutes to 1 hour to kill harmful animals such as insects and mites .

There are no particular restrictions on the agricultural products and foods to which the present invention is applied, and examples thereof include grains such as rice, wheat and corn,
Beans such as soybeans and red beans, potatoes such as cassava and sweet potatoes, dry matter such as shiitake mushrooms and bonito, flowers of vegetables such as chrysanthemum, orchid and komatsuna, vegetables such as silk and cotton, spices such as pepper, choji, etc., Medicinal herbs such as Chinese herbs, wood such as imported wood, and processed products thereof (eg rice flour, wheat flour, cassava flour, confectionery, biscuits, macaroni, powdered beverages, paper bags, etc.)
And seeds such as grains and beans.

As described above, there are various factors such as those caused by harmful animals such as insects and mites, which cause deterioration of quality of agricultural products and foods. In the present invention, after the agricultural products or foods are pressurized to a predetermined pressure , Rapid depressurization to a specified pressure
After the pressurization, the pressure is gradually reduced, or the pressurization is performed by using one type or two or more types of gas, and these factors are removed at once.

When insects (eggs, larvae, pupae, adults), mites, etc. are lurking, or agricultural products or foods that may be infested are treated only by pressure, the pressure in the closed container is set to 10
It is suitable to set the pressure to -25 atm, preferably 20 atm, especially when the pressure is applied to agricultural products or foods in which insect eggs are lurking, or at which there is a possibility that insect eggs are lurking.
Atmospheric pressure, preferably 30 atm, is suitable. In other cases, pressurization of about 10 to 20 atm can sufficiently achieve the purpose. The time required for pressurization is not particularly limited and may be appropriately determined in consideration of the size of the container used, the type of agricultural products and foods, the types of insects and mites contained in the agricultural products and foods, etc. It may be carried out for a short time, or may be carried out gradually over a period of about 20 minutes to 1 hour.

Immediately after the pressure is increased to a predetermined pressure, the pressure may be reduced, and the pressure may be reduced for an appropriate period (usually 1 second to 60 minutes, preferably 1 to 60 minutes).
After maintaining this state for 30 minutes, the pressure may be reduced. In addition, decompression may be performed rapidly (instantaneously or for 10 minutes),
Considering the type of container to be used, etc., it may be performed gradually over a period of about 20 minutes to 1 hour.

Any method may be used to pressurize the agricultural products and foods. For example, a method is generally used in which they are housed in a closed container such as a pressure-resistant container and pressurized to a predetermined pressure. The medium to be pressurized is usually air,
Use gas such as nitrogen gas or carbon dioxide gas for powder that may cause dust explosion. Further, this treatment can be carried out batchwise or continuously.

When pressure is applied using a gas, nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide gas or the like may be used alone or in combination with a gas having a bactericidal and / or insecticidal action. In this case, the gas having a bactericidal and / or insecticidal action can be arbitrarily selected from those conventionally used for gas fumigation and the like. However, in the present invention, in order to prevent these from remaining after treatment or to pollute the environment, the concentration is considerably lower than the normal use concentration, that is, a concentration at which sufficient sterilization and insecticidal effects cannot be expected. Used in. For example, when phosphine is used for the purpose of killing the elephants, 50 to 10
0 μg / liter, when using methyl bromide for the purpose of killing zoeles, 250-500 μg / liter
Use at about 1 liter. On the other hand, the pressure in the case of applying pressure using these gases may be selected in consideration of the types of insects and mites that are targets of sterilization and insecticide, and for example, insect eggs are lurking or there is a possibility of that. When pressurizing agricultural products and foods, 20-30 atmospheres is appropriate,
When pressurizing agricultural products or foods in which insect larvae, pupae, adults or mites are lurking or may be
A pressure of 10 to 20 atm is suitable.

[0011]

EXAMPLES Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Examples. Example 1 Fifty adult Kokuzo adults were enclosed in a closed container together with 25 g of rice , pressurized to 35 atm and held for 5 minutes. Next, the pressure in the container was rapidly released to 10 atm for 1 second. This treatment killed all adult elephants, but no abnormalities were observed in rice .

Example 2 100 adults of Acarina pallidum were enclosed in a closed container together with 10 g of pepper powder, pressurized to 20 atm and held for 10 minutes. Next, the pressure in the container was rapidly released to 10 atm for 1 second. By this treatment, all the adult mites of Aedes albopictus were killed. On the other hand, no abnormality was found in the pepper powder.

Example 3 Twenty-five larvae of Pyrus communis larvae were sealed in a closed container together with 50 g of wheat flour, pressurized to 50 atm and held for 5 minutes.
Next, the pressure in the container was rapidly released to 10 atm for 1 second. By this treatment, all the larvae of Nostoc commune were killed. On the other hand, no abnormality was found in the flour.

Example 4 Twenty-five pupae of Plutella xylostella communis were put in a closed container together with 30 g of wheat flour, pressurized to 60 atm and held for 3 minutes. Next, the pressure in the container was rapidly released to 1 atmosphere in 1 minute. This treatment killed all the pupae of the eastern moth. On the other hand, no abnormality was found in the flour.

Example 5 Ten adult thrips were placed in a wire cage together with orchids.
Enclosed in a closed container. The air in the container was pressurized to 15 atm and kept as such for 12 minutes. Next, the inside of the container 10
The pressure was rapidly reduced to 1 atm for 1 minute . By this process,
It was possible to kill all adult thrips without compromising the current status of orchids.

Example 6 20 eggs of Pleurotus cornucopiae were pressurized to 60 atm in a closed container using high pressure nitrogen gas together with 10 g of wheat flour, and 35
Hold for minutes. Next, the pressure in the container was rapidly released within 5 minutes to 1 atm. By this treatment, all the eggs of P. persica have been killed. On the other hand, no abnormality was found in the flour.

Example 7 Twenty adult Yamatomi adults were placed in a paper bag, sealed in a wire netting basket, and kept at 55 atm for 5 minutes in a closed container. Next, the pressure in the container was rapidly reduced to 1 atm for 1 minute. By this treatment, all the adults of Yamatoshimi were killed, but no abnormality was observed in the paper bag.

Example 8 One larva of the yellow beetle larva was enclosed in a Japanese red pine wood with perforations. Pine wood from 10 larvae was enclosed in a closed container, pressurized to 50 atm, and held for 20 minutes. Next, the pressure in the container was rapidly reduced to 1 minute.
Atmospheric pressure was used. By this treatment, the yellow beetle larvae could be killed instantaneously without affecting the wood.

Example 9 Ten larvae of Pseudococcidae were placed in a wire netting basket together with a shaving of Bombyx mori, and kept at 50 atm for 3 minutes by nitrogen gas in a closed container. Next, the pressure in the container was rapidly reduced to 30 atm to 1 atm. This treatment killed all the pupae of the horned beetle, but no abnormalities were found in the cut pieces of the beetle.

Example 10 Twenty adult Kokuzo adults were enclosed in a closed container together with 30 g of rice and kept at 20 atm for 5 minutes using carbon dioxide gas. Next, the pressure in the container was rapidly released to 1 atmosphere in 1 minute. This treatment killed all adult elephants,
No abnormalities were found in the rice.

Example 11 Twenty adult Kokuzo and 20 Kokuzo larvae were treated with 30 rice.
It was sealed in a closed container together with g and kept at 20 atm for 5 minutes using carbon dioxide gas. Next, the pressure in the container was rapidly released to 3 atm for 1 minute. This treatment killed all adult and larvae of Kokuzo, but no abnormalities were observed in rice.

Example 12 Twenty adult Kokuzo adults were sealed in a closed container together with 30 g of rice, and the pressure inside the container was raised to 60 atm using carbon dioxide gas, and immediately the pressure in the container was released within 10 minutes. Was set to 1 atm. By this treatment, all adult elephants were killed, but no abnormality was observed in rice.

Example 13 Twenty-five adult Kokuzo adults and 15 g of rice were held in a container for one week in advance to lay eggs. Next, this rice 15g
Is sealed in a closed container, and the pressure in the container is adjusted to 3 by using carbon dioxide gas.
The pressure was set to 0 atm and held for 5 minutes. Immediately thereafter, the pressure in the container was immediately released to 1 atm within 1 minute. From this treated rice, no Kokuzo larvae appeared even after one month, and it was confirmed that all Kokuzo eggs were dead. No abnormalities were observed in this rice. On the other hand, as a control, 25 adult Kokuzo adults were kept in a container with 15 g of rice for 1 week to lay eggs, and when left alone, a large number of Kokuzo larvae were generated and became adults.

Example 14 Twenty adult Kokuzo adults were sealed in a closed container together with 30 g of rice, and the pressure inside the container was increased to 20 atm for 15 minutes by using carbon dioxide gas, and then the carbon dioxide gas in the container was released within 1 minute. Was started to 1 atm. This treatment killed all adult elephants, but no abnormalities were observed in rice.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1 300 Kokuzo eggs were sealed in a closed container, the pressure in the container was raised to 15 atm using carbon dioxide gas, and the mixture was held for 5 minutes, then,
Within 1 minute after starting the release of carbon dioxide gas,
did. By this treatment, 97 larvae did not appear larvae, but 203 larvae appeared.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2 Phosphine (50 μg / liter) was sealed in a closed container together with 300 Kokuzo eggs and kept for 20 minutes, after which larvae hatched from all the eggs.

Example 15 After pouring 50 μg / liter of phosphine in a closed container together with 300 Elephant's eggs, the internal pressure of the container was increased to 15 atm using carbon dioxide gas, and the mixture was kept for 5 minutes. Next, the carbon dioxide gas in the container was immediately released to 1 atm within 1 minute. It was found that the larva did not hatch from all the eggs and the eggs died by this treatment.

Comparative Example 3 200 Kokuzo larvae were enclosed in a closed container, to which 100 μg / liter of phosphine was added and kept for 20 minutes. Then, the container was opened and phosphine was released into the atmosphere, and when the container was held in this state, all the larvae became adults within one month.

Comparative Example 4 200 larval larvae were sealed in a closed container, and the pressure in the container was raised to 5 atm using carbon dioxide gas and kept for 5 minutes. Then, immediately release the carbon dioxide gas in the container.
The pressure was adjusted to 1 atm within 1 minute. This treatment killed 35 larvae, while the remaining 165 larvae became adults.

Example 16 200 Kokuzo larvae were sealed in a closed container, and 100 μg / liter of phosphine was added thereto. Next, the internal pressure of this container was raised to 5 atm using carbon dioxide, and the container was held for 5 minutes. Then, quickly release the pressure in the container
The pressure was adjusted to 1 atm within 1 minute. This treatment killed all larvae.

[0031]

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 5 300 Kokuzo eggs were sealed in a closed container, to which 500 μg / liter of methyl bromide was added and kept for 20 minutes. Then, the container was opened and methyl bromide was released into the atmosphere, and when the container was held in this state, larvae hatched from all the eggs.

Example 17 300 Elephant elephant eggs were sealed in a closed container, and methyl bromide (500 μg / liter) was added thereto. Next, the internal pressure of this container was raised to 15 atm using carbon dioxide, and the container was held for 5 minutes. Then, the pressure in the container was rapidly released to 1 atm within 1 minute. By this process,
No larvae appeared from all eggs and 300 eggs were completely killed.

Comparative Example 6 200 Kokuzo larvae were sealed in a hermetically sealed container, to which 500 μg / liter of methyl bromide was added and kept for 20 minutes. After that, the container was opened, methyl bromide was released into the atmosphere, and the container was held in this state.
Within a month all larvae became adults.

Comparative Example 7 200 Kokuzo larvae were sealed in a closed container, and the pressure in the container was raised to 5 atm using carbon dioxide gas, and the container was kept for 5 minutes. Then, immediately release the carbon dioxide gas in the container.
The pressure was adjusted to 1 atm within 1 minute. This treatment killed 35 larvae, while the remaining 165 larvae became adults.

Example 18 200 Kokuzo larvae were enclosed in a closed container, and methyl bromide (500 μg / liter) was added thereto. next,
The internal pressure of this container was raised to 5 atm using carbon dioxide, and the container was held for 5 minutes. Then, the pressure in the container was rapidly released to 1 atm. This treatment completely killed 200 larvae.

Example 19 The same procedure as in Comparative Example 7 was carried out except that the pressure in the container was raised to 20 atm for Comparative Example 7, and 196 larvae were killed, but the remaining 4 animals were killed. The larvae of the above became adult.

[0038]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION The method of the present invention for carrying out depressurization treatment after pressurization does not leave any chemicals or the like after the treatment, because no additives are used in the quality preservation treatment of agricultural products and foods. Moreover, it is possible to efficiently kill small animals such as insects and mites, which cause deterioration of the quality of agricultural products and foods, without polluting or destroying the environment. Also,
The method using a gas having a bactericidal and / or insecticidal action at the time of pressurization is such that even if the gas alone is used at a low concentration at which a bactericidal and / or insecticidal action cannot be sufficiently exerted,
Small animals such as mites can be efficiently killed .

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. Agricultural products or foods stored in a hermetically sealed container 5
After pressurizing to ~ 60 atmospheres, the pressure decreases rapidly in 10 minutes.
A method for preserving the quality of agricultural products and foods, which comprises applying pressure to kill harmful animals such as insects and mites . 2. Agricultural products or food stored in a closed container
After pressure to 60 atm, gradually over a period of 20 minutes to 1 hour
A method for preserving the quality of agricultural products and foods, which comprises decompressing harmful animals such as insects and mites by decompressing to pests . Wherein the agricultural or food housed in a sealed container 5
After pressurizing to -60 atmospheres, hold for 1 second to 60 minutes, and then quickly release the pressure in the container within 1 to 10 minutes to 1 atmosphere .
The method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein harmful animals such as insects and mites are killed . 4. An agricultural product or food stored in a closed container
Characterized by pressurizing using one or more gases
The method according to claim 1 or 2 . 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the gas is a combination of air, nitrogen gas or carbon dioxide gas with a gas having a bactericidal and / or insecticidal action.