Disinfecting plant seeds, kernels and fruit - by treatment with inert gas under pressure in the moist state

摘要

Plant seeds, pips and fruit are disinfected whilst in a moist condition by treatment with an inert gas under pressure.. Pref. the moisture content of the plants seeds, kernals, fruit, etc. is adjusted to 10-40 % esp. 20-35 %. The treatment is carried out e.g. with gases such as N20, SF6, noble gases, N2, or (esp) CO2 at a pressure at least 2 bar, esp. above 10 bar for 5-100 mins. after which the gas is released rapidly. Most of the moisture present dissolves in gas so that when the pressure. is released the prods. are largely led again. USE/ADVANTAGE - The disinfection of plant prods. by pressure. treatment with a gas which is inert w.r.t. the prod. as described in parent specification DE3811236 is now applied to plant seeds, pips and fruit such as e.g. wheat, rye, oats, buckwheat, maize, rice, linseed, cotton seed,. raw coffee beans and cocoa beans, nut kernals and almonds. The process offers efficient disinfection whilst causing practically no change in the treated prods. which remain largely in the natural state.