CA technology implicates the storage of apples in an environment with specific concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide (СО2). In normal air the concentration of nitrogen amounts to 78%, oxygen to 21% and СО2 to 0.03%.
The following technologies are applied to create the required gaseous atmosphere:
- ILOS (Initial Low Oxygen Stress) – superfast reduction of oxygen content in a chamber within a short span of time.
- RCA (Rapid Controlled Atmosphere) – rapid reduction of oxygen concentration technology.
- CO2 shock treatment – shock treatment technology whereby СО2 concentration is increased up to 30%.
- LECA (Low Ethylene Controlled Atmosphere) – reduction of ethylene content in a chamber technology.
- DCA (Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere) – dynamic controlled atmosphere.
Taking into account specific features of the kind of apples, you intend to store, the humidity in the chamber is set to 90% and the temperature - to -2...-7 °С. The key point: natural air in the storage room must be replaced with a different atmosphere, in which oxygen content amounts to only 5%, while all the rest is mainly carbon dioxide and nitrogen. This is done in order to slow down the apple after-ripening process and extend their storage life.
Controlled atmosphere is maintained with the help of special equipment:
- Nitrogen generator. Nitrogen generator is designed for producing gaseous nitrogen. It operates on the basis of adsorption technology. The process is fully automatic and does not require any additional attendance.
- Carbon dioxide scrubber. This equipment is in charge of maintaining the level of carbon dioxide, released in the course of fruit respiration. The scrubber includes a tank with adsorbing agent, used to reduce CO2 concentration in the air.
- Ethylene converters, which reduce ethylene concentration in the chamber.
- Automatic control system. This system is designed to simplify the equipment control procedure: you only need to set the required parameters, and the system will take care of their stability. The automatic control system includes a gas concentration analyzer and a software for nitrogen generator and scrubber control; apart from that, there is a possibility of remote control and data monitoring for maximum process management.
- Sealed doors. Air-tightness is not the least of the factors, ensuring preservation of controlled indoor climate and complete gas-tightness.
Why CA?
- Controlled atmosphere allows for removing of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the air, such as ethylene, which intensifies the ripening process and consequently accelerates spoilage of the product.
- Controlled atmosphere inhibits biochemical reactions, nearly stops them and reduces the fruit respiration intensity. This allows for long-term preservation of the product quality: color, taste, texture, nutrients, juiciness, etc. Besides, in controlled atmosphere you save the crop with the least losses.
- The indoor air is cleaned of bacteria, harmful microorganisms and fine dust.
As a result of all these efforts, the shelf life of the product increases, while its nutritional properties and marketable appearance are preserved.