Low air flow fumigation method

• US 4,200,657 A
• Filed: 11/09/1978
• Issued: 04/29/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James S. Cook
• Original Assignee: James S. Cook
• Inventors: Cook, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Barry S.
• Application Number:
  US05/958,984
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 422/32, 422/28, 422/29, 422/31, 422/40, 422/5, 422/34, 422/35, 422/36, 422/37, 422/292, 422/1, 426/312, 426/320, 426/418, 426/419
• US Class Current: 426/419
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 9/18 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor

Abstract

A method of treating an agricultural product, including the steps of placing the product within a storage container; providing a forced air supply to the container; introducing a gaseous chemical into the container, the particular chemical being selected for minimal sorption of the chemical by the product; and circulating the air and chemical mixture within the container through the product at a low rate of flow, utilizing the forced air supply, for a time sufficient to evenly distribute the chemical throughout the product volume. The rate at which the air is circulated is less than approximately 0.006 cfm/bu and is preferably maintained approximately between 0.0015 cfm/bu and 0.0008 cmf/bu. Hydrogen phosphide (phosphine) gas generated from aluminum phosphide is preferred as the chemical when the process is used for fumigation, but other gaseous fumigants exhibiting a low rate of sorption by agricultural products may also be used.

Claims

1. A method of fumigating an agricultural product stored in a container, comprising the steps of:

introducing a gaseous chemical fumigant into the container, the fumigant being selected for minimal sorption of the fumigant by the product; and

forcing the fumigant and air through the product at a flow rate such that said product undergoes one gaseous volume change in a time period of not less than 1.5 hours.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the agricultural product fumigated is a farinaceous product.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the product fumigated is a grain.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the product fumigated is a processed grain.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fumigant used is phosphine gas.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the phosphine gas is obtained from aluminum phosphide.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said time period is in the range of from about 1.5 hours and 3.5 days.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said time period is in the range of from about 6.5 hours to about 3.5 days.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said time period is in the range of from about 6.5 hours to about 11 hours.