The best ethylene scrubbers and mold control solution works quickly and effectively. When browsing for best ethylene scrubbers, you should always consider factors such as the size and ability of the unit to handle your needs, the absorption rate of the material used in the scrubbers. In addition, consider the reputation of the company that manufactures the product and the technology they use. With an ethylene scrubber and mold control that best meets these requirements, you can rest assured knowing that you’re getting an effective solution for tackling this issue.

What is Ethylene Gas?

What is ethylene? Ethylene is a gas released by some fruits and vegetables that causes produce to ripen faster. Some fruits and vegetables are more sensitive to ethylene than others.

Why is Ethylene Control Important?

Ethylene control is necessary to keep fruit and vegetables in the best condition while they are stored or transported. This gas, while naturally occurring, can be damaging to certain types of produce if it is not adequately regulated, resulting in spoilage or loss of shelf life. 

How To Control Ethylene Gas?

One way to control ethylene levels is with equipment, such as finding the best ethylene scrubbers and what type of technology they use. This equipment helps remove the gas from the environment, resulting in fresher and higher quality produce that endures for extended periods. In addition, controlling ethylene levels ensures that produce remains nutritious and flavorful even after traveling to distant locations during shipment.

Ethylene in Fruits and Vegetables

Below is a list of fruits and vegetables that produce ethylene and are sensitive or non-sensitive to ethylene. 

Ethylene Producers

• Apples 
• Avocados 
• Bananas 
• Cantaloupe 
• Kiwi 
• Peaches 
• Pears 
• Peppers 
• Tomatoes

Ethylene Sensitive

• Apples 
• Asparagus 
• Avocados 
• Bananas 
• Broccoli 
• Cantaloupe 
• Collard Greens 
• Cucumber
• Eggplant 
• Grapes 
• Honeydew Kiwi 
• Lemons 
• Lettuce 
• Limes 
• Mangos 
• Onions 
• Peaches 
• Pears 
• Peppers 
• Squash 
• Sweet 
• Potatoes 
• Watermelon

Non-Ethylene Sensitive

• Blueberries 
• Cherries 
• Beans (Snap) 
• Garlic 
• Grapefruit 
• Oranges 
• Pineapple 
• Potatoes 
• Raspberries 
• Strawberries 
• Tomatoes 
• Yucca

Best Ethylene Scrubbers & Mold Control

Different types of technology in the market will scrub ethylene and mold, including E.coli, salmonella, and listeria. We will go over the types of technology available. In addition, we will go over how each one works to help you reduce ethylene and mold.

• UV Air Purification systems
• Ozone Generators
• Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO) purification technology
• Bipolar Ionization
• Dry Hydrogen Peroxide Purification systems
• Foggers
• Air filtration systems
• ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) Technology

Ethylene Removal with UV Technology

UV technology uses ultraviolet light to kill ethylene and other microorganisms. UV is a safe and effective way to purify the air in your commercial space. However, UV technology does not remove particles and ethylene from the air, so it is ineffective at reducing mold, bacteria, and odors. Once the UV starts to get dusty, which can happen quickly, it will lose efficiency and significantly impact the light bulb’s irradiation. As a result, the dust covering the UV bulb will cause it to be less effective in sanitizing. Therefore, shadowing is a common issue with UV technology. Distance and exposure time to the light is required to be effective. They use a shortwave of ultraviolet light, which reacts with those pathogens and ethylene and kills them. To learn more about UV technology, please watch the video below!

Ethylene Removal with Ozone Generator

Ozone generators create ozone, a gas that makes three oxygen atoms. Ozone is a powerful oxidizer that can kill ethylene, bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms in the air and surfaces. It also breaks down odors and smoke particles. However, at high-levels, it is not safe to use when people are in the room, and after a few minutes, the ozone dissipates, and you have to keep reintroducing it. So this is most commonly used as a shock treatment. Click the video below to learn more about Ozone Generators!

Ethylene removal with Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO)

PCO technology uses oxidation to eliminate organic contaminants in your commercial facilities’ air quality. Some claim they do surface sanitation. However, they only produce hydroxyl radicals & superoxide ions that exhaust from the unit. As a result, these reach very little to remove ethylene and pathogens. It is similar to the NASA air purifier. Watch the video below to learn more about NASA air purification and PCO purifiers!

Ethylene removal with Bipolar Ionization 

Bipolar ionization produces negative and positive ions that attach to particles in the air. Therefore, these ions cause the particles to clump together, making them easier to filter out of the air. Bipolar ionization effectively reduces allergens, removes smoke and odors, and breaks down harmful chemicals. However, it is less effective at removing ethylene and mold in a short amount of time. That is because negative and positive ions usually have a very short half-life. Moreover, we have seen tests with these in the real world, and in most cases, they do not reach all the air and surfaces. So it is crucial to size these correctly and purchase multiple units for a small standard commercial space.

Ethylene Removal with Dry Hydrogen Peroxide Purifiers

Dry hydrogen peroxide systems release a mist of hydrogen peroxide into the air. The hydrogen peroxide breaks into oxygen and water, purifying the air and killing ethylene, mold, and other microorganisms. Dry hydrogen peroxide systems are safe for humans and animals and effectively reduce ethylene, mildew, and odors and break down harmful chemicals. However, it is ineffective in sanitizing surfaces at long distances as the units currently on the market only produce deficient hydrogen peroxide levels.

Ethylene Removal with Foggers 

Foggers release chemicals into the air that attach to contaminants. The fogged particles fall onto exposed surfaces and objects from the air. Foggers effectively reduce ethylene, mold, germs, and allergens. However, that chemical sprayed into the environment dissipates after a few hours, and the cold store or warehouse is at high risk of perishables being subject to cross-contamination again. If the facility is organic, there is a high chance of risk to the organic labeling.

Ethylene air filtration system

Air filtration systems remove ethylene from the air using filters. The filters are paper, cloth, or other materials. Air filtration systems reduce mold, ethylene gas, and odors. However, they are not as effective at killing bacteria and mold. In addition, these air filtrations collect pathogens, and when bacteria gets collected in a filter, it is still active, and bacteria can multiply on the filter. So be careful when replacing these filters!

 

Ethylene Removal with ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species)

There are 7 ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) to kill pathogens and odor as it passes through the air purifier. In addition, it sanitizes the air that comes out of the purifier, enters the environment, and continues to sanitize all surfaces it contacts. Here is the 2 stage process:

Phase 1- Primary Air Cleaning

Placed within your room’s airflow, air from the environment containing microorganisms enters the purifier’s internal chamber. As a result, The reaction chamber creates non-thermal plasma and generates ROS. ROS is comprised of 5 short-lived, highly Reactive Oxygen Species:

• Atomic oxygen O(3P)
• Singlet oxygen 1O2
• Hydroxyl radical .OH
• Superoxide O2-
• Peroxynitrite ONOO-

These break down carbon-to-carbon bonds that sanitize the air and destroy all bacteria, molds, viruses, and other pathogens as they pass through the reaction chamber.

Phase 2- Secondary Surface & Air Cleaning

Provides Surface sanitation and continued Air sanitation. The purified air now diffused into the environment contains longer lived Reactive Oxygen Species:

• Gas-phased H2O2 (GpHP) or dry hydrogen peroxide
• Low concentration levels of O3 ozone

These combine and create Hydrogen Trioxide (H2O3) an Active Antimicrobial formed through the peroxone process. As a result, this H2O3 effectively sanitizes the surfaces and air 24/7.

ROS with H2O3 further sanitizes the room air and surfaces that are long-distance from the purifier. This commercial air purifier technology is the only one that can provide odor control, long-distance surface treatment, and purify the air all at once. Amazing right? To learn more, watch this video below!

Finding The Best Ethylene Scrubbers

Now that we have gone over how each technology works. Let us talk about choosing the right one for ethylene scrubbing!

When choosing the best ethylene scrubbers, you should consider the following factors:

• The size of your space
• The type of contaminants you need to remove
• Treat all surfaces with the purifier. (not just near the purifier, but all surfaces)
• Require low electricity usage
• Monitor the levels of the unit’s production 24/7
• Have a sanitizer created and output from the purifier itself, or else the air will only be purifying.
• Organic and no-chemicals consumed.
• Be safe while people are present
• Offer manual adjustments to the unit’s power

If you have a commercial space, you will need the best ethylene scrubbers covering significant square footage. In addition, if you are trying to remove pathogens, allergens, smoke, or odors, you will need a technology that can remove these contaminants 24/7 safely. Furthermore, consider AirROS surface and air purification systems that utilize ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) technology if you want a device that can sanitize all surfaces.

No matter your needs, AirROS technology can help you create a healthier environment for ethylene removal! While many types of air purification technology are on the market, AirROS is our recommended method for purifying the air and sanitizing surfaces 24/7. It effectively kills ethylene, mold, including E.coli, salmonella, listeria, coronavirus (COVID), viruses, and other pathogens, and odor.