CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE

Controlled Atmosphere fumigation is applied to control pests in dry commodities and food supplies and is extremely suitable for both preventive  and  curative  treatments. This  technique  is  based  on  the  creation  of  a  low-oxygen  regime/content  in  a  specially-constructed gastight treatment chamber, container, silo or applied for bulk cargo.

The non-toxic fumigation treatments consist of low levels of oxygen and increased temperature, where applicable, and these conditions are kept for a period that is specific to the commodity and insect being treated. This method eradicates insects in all life stages: eggs, larvae, pupae and adults.

The Controlled Atmosphere technique is environmentally friendly, without the use of toxic gasses, and it does not leave any residue. Another aspect of this technique is that no resistance can occur in the pest population.

No residual chemicals

100% non-toxic treatment

Safe for people and environment

Data record during treatment

Eradication of insects in all stages of development

No resistance in pest population

Flexible and mobile solution

Less investment cost

CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE OPTIONS

Bulk

CA Chamber

Silo

Certificate

COMMODITIES

The EcO2 Controlled Atmosphere (CA) technique is used to control food supplies or food products like grain, rice, cocoa, coffee beans, spices, seeds, nuts, flour etc. But tobacco and other products can also be treated with our techniques to control pests. Our 100% non-toxic CA technique is safe for people and the environment, and does not leave any residues.
The CA technique is suitable for both conventionally and organically produced food commodities.

Treatment process

If you have a pest plague, our specialists will first determine the kind of pest. Depending on the living conditions of the pest, an environmentally friendly treatment procedure will be drawn up. The contaminated food supplies are placed in specially designed treatment units and the process can be started, monitored, managed and stopped online with the help of a computer program. The process controls the temperature, oxygen level and the level of humidity and is closely watched by our experts. Depending on the type of contamination, a treatment will last between 3 to 10 days. After treatment the food supplies or objects are 100% free of living insects, larva and eggs.

Dried fruits

Flour

Coffee

Cocoa

Spices

Rice

Nuts

Seeds

Tobacco

PESTS

The most important type of pest is the commodity feeder. This type of pest feeds directly on commodities and can be divided into:

Primary pests: those that infest intact commodities.

Secondary pests: these require the commodity to be damaged before they can infest it. Secondary pests dominate in milled products such as flour, and in processed and manufactured food products.

Each pest requires a different level of ‘damage’ before it can survive on a commodity. For some species this level is minimal, but for others it may be substantial. Commodities accumulate damage from harvesting, handling, pest
infestations and processing, all of which increase the risk of infestation from secondary pests.

Below the most prevalent commodity feeders are listed, including common and scientific name. EcO2 has specialist knowledge regarding these insects and the suitable treatments to be performed in terms of O2 level, temperature,
treatment time and so on.

FAQ

What are the variable costs for inputs required for each treatment? 
The only variable costs per treatment to consider is the electricity required to run the system. EcO2 Controlled Atmosphere Chambers and Containers are designed to be energy-efficient by making them as gas tight as possible.

 

What is the chemical used to kill the insects?
We simply reduce the oxygen level below 1.5% in an enclosed environment where the insect is.

The air we breathe consists of 78% nitrogen, 21% of oxygen and 1% of other gasses. Thanks to the EcO2 technology we filter out the oxygen present in the air flushing pure nitrogen in the treatment room. Therefore, we lower the oxygen levels down to 0.5%. No toxic chemicals are used. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMXXMt4jNpg

 

Will EcO2 Controlled Atmosphere eliminate insect eggs?
Yes. EcO2 Controlled Atmosphere eliminates insects at all life stages including eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults.

 

How long do I keep my products in the EcO2 Controlled Atmosphere units?
Treatment times vary depending on the commodity, insect species, and product temperature. Since a commodity may be infested with more than one type of insect, the treatment parameters are set to eliminate the toughest insect within the product lot.

 

What size is suitable for my production?
EcO2 Controlled Atmosphere solutions are customizable to the customers production capacity and facility space. As products will be treated for a few days, it is recommended to consider having more than 1 unit to ensure the flow of goods are maintained. Please contact us for further information on the system and how it could benefit your business.

 

How do I measure the efficacy of each treatment?
Our systems include a monitoring equipment which can show you the entire treatment parameters. If you require monitoring services, our team can support by identifying any problems that may arise and notify you promptly. Please see Monitoring Solutions for more information.