EGG, the Ethylene Gas Guardian
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 05. 1.06
No idea if this really works, but sounds intriguing nevertheless. Fruit and veg emit ethylene gas as they ripen, we’re told. And when too much ethylene gets trapped inside a well sealed fridge it can speed up the aging and rotting of garden produce. In short, veggies lose their crispness prematurely. The E.G.G. (Ethylene Gas Guardian) is an egg shaped container holding a sachet of potassium permanganate bonded to zeolite. Apparently the potassium permanganate absorbs the ethylene gas, and the zeolite has such a huge surface area it can hold enough of the oxidiser to be effective for 3 months, extending the storage time of fruit and veg. You then place another sachet inside the vented egg (it allows sufficient air to circulate), while the spent zeolite, being derived from natural volcanic ash, can simply be tipped onto your garden. Available in the UK from ::TheOLife, and in the US through ::WayChem.
JL, our resident chemical expert, has conferred with his pals in the industry. And seems like chemically the egg should work to prolong fruit & vegetable life. Their concern however is that the product looks too good. The shape and the colour may attract children to it, who might open the egg and ingest the contents of the sachet. In a similar vein, I suppose, to the chocolate Kinder Surprise eggs that have toys inside.
And apparently while the zeolite mentioned for this product is considered by the suppliers to be benign, some is less so. Also JL notes that Material Safety Data Sheets for some potassium permanganate advise it can be corrosive, cause burns and be harmful if swallowed or inhaled.
So to keep children distant from such possibilities, the suggestion would be for this product to be less attractive, less candy-like in its colourways - more utilitarian, functional looking.
I remember once a design project to develop a pill bottle that arthritic adults could open, but kids could not. Boy, was that tough. It is an immense challenge to design stuff so that it is safe when kids are around. Their innate curiosity can crack the toughest nut.
Everyone's a critic. This post is the reason why I check in to treehugger several times a day while at work.
The new issue of Vegetarian Times puts this product to the test - along with a couple others that claim to do similar things. Apparently it does work well.
what will be the effect of Potassium Permanganate on fruit and vegetable Quality when it will be used as ethylene adsorbent.
I just purchased Debbie Meyer's Green Bags which are supposed to do the same thing. I'm tired of veggies rotting before I can use them. I'm using them now....hoping they work.