Ethylene measurements

Ethylene measurements at your facility

In storage or transport the gaseous ripening hormone ethylene can negatively affect the quality of sensitive products.

Ethylene can cause direct damage, e.g. in storage of fruit trees or planting material, potted plants, tulip bulbs or quality loss for many fruits and vegetables (degreening, softening, senescence, induction of fungal growth). Especially in locations where different products and/or combustion engines are present risks are not always recognized in time.

If you want to make sure your storage or transport is safe, ethylene levels have to be quantified using expensive equipment. For incidental measurements using the calibrated equipment of WFBR can be a cost effective solution.

WFBR will arrange 8 special syringes to be sent to you with instructions on how and where to sample and what data to record. Syringes can be sent back to WFBR for analysis by mail or courier. Analysis results plus advise on risk associated with measured values and potential countermeasures will be given by email.

Ethylene measurements during transport

One option for measurements during transport is the Air Sampler. This unique, battery-powered sampler collects up to 24 air samples of 0.5 liters at freely programmable intervals.

After sampling is complete, we transport the Air Sampler to the gas chromatograph at WFBR to accurately determine the ethylene concentrations in the collected air samples.

Want to know more?

Wageningen Research, part of WUR, conducts contract research for companies, government agencies, and other knowledge institutions. Postharvest consultancy is one of our areas of expertise.

Would you like to learn more about what we can do for you with ethylene measurements? Then contact our experts.