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Disinfestation Systems

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Microwave Disinfestation Systems

Disinfestation of grains is the process of eliminating insects, larvae, and eggs from stored grains to ensure food safety, extend shelf life, and prevent post-harvest losses. Traditional methods like chemical fumigation pose health and environmental risks, and may leave harmful residues. Microwave disinfestation offers a safer and more efficient alternative by using electromagnetic waves to rapidly heat the grains and selectively target pests without affecting grain quality. This method ensures uniform treatment, preserves nutritional value, and is chemical-free—making it ideal for both organic and commercial grain storage facilities aiming for sustainable and residue-free pest control.

The Post Harvest Losses ( PHL) have been estimated to be in excess of 10% of production a few years ago. Of these, more than 50% is attributed to Infestation from the eggs, larvae & adults of the burrowing pests. Grains that suffer from infestation are paddy, wheat, corn, maize, spices & cereals.

UHF-technology

Reasons to inculcate UHF technology for Disinfestation

Current Disinfestation Techniques

  • Irradiation.
  • Thermal Heating
  • Pesticides
  • Ultra High Frequency (UHF)
  • Technology

Usage of Pesticides is the most commonly used technique in INDIA

Effects of Chemical Disinfestation Techniques

Name of Insecticide Dosage How often/ Frequency Health Hazards and Ill Effects
Malathion 3 Litres/100 m² Every Fortnight Turns highly toxic after 3 months. Immune system weakens after exposure. Intestinal disorders in children. Child leukemia & aplastic anemia after exposure. Kidney failure at exposure and consumption. More severe problems passed on to second generation. Negative effect on human genes "broken off" DNA effect.
Dimethyl Dichlorovinyl Phosphate (DDVP) 3 Litres/100 m² Every Fortnight Inhalation causes ocular & respiratory problems. Ingestion causes gastrointestinal problems. Skin absorption causes localized sweating & muscle twitching. Carcinogenic (declared by DHHS, USA).
Aluminium Phosphide 1kg/100 MT of Rice As per observation of pests Inhalation causes irritation of nose, mouth, throat & respiratory tract. Also causes chest pain, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and headache, dizziness & confusion may occur. Ingestion also causes chest tightness, cough, headache, dizziness, anxiety and restlessness. Contact with skin causes sweating and irritation.

Effects of Chemical Disinfestation Techniques

UHF Technology & PESTS!

A uniform field is applied affecting the rice as well as pathogens throughout the commodity. The moisture content in weevils & eggs is much higher than moisture in rice, hence rapid heating of weevils (pathogens) takes place without heating rice to higher temperatures. Due to the dielectric difference, the pathogens are heated at a higher rate than the rice resulting in thermal disinfestation without harming the host material.

Advantages of UHF Technology

Enerzi Microwave Systems Pvt. Ltd. has developed a completely innovative disinfestation system incorporating UHF technology which has major advantages as listed below:

  1. Chemical free Post Harvest Management of Rice- for the FIRST time in India
  2. Increased Shelf Life – 24 to 30 months
  3. Retention of all food value nutrients
  4. No change in Colour, Flavour, Odour and Texture with fresh like appearance
  5. Helps in enhancing ageing process of Rice
  6. Helps in Enzyme Inactivation
  7. Ensures Microbial Stability
  8. Reduction in free fatty acid formation (eliminates smell)
  9. 100% Mortality (killing) for all stages of infestation
  10. Fast cooking (reduction in cooking time)
diagram-Disinfestation

Experts Speak...

Our organisation DFRL Mysore has independently tested the SHF system for disinfestation of Rice, offered by Enerzi Microwave Systems Pvt Ltd, continually since 2009 and has achieved success first time in our country. We believe that microwave technology is a very novel, effective, fast and state – of – the art technology to treat rice and other grains without harming the nutrients and there by retaining the food value unaltered.

  1. Dr. Prakash Patki, Scientist, DFRL Mysore, India. The properties of rice after microwave irradiation were evaluated by means of amylograph and enzymic determination of the total and the damaged starch. The content of the total starch was not affected by the immediate energy output used for irradiation… Amylographic characteristics suggest minimal changes resulting in MW treatment of rice at moisture below 23%.
  2. Dr. Jitka Pinkrova & Team, Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague,CZ Microwave irradiation condition affecting rice temperature and pest mortality were studied. Adults and eggs of rice weevils suffered 100% mortality when final rice temperature was above 0.017kWh/kg. Eggs were more susceptible to temperature then adults.
  3. Dr. Siming Zhao and Team, College of Food Science, Hubei, China Insecticides residues have adverse effects on humans, and insects develop resistance to insecticides. Hence There is a need for an alternate method for disinfestation of grains. Disinfestation of grains using microwaves can be an alternate method to insecticides for killing insects.
  4. Dr. N. D. White, Sr. Research Scientist, Cereal Research Centre, Canada Alternatives to milled rice disinfestation with methyl bromide have to be found due to prohibition of the use of chemicals… In conclusion, Microwave energy is an effective and clean alternative to rice grain chemical disinfestation.
  5. Dr. Marzal A., Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Spain. The presence of pathogenic organisms in foods, agricultural products and in the environment constitutes a threat to human safety. In addition, the presence of insect pests in produce limits imposes market restrictions (quarantine) needing technical interventions
  6. Dr. Manual C. Lagunas Solar-Emerging non Chemical Disinfection & Disinfestation processes for Food & Agriculture, University of California, USA