Practical test on the entomological efficacy of treatment in a protective modified atmosphere (MAP) using carbon dioxide (CO2) in big bags

Abstract: In relation to the increase in the use of big bags for the marketing and storage of
foodstuffs, and increasingly oriented to the research for methods for prevention and treatment of insect pests with biological methods, the authors carried out an efficacy test using the modified atmosphere and the use of food-grade carbon dioxide (CO2-E290). To determine the effectiveness of the method, a batch of organic pasta of durum wheat semolina was treated using biological tests containing various stages of species of the Plodia interpunctella, Tribolium confusum, Lasioderma serricorne and Sitophilus oryzae. The pasta and the probes with the tests were placed in a big bag of woven polypropylene of 1 metric ton, in turn introduced into plastic bags (liner) equipped with a special valve for the extraction of air and the flushing of carbon dioxide (CO2-E290). The use of a specific programmable machine (VQM) connected to an air compressor has allowed to treat 3 batches of organic pasta consisting of 5 big bags each. Initial CO2 concentration levels of between 80 and 96 % were achieved within the liners. The liners were reopened at 15 and 21 days, at which time the CO2 values were above 60 %. The trial showed that conservative treatment by modified atmosphere was effective, ensuring mortality levels of 100 % against all test at the 15th day and on the 21st day.