Abstract A method of treating an agricultural product, including the steps of placing the product within a storage container; providing a forced air supply to the container; introducing a gaseous chemical into the container, the particular chemical being selected for minimal sorption of the chemical by the product; and circulating the air and chemical mixture within the container through the product at a low rate of flow, utilizing the forced air supply, for a time sufficient to evenly distribute the chemical throughout the product volume. The rate at which the air is circulated is less than approximately 0.006 cfm/bu and is preferably maintained approximately between 0.0015 cfm/bu and 0.0008 cmf/bu. Hydrogen phosphide (phosphine) gas generated from aluminum phosphide is preferred as the chemical when the process is used for fumigation, but other gaseous fumigants exhibiting a low rate of sorption by agricultural products may also be used.
Inventors
👤 James S. Cook
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-08 16:55
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B9/00; A23B9/16; A23B9/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of fumigating an agricultural product stored in a container, comprising the steps of: introducing a gaseous chemical fumigant into the container, the fumigant being selected for minimal sorption of the fumigant by the product; and forcing the fumigant and air through the product at a flow rate such that said product undergoes one gaseous volume change in a time period of not less than 1.5 hours.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of fumigating an agricultural product stored in a container, comprising the steps of: introducing a gaseous chemical fumigant into the container, the fumigant being selected for minimal sorption of the fumigant by the product; and forcing the fumigant and air through the product at a flow rate such that said product undergoes one gaseous volume change in a time period of not less than 1.5 hours.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the agricultural product fumigated is a farinaceous product.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the product fumigated is a grain.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the product fumigated is a processed grain.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the fumigant used is phosphine gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the phosphine gas is obtained from aluminum phosphide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said time period is in the range of from about 1.5 hours and 3.5 days.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said time period is in the range of from about 6.5 hours to about 3.5 days.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said time period is in the range of from about 6.5 hours to about 11 hours.