Plasma-assisted catalytic removal of ethylene in fruits and vegetables storage: A review

Ethylene (C₂H₄) is the primary cause of deterioration in the storage of fruits and vegetables as it acts as a ripening agent. Plasma catalytic technology is a promising technology to remove ethylene from fruits and vegetable storage. In this review paper, mechanism, evaluation, and efficiency of plasma-assisted catalytic removal of ethylene and some previous studies for fruits and vegetable storages are discussed. Moreover, the effects of different non-thermal plasma discharges like a dielectric barrier, corona, and gliding arc with catalysis are discussed. The working mechanism of ethylene breakdown is mainly because of oxidation by oxygen in dry gas conditions and hydroxyl radical in humid air conditions. This technology is proven to reduce ethylene with good removal efficiency and increased CO₂ sensitivity (S_CO2). This study could lead to the development of a postharvest approach based on plasma catalysis for preserving the quality and extending the shelf life of fruits and vegetables in postharvest storage.