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Nitrogen Gas Method for Storage of Grains

Some of the biggest difficulties in storing grain are humidity, heat and insects. According to the Queensland government, "Each can cause rapid decline in germination, malting quality, baking quality, color, oil composition, and many other quality characteristics." Grain is stored in silos to reduce its exposure to heat and moisture.

  1. Insect Control

    • The nitrogen gas method helps to deal with insects and molds. While it would be relatively easy and cheap to spray the grains with insecticides, these can leave chemical residues in the grain. For obvious reasons, this is unpopular with grain consumers. Nitrogen gas is readily available, as it is 78 percent of the earth's atmosphere. Pumping nitrogen gas into sealed grain silos creates a low-oxygen environment that inhibits the development of insect larvae.

    How to Use Nitrogen

    • In the nitrogen gas storage method, a tank of nitrogen with a regulator is attached to a hose and a pipe. Nitrogen gas tanks can be purchased from gas suppliers. The sizes of these items, of course, depend upon how much grain is being stored. Larger tanks are used to store larger quantities of grain. For the purposes of our example, let us say the container is a bucket with a lid. The bucket should be filled with grain; the end of the hose that isn't attached to the tank should be pushed as far down into the bucket as possible.

    How It Works

    • The tank should then be turned on and left on for a few seconds, releasing an initial burst of nitrogen gas. With the tank left on, the hose should then be slowly withdrawn and the lid sealed. As the gas is released, the nitrogen displaces the oxygen, creating a low-oxygen environment in which insects find it difficult to reproduce.

      The alternative is traditionally to use Phosphine, but phosphine cannot always be used at lower temperatures. Additionally, insects are beginning to show resistance to phosphine.

    History

    • The nitrogen gas storage method is a relatively recent development. In fact, a Western Australia research team that pioneered the process received a national award this year for doing so. The Co-operative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity (CRCNPB) Science Exchange awards are given annually. A person or team can win in four categories, including; Highest Impact Factor Publication, Collaboration, Innovation or Impact on Industry. The research team responsible for nitrogen gas storage, led by Department of Agriculture and Food scientist Yong Lin Ren, won the award for impact on industry.

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