METHOD FOR DISINFECTION OF SEEDS USING SUPERCRITICAL FLUID

摘要

A method of disinfecting seed using supercritical fluid is provided to kill microorganisms such as mold and the like without adversely affecting seed germination capacity. Plant seed is put into a reactor which is set at a temperature above critical temperature of gas used as supercritical fluid. After closing the reactor, the gas used as supercritical fluid is put into the reactor through a conduit connected to the reactor. The reactor is pressured above critical pressure and maintained at the temperature and pressure for 5 to 120min. After removing supercritical fluid, the interior of the reactor is controlled at normal pressure and normal temperature. The temperature and pressure of the reactor is 35 to 60deg.C and 80 to 250bar respectively. The gas used as supercritical fluid is carbon dioxide. The critical temperature is 31.1deg.C and critical pressure if 73.8bar. The plant seed is any one selected from the group consisting of a water melon, pumpkin, radish sprouts, alfalfa, onion, wheat, bean, rice, cabbage, red pepper, tomato, cucumber and Astragalus sinicus.