What can I use to substitute calcium carbide?

Ethylene (CH2 = CH2) is an unsaturated hydrocarbon (alkene) that acts naturally as a plant hormone.

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Ethylene gas is the main ripening agent produced naturally within fruits and it starts the ripening process. Not only that, in plants it also promotes the opening of the flowers, the shedding of the leaves and, in aquatic and semi-aquatic species, it favors the rapid elongation of the stems or leaves.

A very small concentration of ethylene in the air is sufficient to promote the ripening process. However, the fruit distribution chain implies in many cases that ripening is artificially induced by the application of various agents.

The main agents of artificial fruit ripening that are commercialized in the world market today are mainly ethylene, ethephon and calcium carbide.

The use of CaC2 in fruit ripening is still common in many countries due to its high availability and very low prices. Calcium carbide reacts with moisture to produce acetylene gas, which mimics the action of ethylene and is used as an artificial ripening agent.

However, acetylene is not as effective as ethylene (much more quantity must be used for the same effectiveness). In addition, small concentrations of arsenic, phosphorus and lead are released during this process which are highly toxic to humans. Several studies have been carried out in recent years that prove the dangerousness of the minerals released in the reaction of calcium carbide with moisture to produce acetylene. These components may affect the different body organs and cause various health problems like headache, dizziness, mood disturbances, sleepiness, mental confusion, memory loss, cerebral edema, seizures and prolonged hypoxia.

Consuming calcium carbide-ripened fruits can cause serious health problems. Therefore, its use is illegal in most countries. GRIT, within the specialty chemicals business unit, promotes the introduction in these regions of ethylene gas as an effective fruit ripening agent and not harmful to human health.

GRIT, at its Avinyó plant in Spain, has a cryogenic tank of more than 50 m3 to store ethylene and that allows it to package this gas in various formats depending on the customer&#;s needs. Normally this gas is mixed with nitrogen (N2) to later be applied in fruit ripening chambers. To promote the disuse of calcium carbide for the artificial ripening of fruits in countries that is still common, GRIT is already in contact with the main associations of fruit producers and importers to promote change and thus improve the health of the consumers.

Keeping in view the health hazards of using calcium carbide for ripening fruits, the government is working to substitute it with a more protective ethenyl.

A committee formed under the National Horticulture Board is preparing standards for ethenyl usage for ripening fruits, head of Fruit and Vegetable wing of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) A K Singh told PTI.

The committee is working on subjects like quantity of ethenyl to be used for ripening fruits of different types, level of temperature and related matter, he said.

Singh, who is a member of the committee, said the standards for ethenyl usage would be given a final shape soon.

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A meeting of the team was held here last week, he said, adding that experts have pointed out that arsenic and phosphorous are found in calcium carbide. It forms acetylene gas (more popularly known as carbide gas) after reacting with the moisture in atmosphere.

This gas works as ethenyl for ripening fruits.

As per section 44 AA of Prevention of Fruits Adulteration Act, , use of acetylene gas for ripening fruits is prohibited. But due to lacunae in execution of the laws and lack of substitute, it is being used rampantly, he said.

Singh said studies have pointed out that use of calcium carbide for ripening fruits like bananas and mangoes have had harmful effects on brain, lungs and other vital organs.

On the other hand, fruits ripened with the help of ethneyl had no harmful effect on the health.

He said traders in Maharashtra are successfully using ethenyl, which is expected to be extended to other parts of the country.

All India Fruits Growers and Exporters Association President Babu Ramchandani told PTI over the from Mumbai that ethenyl is successfully used for ripening fruits.

Temperature controlled chambers or rooms are constructed for ripening fruits using ethenyl. Horticulture board gives subsidy for construction of such chambers or rooms.

It might be recalled that Union Minister of State of Health Dinesh Trivedi in a letter to the Health Secretary had recently raised the issue of use of harmful chemicals and harmones in fruits and vegetables, which have adverse impact on the health.

 About 60.7 million tonnes of fruits are produced in the country annually. 43 per cent of mangoes of the world are produced in India, which is also a leading producer of banana.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Calcium Carbide Powder.