Ethylene Absorber Sachets: Technical Note
Ethylene absorber sachets
Natural clay sachets with potassium permanganate and zeolite that absorb ethylene and moisture at the same time inside the pack. Less premature ripening, less shrinkage and more shelf life all the way to destination.
1. Why ethylene matters
Once the carton is closed the fruit does not stop: it keeps respiring and releasing ethylene gas and water vapour. Both stay trapped in the pack, act as ripening catalysts and cause premature deterioration that cuts the shelf life of the cargo significantly.
The TECHCAL KIF sachets hold a blend of zeolite and a high concentration of potassium permanganate on a natural clay base, designed to absorb ethylene and moisture at the same time. They also carry VBI technology — vapour bacterial inhibition — to hold back bacteria, fungi and moulds.
High absorption capacity
Up to 5.1 litres of ethylene per 1,000 grams of product.
Higher active concentration
20% potassium permanganate, one of the highest levels in the industry.
Food safety
It leaves no residue or deposit on fruit and vegetables.
2. The reaction
3 C2H4 + 12 KMnO4 + 9 H2O → 6 CO2 + 12 MnO2 + 12 KOH
The reaction turns ethylene into stable compounds, helping to delay ripening and extend the shelf life of fruit, vegetables and fresh flowers.
3. Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Composition | Natural clay and potassium permanganate |
| Granulation | Fine clay particles with filtering media |
| Packaging | Tyvek® and PETPE, FDA and European Union approved |
| Storage | 2 years under normal conditions |
| Supply | Master bag of 100 sachets |
| Weights | 2 g, 3 g, 5 g, 7 g and 9 g |
Three constructions are available: Tyvek® on both faces (62.5 × 75 mm), permeable plastic film plus Tyvek® (50 × 75 mm) and permeable plastic film on both faces (50 × 75 mm). The Tyvek® face lets you see the active spheres change as they work.
4. How to use them
1. Open at the last moment
Take the sachet out of the master bag just before you use it. Each master bag holds 100 sachets.
2. One sachet per carton
Place a sachet inside each export carton, in contact with the air in the pack and without blocking the ventilation.
3. Close and ship
Close the carton and dispatch. The sachet works throughout storage and transit.
Best suited to bananas and plantains, mangoes, avocados, kiwis, apples, pears, broccoli and fresh flowers.
5. Certification
FSSC 22000 food safety certification and ISO 9001 quality management. The packaging materials are FDA and European Union approved, and the construction prevents any migration or contact between the additive and the fruit.
6. Frequent questions
Which weight do I need?
It depends on the fruit, the carton volume and the days in transit. Run the ethylene calculator for a first figure and confirm it with a SECAL adviser.
Do they leave residue on the fruit?
No. The sachet construction prevents migration or contact between the additive and the product.
Can I see when the sachet has worked?
On the constructions with a Tyvek® face, yes: the active spheres change colour as the permanganate reacts.
Do they replace refrigeration?
No. They extend what the cold chain achieves by removing the ethylene that accumulates inside the pack; they do not replace temperature control.
How many sachets does your fruit need?
Tell us the fruit, the carton and the days in transit, and we work out the weight and the quantity.
This guide is a reference. Confirm product, dose and placement with your SECAL adviser according to your cargo and route. SECAL technical guides · PROTEXPO S.A.C. / SECAL, Lima, Peru.