What is Fumigation?
Fumigation is a process in which a commodity is treated in a gas tight enclosure for certain period of time to eliminate pest infestation without leaving any residual effect. It plays a key role particularly in grain preservation as it controls insects developing inside and outside the grain storage and crawling and hidden pests. Cleaneat is a Fumigation company in Port Harcourt. Fumigants are quick-acting and easily penetrate into stored commodities. Unlike spray treatments with contact insecticides, fumigation is a curative treatment with no lingering or residual effect. Fumigated stacks or bulk grains can readily get reinvested, if not protected properly or in the absence of an effective prophylaxis. A major advantage with fumigants is that they can be applied in different types of storage situations. Due to this versatility in application and rapid toxicity of the chemicals to pests, fumigation has a prominent role in protecting stored products. In many cases the treatments can be carried out on infested materials without disturbing them in any way.
Phosphine Gas (Ph3) Fumigation
Aluminium Phosphide/Magnesium Phosphide are the most commonly used fumigants worldwide, when it comes to fumigating stored food products due to its zero residual action. Phosphide fumigants are available in solid form of tablets, pellets, granules, or plates of different brand names. Phosphine fumigants can be used to eliminate insect infestation in a variety of commodities including animal feed and food ingredients, corn, maize, grass seed, tobacco, oats, peanuts, pistachios, popcorn, wheat, rice etc. They can also be used in a variety of processed foods as long as the residue does not come in contact with the product. All fumigants are highly toxic in nature and require trained personnel for application. Our employees trained and experienced fumigators who are capable of handling any type of fumigation.
Tarpaulin Fumigation
The use of fumigation sheeting or tarpaulins to provide a fumigation enclosure is one of the easiest and least expensive means for providing relatively gastight enclosures which are very well suited for fumigation. The food stuffs are stored in Seaports, Free Zones and various storage facilities around the country throughout the year. Due to the climate condition these food stuffs are prone to insect attacks. It is the responsibility of the trader of the cargo owner to reach the products to the end users or bulk buyers in good quality and pest free condition.
Container Fumigation
Fumigation plays an important role when food grains in ship cargo are transported between countries to prevent from various pests attacks. In most cases it is done as a preventive measure. However, fumigation of shipping containers is advisable, if shipment duration is longer than five days, as phosphine concentration inside the container will be high from the first 2 – 3 days and not safe for the personal who is discharging the cargo. Usage of appropriate PPE during discharge is always advisable. Safe disposal of phosphine residue is also important. Usually, a Warning Label will be placed on containers after the fumigation.
Ship Hold Fumigation
For local consumption U.A.E. depends 100% on import of all food grains and other agricultural products. Due to its strategic location it is known as import and re-export hub. Often many ships arrives at various U.A.E. port and dock for many days with hundreds of thousands tons of food grains. During this period many of them procure fumigation services locally.
Common Insects of Stored Grains
When phosphine is used according to label directions in a sealed grain bin, the fumigant is extremely toxic to all species of grain insects. Effective fumigation occurs when the phosphine gas is held in a sealed farm silo or bulk bin for long enough to kill the target insect pests. Phosphine treatment involves 7 – 10 days for better result under fumigation followed by 2 – 5 days ventilation and a further two days with holding period. Phosphine dosage is calculated on the volume of storage structure not the amount of grain in the silo or bulk bin. The temperature will affect fumigation length. Fumigated grain must be vented for the required time before it can be transported legally.
Grain Silos
Poultry Farms
Cargo Ships/Vessels
Food Products Warehouses
Food & Fabric Containers
Antiquities & Furniture Stores
Air Planes
Train Wagons
Public Transport
