Project Number: 6604-41430-001-03
Project Type:

Start Date: Feb 28, 2004
End Date: Feb 27, 2009

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research is to determine the feasibility of using insulated concrete domes for storing peanuts using ambient, refrigerated, and low oxygen storage techniques.

Approach:
Four 12-ft diameter insulated concrete domes will be filled with approximately 5 tons of farmers stock peanuts each. One dome will be aerated with ambient air. The second dome will be sealed after initial tempering with ambient air and cooled to 50F or less using refrigeration equipment. A third dome will be sealed after initially tempering and flushed with nitrogen until less than 5% oxygen remains. The fourth storage unit will combine refrigerated storage and low oxygen atmosphere. Environmental conditions such as ambient temperature and relative humidity and conditions inside the dome including oxygen concentration, temperature, and relative humidity will be measured throughout the storage period. Indicators of peanut quality such as single kernel moisture and kernel size distributions, aflatoxin, and peroxide values and free fatty acids will be measured before and after storage. Tests will be repeated for 5 harvest seasons. Peanuts will be stored in a 5000-ton capacity monolithic dome in Rochelle, GA. Peanut quality will be monitored before and after storage through random sampling. Storage environment will be monitored using temperature sensors throughout the storage period.

Project Team

Butts, Christopher Christopher Butts - Agricultural Engineer 229-995-7431

Related National Programs

Quality and Utilization of Agricultural Products (306)