Abstract
DURING investigations on the effects and interactions of carbon dioxide and ethylene on the physiology of flowers after cutting, an absorbent was required which would remove respiratory carbon dioxide but not ethylene. Investigations by Walls1 and Potter and Griffiths2 indicated that soda-lime absorbs fruit volatiles but probably not ethylene. Petri dishes of carbon dioxide absorbents (150 g) were placed in large glass tanks of capacity about 70 l., sealed, and then injected with sufficient ethylene through a rubber cap (‘Suba-seal’) to give a concentration of approximately 1.0 p.p.m. After allowing time for mixing, gas samples (1.0 ml.) were withdrawn at intervals and the concentration of ethylene determined by gas chromatography using a flame-ionization detector as described by Meigh3. The absorbents investigated were soda asbestos, sodium hydroxide, and self-indicating (‘Carbosorb’, BDH; ‘Indicarb’, Hopkin and Williams) and non-indicating soda-limes. Sodium hydroxide proved the most suitable for the investigation in hand.
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References
Walls, L. P., J. Pomol., 20, 59 (1942).
Potter, N. A., and Griffiths, D. G., J. Pomol., 22, 231 (1946).
Meigh, D. F., Nature, 196, 345 (1962).
Burg, S. P., and Burg, E. A., Science, 148, 1190 (1965).
Fischer, jun., C. W., N.Y. State Flower Growers' Bull., 61, 1 (1950).
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NICHOLS, R., TOPPING, A. Absorption of Ethylene by Self-indicating Soda-lime. Nature 211, 217 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/211217a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/211217a0
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