Miller Parinya: Ozone can save rotting rice
The government's stock of rotting rice can be saved from further decay by blasting ozone gas through it, says the owner of a hulling mill in Pichit. According to Parinya Tharmaphornphilas, ozone is an effective antibacterial agent capable of saving at least part of the stock.
According to a study commissioned by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, only 10 percent of the 18 million tons of rice bought by the (previous) government since 2011 are of good quality, 70 percent are sub-standard and the the rest is not suitable for consumption. Parinya estimates that 60 percent is fit for consumption after ozone treatment.
The miller has developed his own device with a ventilation system and an opening for the ozone, which can hold four tons of rice. The ozone comes in close contact with the rice grains. The ozone level and density can be regulated. Treatment takes one hour.
According to Parinya, the ozone-treated rice is safe to eat, although the rice will no longer turn 100 percent white. The provincial authorities in Phitsanulok have tested the ozone rice and confirm this.
Parinya says it has started buying sub-standard rice from government stocks. He pays 9 to 10 baht per kilo for this and sells it after treatment for 13 to 14 baht per kilo. The treatment with ozone costs 1 baht per kilo, 20 to 30 satang more than the usual treatment in peeling mills. Parinya has sent details of his idea to the Internal Trade Department, but they have not yet responded.
Doubt of anti-bacterial effect
Somsak Ploypanichcharoen, a researcher at the National Science and Technology Development Agency, says ozone has not been used to treat rice before. He knows of no research that confirms the anti-bacterial effect. The gas can help suppress the musty smell, but he thinks it's unlikely that the smell will disappear completely.
'Personally, I don't believe that ozone gas can kill bacteria. The rice grains, which have lost their structure, cannot be returned to their former state.'
Somporn Isvilanonda (Knowledge Network Institute of Thailand) believes that the quality of rice that has been stored for a long time can be improved by hulling and processing, albeit at a certain cost. He believes that the use of ozone should first be recognized internationally.
(Source: Bangkok Post, Dec. 8, 2014)
I think I'll switch to potatoes.
Rotten rice really doesn't get better with ozone.
At most, this can prevent the rotting process from continuing.
And nobody knows where that treated rice ends up.
It is widely known in international science that ozone kills bacteria, viruses and fungi. Only it doesn't tackle the "spores". If there are no bacterial and fungal spores in the rotting rice, the man is right and there is a lot to save. Ozone is not a doctor, so it doesn't improve anything, but it can stop further spoilage.
When properly packaged (vacuum) and stored after treatment, much can be saved.
Ozone is also used in deodorization systems (air scrubbers) it is really able to remove all odors.
Unfortunately, ozone is an expensive and also dangerous treatment method, ozone gas is already harmful to the lungs in relatively low concentrations. So a well-sealed system is a must. I doubt whether this will keep the treated rice affordable. NB. not only in Thailand but all over the world Ozone is often used in the preparation of drinking water.
Paul Schiphol
Just type in ozone treatment rice on Google, and you will find quite a bit.
But my far overriding fear is aflatoxin in that rice stored under too much moisture.
Harry, ozone also kills aflatoxin, various studies (mainly in grain and maize) are published on the internet. Agree with you that the rice is probably so degraded that only a very long treatment under moistening will provide relief. After that, the rice must be (again?) properly dried under the right conditions. All this makes it very expensive. Destroying will be cheaper.
It should definitely not be used as animal feed, we still get this dangerous cancer-causing fungus through milk or meat.
Paul Schiphol
Just for the good understanding.
According to wikipedia, rotting of plant material is mainly caused by bacteria, insects and fungi.
Maybe you can still kill those fungi and bacteria with that ozone, but what has been spoiled remains spoiled.
You can't get rid of that with that ozone.