Table with ethylene scrubber

Abstract

A display table for supporting produce includes an enclosure, a table top defining an upper surface of the enclosure, a blower, an ethylene scrubber and an outlet. The table top is open to the atmosphere and configured to support the produce, and includes perforations. The blower is positioned in communication with the enclosure to create an underpressure that draws a gas into the enclosure through the perforations. The ethylene scrubber is positioned in communication with the enclosure and in a flow path of the gas, the ethylene scrubber being configured to remove at least a portion of ethylene from at least a portion of the gas. The outlet is located downstream of the ethylene scrubber for returning the gas from the enclosure to the atmosphere.

1 . A display table for supporting produce, comprising:
 an enclosure;   a table top open to the atmosphere and configured to support the produce, the table top defining an upper surface of the enclosure and including perforations;   a blower positioned in communication with the enclosure to create an underpressure that draws a gas into the enclosure through the perforations;   an ethylene scrubber positioned in communication with the enclosure and in a flow path of the gas, the ethylene scrubber configured to remove at least a portion of ethylene from at least a portion of the gas; and   an outlet downstream of the ethylene scrubber for returning the gas from the enclosure to the atmosphere.   
     
     
         2 . The display table of  claim 1 , wherein the ethylene scrubber includes a reactive oxygen species generator. 
     
     
         3 . The display table of  claim 1 , wherein the ethylene scrubber includes an ultraviolet lamp configured to irradiate a surface including a photocatalyst suitable to provide photocatalytic oxidation of ethylene. 
     
     
         4 . The display table of  claim 3 , wherein the photocatalyst includes titanium dioxide. 
     
     
         5 . The display table of  claim 3 , wherein the table top prevents at least some light from the ultraviolet lamp from exiting through the perforations. 
     
     
         6 . The display table of  claim 5 , wherein the table top includes at least two layers of perforations offset from one another. 
     
     
         7 . The display table of  claim 1 , wherein the ethylene scrubber includes potassium permanganate. 
     
     
         8 . The display table of  claim 1 , wherein the blower is positioned within the enclosure below the perforated table top. 
     
     
         9 . The display table of  claim 8 , wherein the blower is positioned below the ethylene scrubber, and wherein the blower is positioned proximate the outlet. 
     
     
         10 . A method of preserving produce, comprising:
 supporting the produce on a perforated table top open to the atmosphere;   drawing a gas into an enclosure through perforations in the perforated table top;   removing at least a portion of ethylene from at least a portion of the gas; and   directing the gas from the enclosure to the atmosphere after at least a portion of the ethylene has been removed from at least a portion of the gas.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of removing at least a portion of ethylene includes positioning a reactive oxygen species generator within the enclosure. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of removing at least a portion of ethylene includes:
 positioning an ultraviolet lamp within the enclosure, and   irradiating a surface covered by a suitable photocatalyst within the enclosure.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of removing at least a portion of ethylene further includes preventing light from the ultraviolet lamp from directly exiting the perforated table top. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of removing at least a portion of ethylene includes oxidizing at least a portion of ethylene using potassium permanganate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein drawing a gas into the enclosure includes positioning a blower in communication with the enclosure. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein positioning a blower includes positioning the blower below the perforated table top. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein directing the gas to exit the enclosure includes positioning a blower proximate an outlet of the enclosure. 
     
     
         18 . A display table for supporting produce, comprising:
 an enclosure;   a table top open to the atmosphere and configured to support the produce, the table top defining an upper surface of the enclosure and including perforations;   a blower positioned in communication with the enclosure to create an underpressure that draws a gas into the enclosure through the perforations;   an ultraviolet lamp positioned in communication with the enclosure and in a flow path of the gas;   a surface irradiated by the ultraviolet lamp, the surface having a photocatalyst suitable to provide photocatalytic oxidation of ethylene; and   an outlet downstream of the ethylene scrubber for returning the gas from the enclosure to the atmosphere;   wherein the ultraviolet lamp and photocatalyst remove at least a portion of ethylene from at least a portion of the gas; and   wherein the table top includes at least two layers of perforations that are staggered with respect to each other and configured to prevent at least some light from the ultraviolet lamp from directly exiting through the table top.