Zerox treatment

FAQ We've got the answers
oes the ZerOx system kill all insects?
Yes it does. The extreme low oxygen level makes sure no insect can survive the treatment. All insects in all life-stages, from egg to adult, will be exterminated.
The treatment is 100% effective, 100% natural and 100% safe for your products and your employees.

How long does the natural fumigation treatment take?
The treatment time with ZerOx (controlled atmosphere) depends on the product temperature and the kind of insect that is inside the product. The warmer the product, the faster a 100% mortality can be achieved.
Hence, for tropical countries shorter protocols may apply, in comparison to moderate climates where heating the product is (too) costly and takes time. The treatment time ranges from 2 to 9 days.
Inside the ZerOx rooms, the desired parameters are fully automatically maintained and registered to ensure a successful treatment.
Per product, standard treatment protocols can entered in the control system, so you can ‘start’ a treatment with one button (after closing the room).
Can different products be placed in the same treatment room simultaneously?
Yes, different products can be placed inside the same room. This has no influence on the effectiveness of the system.

In case of multiple types of products, the treatment protocol for the toughest insect can be selected.
Obviously you should consider the possible influence on taste/aroma’s between the various products.
What is the maximum capacity of the ZerOx treatment?
In principle, there is no maximum limit for the treatment rooms. b-Cat has realized treatment facilities with multiple chambers, where > 250 Mt can be loaded inside each room.
The largest thus far, has 10 treatment rooms with a total capacity of over 2.500 Mt.
During the drawing of the facility designs, it is important to customize the project in accordance with the logistical requirements before and after the treatment.
Obviously, we will support you with making an optimum design and layout.
Why can I not treat fresh products inside the ZerOx treatment rooms?
Fresh products still require oxygen, to avoid fermentation. The oxygen level in the ZerOx rooms are too low for fresh products.
Why is this system so energy efficient?
b-Cat makes systems with the most energy-efficient and reliable equipment available.
In addition, the absolute gastight finishing of the rooms, makes that our systems only have to run occasionally once the oxygen concentration has reached the target level (< 0.5%).
Does the treatment also kills the larvae inside the eggs of insects?
Yes, the system will kill 100% of all life stages: from eggs, larvae to adult insects.
Is your treatment really 100% non-toxic?
Yes the system is 100% non-toxic. We do not add any chemicals inside the rooms for the treatment.
The technical installation separates oxygen (in normal air) from nitrogen. The nitrogen we use to reduce the residual oxygen content inside the room. The (pure) oxygen is removed through an exhaust.
How come the ZerOx treatment is always 100% effective?
The principle is simple: No oxygen – No life.
When insects are treated with chemicals, they are able to protect themselves by going into a diapause and may survive the treatment.
Moreover, insect populations around the world have become increasingly resistant to chemical treatments. However, insects cannot become resistant to ZerOx conditions: No oxygen – No life!
When should I treat my products with the ZerOx treatment?
The best time to treat the products depends on different factors such as the logistic flow of your products in your company.
Important to know is that the ZerOx treatment resembles other available chemical methods on a certain point: It is a one-time treatment.
Hence, re-infestation may occur, once the products come out from the treatment rooms. Important is to make sure that the products stay clean after the treatment.
b-Cat has developed a unique bulk vacuum packaging system to keep your products fully protected after treatment.
For more info, please visit our website www.vqmpackaging.com.
Apart from protection against re-infestation, vacuum packaging also protects your product against humidity, funghi growth, oxidation and preserves the quality of the product.
Moreover, volume reductions may be achieved which results in a reduction in transportation costs.
How can I prevent my products from insect infestation after the treatment?
b-Cat has developed a unique bulk vacuum packaging system to keep your products fully protected after treatment.
For more info, please visit our website www.vqmpackaging.com.
Apart from protection against re-infestation, vacuum packaging also protects your product against humidity, funghi growth, oxidation and preserves the quality of the product.
Moreover, volume reductions may be achieved which results in a reduction in transportation costs.