Translator’s Green Bag Solution
Original post here:
At 2008.07.27 19:13, Translator said:
Make your own green bags! Go to the store and get a jar of aquarium activated charcoal. Take an envelope (I use a paper towel folded in such a manner as to make an envelope with two layers on each side) and tape or staple three edges closed. I just use regular Scotch type tape. Then take two or three tablespoons of the activated carbon and add to the envelope, then tape or staple that edge. Voila!
Just pop one of these into your regular bag of vegetables and it will adsorb the ethylene just like a green bag, at a fraction of the cost. Once they become saturated and stop working, they are cheap enough to throw out, or you can regenerate the carbon by opening the envelopes and pouring the carbon on a pie pan or some such. Bake at 350 to 400 F for half a hour or so, then pour into an airtight can or jar and allow to cool. If you opened the envelopes carefully, you can but the carbon back into the same ones. Green bags can not be regenerated because they would melt at temperatures necessary to regenerate the active material (in the case of them a form of clay impregnated into the bag.
I came up with these myself and have been using them for a year or so, and Mrs. Translator swears by them. It is good to be a chemist! Warmest regards, Doc.