2-Ethylhexyl glycidyl ether is available in a bulk quantity at nominal rates. Other than that, provided chemical is used as a non-volatile chloride-scavenging agent. It is known for its incompatible with strong oxidising agents. 2-Ethylhexyl glycidyl ether is considered to improve the ability of processing. It is also useful in electrical equipment, filling material, embedding, casting and so on.

The impact of 2-Ethylhexyl glycidyl ether broccoli

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L var. Italica Plenck) has higher levels of protein, vitamins, phenolics, glucosinolates, and sulforaphane (when chewed during consumption) compared to other green vegetables.  Chemical approaches are generally able to preserve freshness, are low cost and easy to apply, however, residue problems and environmental pollution often need to be critically addressed.  A previous study provided evidence that the use of bacterial volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) derived from Lysinibacillus fusiformis in conjunction with white LED irradiation, can effectively preserve the postharvest quality and nutritional composition of stored broccoli. Notably, 2-Ethylhexyl glycidyl ether (EHGE) is a stable colorless chemical that is often used as a reactive diluent in electronics and construction applications. It is an intermediate product in the synthesis of octylglycerol ether sulfonates, sulfates, and quaternary surfactants. Regarding bioactivity, 2-Ethylhexyl glycidyl ether, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, and 2- Propyl-1-pentanol were shown to be the active ingredients in L. fusiformis VOCs responsible for delaying broccoli yellowing and senescence. However, the effect of EHGE alone on harvested fruits and vegetables has not been widely investigated.[1]

The CK group started to show signs of yellowing on the fourth day of storage, and yellowing was even more apparent in the CK group on the 5th day of storage while broccoli heads in the EHGE treatment group remained green, without any evidence of yellowing. Ethylene generation in the 2-Ethylhexyl glycidyl ether treatment group increased from 0.0603 μL kg?1 h?1 to 0.386 μL kg?1 h?1 and from 0.0603 μL kg?1 h?1 to 0.635 μL kg?1 h?1 in the CK group. A peak in the rate of respiration was observed on the third day after treatment in both groups, at which time the respiratory rate of the CK group was 599.667 mg CO2 kg?1 h?1, and the EHGE group was 370.333 mg CO2 kg?1 h?1. The relative expression of these genes was determined by RT-qPCR analysis in CK0d, CK5d, EHGE0d, and EHGE5d samples. Results indicated that the expression of CPOX (BolC8t52801H), chlH (BolC3t13211H), and chlG (BolC1t02821H) in EHGE0d and CK0d samples were similar but that the relative expression of these genes was significantly higher in EHGE5d samples than in CK5d samples. The ability of EHGE fumigation to preserve the postharvest quality of fruits and vegetables has not been previously documented. The present study was the first to assess the ability of 2-Ethylhexyl glycidyl ether fumigation to maintain the postharvest quality of broccoli and gain insight into its mechanism of action. Notably, in addition to lower MDA levels in the EHGE group, the timing of the peak MDA level was also delayed by one day relative to the CK group. These results indicate that fumigation with EHGE essential oil helps to maintain cell membrane integrity and mitigate the detrimental effects of membrane lipid peroxidation.

In the present study, the effect of the fumigation of broccoli with 2-Ethylhexyl glycidyl ether essential oil on the yellowing, quality, and senescence of broccoli during storage was assessed through physiological, biochemical, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses. Our results indicated that broccoli treated with 2-Ethylhexyl glycidyl ether was able to maintain its green color and nutritional value during storage. EHGE-treated broccoli also had enhanced antioxidant capacity, which presumably also contributed to the delay in yellowing and senescence. Results indicated that the use of 2-Ethylhexyl glycidyl ether as a fumigant represents a viable method of delaying the yellowing and senescence of broccoli during storage. However, the benefits of EHGE fumigation on the preservation of other types of agricultural produce remains to be investigated.

References

[1]Guo, H., Tian, T., Jielv, L., Bangjin, Y., Shuzhi, Y., Xiaodi, B., Xiangbin, X., Xiaozhen, Y., & Qing, W. (2024, August 1). A Multi - Omic and physiological Investigation of the impact of 2 - ethylhexylglycidylether (EHGE) on the postharvest senescence and yellowing of broccoli. LWT, 205, 116530.