Abstract: Process and generator for generating a pesticidal gas mixture of phosphine gas and air for fumigating an enclosed environment, e.g. a grain silo with phosphine. Air, moisture content adjusted by drying or humidifying, is passed through a porous bed of aluminum phosphide or magnesium phosphide, preferably in a throw-a-way cartridge. The resulting mixture of air and phosphine gas is passed into the space. Typical humidities (which determines the phosphine concentration) are 4 g/m.sup.3 for "flow through" conditions or 12 g/m.sup.3 for "one shot" conditions of fumigation. The cartridge is fitted directly in sealing relationship between inlet and outlet adaptors to serve as the gas generator vessel of the apparatus. The cartridge, completely filled with metal phosphide in powder or granulate form, has cylindrical gas-tight side walls, flexible and stretchable to allow for expansion of the metal phosphide during hydrolysis, and porous end walls.

Abstract: Process and generator for generating a pesticidal gas mixture of phosphine gas and air for fumigating an enclosed environment, e.g. a grain silo, with phosphine. Air, moisture content adjusted by drying or humidifying, is passed through a porous bed of aluminum phosphide or magnesium phosphide, preferably in a throw-a-way cartridge. The resulting mixture of air and phosphine gas is passed into the space. Typical humidities (which determines the phosphine concentration) are 4 g/m.sup.3 for "flow through" conditions or 12 g/m.sup.3 for "one shot" conditions of fumigation. The cartridge is fitted directly in sealing relationship between inlet and outlet adaptors to serve as the gas generator vessel of the apparatus. The cartridge, completely filled with metal phosphide in powder or granulate form, has cylindrical gas-tight side walls, flexible and stretchable to allow for expansion of the metal phosphide during hydrolysis, and porous end walls.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating a pesticidal gas mixture of phosphine gas and air for fumigating an enclosed environment, e.g. a grain silo, with phosphine. Air, moisture content adjusted by drying or humidifying, is passed through a porous bed of aluminium phosphide or magnesium phosphide, preferably in a throw-a-way cartridge. The resulting mixture of air and phosphine gas is passed into the space. Typical humidities (which determines the phosphine concentration) are 4 g/m.sup.3 for "flow through" conditions or 12 g/m.sup.3 for "one shot" conditions of fumigation. The cartridge is fitted directly in sealing relationship between inlet and outlet adaptors to serve as the gas generator vessel of the apparatus. The cartridge, completely filled with metal phosphide in powder or granulate form, has cylindrical gas-tight side walls, flexible and stretchable to allow for expansion of the metal phosphide during hydrolysis, and porous end walls.

Abstract: A method of producing an alkaline earth or alkaline earth metal phosphide-based hydrogen phosphide generating pest control agent by completely coating even surfaced bodies of the alkaline earth or alkaline earth metal phosphide with a moisture-permeable coating which delays the generation of the hydrogen phosphide therefrom for a desired period of several hours up to one month and which is formed from moisture-pervious, solid, organic materials.

Abstract: A fumigant applicator for releasing therefrom a volatile substance, e.g., phosphine from a metal phosphide, at a controlled rate, thereby avoiding excessive local phosphine build-up and with complete protection of the contents against liquid water, in the shape of a sachet at least one face of which is formed from a spun-bonded, polyolefin sheet or fleece of heat and pressure bonded polyolefin fibers, which is vapor- and gas-pervious but impervious to liquid water and use, naturally water-resistant and of high tensile and tear strength, which sheet or fleece is rendered heat-weldable and is heat-sealed at its edges by a high porous coating, preferably a powder sprinkle coating, of a thermoplastic heat welding bonding layer which melts lower than the polyolefin fibers so that a heat welding seam at the edges of the sheet can form before the fibers melt so that the physical properties of the polyolefin fibers and the gas permeability thereof are substantially unaffected.

Abstract: An alkaline earth or alkaline earth metal phosphide-based hydrogen phosphide generating pest control agent with a moisture-permeable coating thereon for delaying the gas generation which is formed from moisture-pervious, solid, organic materials and which completely envelops the hydrogen phosphide generating composition. The moisture permeability of the coating is controlled to delay the onset of hydrogen phosphide generation for a desired period of several hours up to one month.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of fumigating agricultural products in storage or transportation facilities for controlling pests by means of hydrogen phosphide which is then bound and/or decomposed to a substantial extent; according to the invention, a fumigating composition releasing hydrogen phosphide is placed in a manner known per se among products stored in conventional storage facilities, whereupon the stored products are covered with a flexible film, foil or sheet to isolate them from the surrounding storage space, and the hydrogen phosphide diffusing from the gas containing space above and among the stored products during or after fumigation is bound by adsorption, physical or chemical absorption and/or decomposed by chemical or physical means. The invention also relates to a specific solid catalyst suitable for the decomposition of hydrogen phosphide.