Disinfection method for plastic devices
AssigneePlastservice AS
InventorsDan Roger Olsen, Kjell D. Josefsen, Karsten Husby, Leif Grimsmo
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Abstract
Cleaning and disinfection of multi-use plastic materials used in the food industry can be accomplished by using microwave radiation in combination with an electrolyte solution, thereby achieving at least 99.99% killing of microorganisms present on and inside the plastic device. Cleaning and disinfection of plastic trays used in security check screening can also be accomplished using microwave radiation in combination with an aqueous solution, thereby achieving at least 99.9% killing of pathogenic microorganisms present on the plastic tray.
Claims14
A method for disinfecting a multiuse plastic device used in food industry, in which harmful vegetative microorganisms may grow, comprising:
- contacting and/or washing the plastic device with an electrolyte solution comprising one or more of (a) dissolved salt and/or (b) an alkali or an acid, such that the plastic device is wetted, wherein the multiuse plastic device is selected from double walled load carriers, containers with an inner volume of 8 to 2,000 liters, and conveyor belts and wherein the multiuse plastic device includes damaged parts, internal surfaces, and hollow spaces that are insufficiently sterilized by the electrolyte solution and contain entrapped water;
- and
- transferring the thus wetted plastic device into a microwave oven treatment chamber, in which the plastic device and the entrapped water are subjected to microwave radiation treatment in a sufficient time to eliminate essentially all vegetative microorganisms present on and in the plastic device;
- wherein the microwave radiation treatment time is less than about 7 minutes;
- and
- wherein the microwave radiation is formed by 6-36 magnetrons, each having an effect of 0.5-5 kW.
A method for disinfecting a conveyor belt used in food industry, in which harmful vegetative microorganisms may grow, comprising:
- demounting of the conveyor belt,
- washing and/or contacting the conveyor belt parts with an electrolyte solution comprising one or more of (a) dissolved salt and/or (b) an alkali or an acid, and
- placing the thus wetted conveyor belt parts in a plastic container and transferring the container, containing the conveyor belt parts, into a microwave oven, in which the conveyor belt parts are subjected to microwave radiation treatment in a sufficient time to eliminate essentially all vegetative microorganisms present on the conveyor belt parts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.