Process for effecting microbial control and reducing slime growth on hard surfaces in food processing equipment using inline ozonation

Abstract

The invention relates to treatment of aqueous streams and aqueous systems with ozone. The aqueous stream comprises a closed loop system providing transport from a production locus to a processing locus for a variety of products. The aqueous stream can contain a challenge soil load and a microbial load. A treatment zone is defined through which the aqueous stream passes. The treatment zone is contacted with a sufficient concentration of ozone to substantially reduce the microbial population and to substantially reduce the number of microorganisms that can generate slime on the interior of the system. An amount of ozone is added to the aqueous stream in the treatment zone such that once the microbial populations are reduced to a safe level, the ozone concentration is also reduced to a level substantially safe for contact with operating personnel and product. Typically, such concentration is less than one part by weight of ozone per million parts by weight of aqueous system, preferably less than 0.5 parts by weight of ozone per million parts of aqueous system. The use of a treatment zone in an aqueous system segregates the ozone from release into areas frequented by operating personnel, sensitive materials or product.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.