Method and apparatus for disinfecting or sterilizing foodstuffs and other articles
OwnerUlrik Rubow, Thure Carnfeldtinventors
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for disinfection or sterilizing an article which is a food or foodstuff, or a surface of an article for contacting a food or foodstuff. According to the invention, the article is grounded and is treated with an electrically charged mist of a liquid having a redox potential and a predetermined pH. The mist is subsequently evaporated from the article.
Claims18
A method for disinfecting or sterilizing an article comprising a food or foodstuff, or a surface of an article for contacting a food or foodstuff, comprising the steps of:
- electrically grounding the article;
- obtaining a sterilizing liquid having a redox potential which makes the liquid an oxidizing agent or reducing agent and a predetermined pH;
- disintegrating or atomizing the sterilizing liquid under pressure to form a mist and imparting to the mist an electrical potential;
- exposing the grounded article to the mist causing a thin homogeneous film of liquid to form on a surface of the article, thereby sterilizing or disinfecting the surface;
- and
- removing the mist from the article.
An apparatus for disinfecting or sterilizing an article comprising a food or foodstuff, or a surface of an article for contacting a food or foodstuff, comprising:
- means for deionizing water;
- a reverse osmosis membrane unit arranged for treating the deionized water;
- means for generating or storing a sterilizing or disinfecting material having a redox potential;
- means for mixing the material having a redox potential with the water treated in the reverse osmosis membrane unit;
- a high pressure liquid disintegrator for creating a mist and comprising a charged electrode for charging the mist;
- a high pressure pump for delivering the water mixed with the material having a redox potential to the high pressure liquid disintegrator;
- an enclosure into which the charged mist is directed and through which the article to be sterilized or disinfected is conveyed, and thereby including means for exposing the article to the charged mist for disinfection or sterilizing of the article;
- means for generating a pulsating magnetic filed to which the article in the enclosure is exposed;
- and
- means for conditioning and directing air to remove the mist from the article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.