Process and apparatus for reduction of microorganisms in a conductive medium using low voltage pulsed electrical energy
OwnerJohn A. Robbinsinventor
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Abstract
A process and apparatus are provided for reducing microorganisms in a conductive medium using a low voltage pulsed electrical energy.
Claims38
A process for reducing microorganisms in a conductive medium, which comprises subjecting the medium containing microorganisms to low voltage pulsed electrical energy, the low voltage pulsed electrical energy being generated by a pair of electrodes contacting the medium and having a defined voltage, the low voltage pulsed electrical energy having a defined frequency and defined waveform, wherein the pulsed electrical energy forms no free radicals, creates no osmotic shock, and generates no ionizing radiation, wherein the pulsed electrical energy causes no detrimental change to the conductive medium, and wherein the pulsed electrical energy reduces the microorganisms in the medium, provided that the conductive medium is not a pumpable food or beverage.
A process for killing a specific target microorganism in a conductive medium, which comprises
- (a) subjecting the medium containing the specific target microorganism to an electric energy pulse having a predetermined pulse waveform and predetermined pulse frequency, thereby subjecting the microorganism to a predetermined applied energy,
- (b) measuring the effectiveness of the electrical energy pulse on killing the microorganism,
- (c) adjusting one or more of the pulse waveform, pulse frequency, or applied energy of the electric energy pulse,
- (d) subjecting the medium containing the microorganism to the adjusted electric energy pulse,
- (e) measuring the effectiveness of the adjusted electric energy pulse on killing of the microorganism, and
- (f) optionally repeating steps (c), (d) and (e) to determine the optimum pulse waveform, pulse frequency and applied energy to kill the microorganism provided that the conductive medium is not a pumpable food or beverage.
An apparatus for the treatment of a conductive medium containing microorganisms, which comprises a first conduit for passing the conductive medium therethrough, said first conduit connected in flow path arrangement to a treatment space for passing the conductive medium into the treatment space, the treatment space being equipped with an electric energy pulser for treating the microorganisms with an applied energy, and a second conduit connected in flow path arrangement to the treatment space for passing the treated medium out of the treatment space, wherein the conductive medium is not a pumpable food or beverage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.