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Title: RADIO FREQUENCY ELECTRIC FIELDS INACTIVATION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI IN APPLE JUICE USING AN 80 KW POWER SUPPLY

Author
item Geveke, David
item BRUNKHORST, CHRISTOPHER - PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/21/2003
Publication Date: 11/30/2003
Citation: Geveke, D.J., Brunkhorst, C. 2003. Radio frequency electric fields inactivation of escherichia coli in apple juice using an 80 kw power supply. American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting, November 17-21, 2003, San Francisco, California. p. 123b.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The nonthermal process of radio frequency electric fields (RFEF) is relatively new and has been shown to inactivate bacteria in apple juice at moderately low temperatures. However, the process has only been developed for a flow rate of 550 ml/min. The objective of this study was to scale up the RFEF technique to greater flow rates. A novel 80 kW RFEF system was designed and assembled that processed apple juice at a flow rate of 1.4 l/min. Escherichia coli K12 in apple juice was exposed to an electric field strength of 20 kV/cm at a frequency of 21 kHz. Following treatment at an outlet temperature of 60 'C, the population of E. coli was reduced by 2.1 log. Increasing the electric field strength and temperature enhanced the inactivation.