Explicit numerical solutions of a microbial survival model under nonisothermal conditions

Abstract Differential equations used to describe the original and modified G eeraerd models were, respectively, simplified into an explicit equation in which the integration of the specific inactivation rate with respect to time was numerically approximated using the S impson's rule. The explicit numerical solutions were then used to simulate microbial survival curves and fit nonisothermal survival data for identifying model parameters in M icrosoft E xcel. The results showed that the explicit numerical solutions provided an easy way to accurately simulate microbial survival and estimate model parameters from nonisothermal survival data using the G eeraerd models.