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Pulsed UV‐light treatment of corn meal for inactivation of Aspergillus niger spores
Author(s) -
Jun Soojin,
Irudayaraj Joseph,
Demirci Ali,
Geiser David
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
international journal of food science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.831
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1365-2621
pISSN - 0950-5423
DOI - 10.1046/j.0950-5423.2003.00752.x
Subject(s) - aspergillus niger , spore , response surface methodology , food science , meal , contamination , irradiation , pulp and paper industry , chemistry , materials science , biology , chromatography , botany , physics , ecology , engineering , nuclear physics
Summary Fungal contamination of grains, intended for human and animal consumption, during the pre/post‐harvest periods has been a recurring health hazard. A pulsed UV‐light system was used to inactivate fungal spores of Aspergillus niger in corn meal. Response surface methodology was utilized for experimental design. The three process parameters evaluated were treatment time (20–100 s), voltage input (2000–3800 V), and distance from the UV strobe (3–13 cm). Optimization of the process parameters was validated by a quadratic regression equation designed to fit the experimental log 10 reduction of fungal spores. Model prediction for a 100‐s treatment time, 3 cm of distance from the UV strobe, and with 3800 V input gave a 4.93log 10 reduction of A. niger . Modification of the pulsed UV‐light system was recommended to maximize the UV fungal disinfection while minimizing the heat generation.