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Impact of a Pulsed Electric Field on Damage of Plant Tissues: Effects of Cell Size and Tissue Electrical Conductivity
Author(s) -
Ben Ammar J.,
Lanoisellé J.L.,
Lebovka N.I.,
Van Hecke E.,
Vorobiev E.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of food science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1750-3841
pISSN - 0022-1147
DOI - 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2010.01893.x
Subject(s) - electrical resistivity and conductivity , electric field , materials science , conductivity , cell size , biophysics , composite material , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , chemistry , electrical engineering , physics , engineering , quantum mechanics
Efficiency of pulsed electric field (PEF) induced permeabilization at 293 K in selected fruit and vegetable plant tissues (apple, potato, carrot, courgette, orange, and banana) at electric field strength ( E ) of 400 V·cm −1 , 1000 V·cm −1 and pulse duration ( t p ) of 1000 μs was studied experimentally. The mean cell radius (〈 r 〉) was within 30 to 60 μm, and the ratio of electrical conductivities of the intact and damaged tissues (σ i /σ d ) was within 0.07 to 0.79 for the studied tissues. Electroporation theory predicts higher damage for tissue with larger cells; however, the direct correlation between PEF damage efficiency and size of cell was not always observed. To explain this anomaly, a theoretical Monte Carlo model was developed and checked for parameters typical for potato tissue. The model showed a strong dependence of PEF damage efficiency and power consumption ( W ) on σ i /σ d ratio. The optimum value of electric field strength ( E opt ) was an increasing function of σ i /σ d , and plant tissues with high σ i /σ d ratio (σ i /σ d ≈ 1) required application of a rather strong field (for example, E opt ≈ 3000 V·cm −1 for σ i /σ d ≈ 0.8). However, the PEF treatment at a lower field ( E ≈ 400 V·cm −1 ) allowed regulation of the selectivity of damage of cells in dependence of their size. A good qualitative correspondence between experimental data and simulation results were observed.