Microorganism inactivation using high-pressure generation in sealed vessels under sub-zero temperature.
In order to test the possibility of utilizing high pressure in bioscience and biotechnology, a simple method for high-pressure generation and its use for microbial inactivation have been studied. When a pressure vessel was filled with water, sealed tightly and cooled to sub-zero temperatures, high pressure was generated in the vessel. The pressure generation was 60 MPa at -5 degrees C, 103 MPa at -10 degrees C, and 140 MPa at -15 degrees C, -20 degrees C, and -22 degrees C. The high pressure generated inactivated microorganisms effectively: yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii), bacteria (Lactobacillus brevis and Eschericia coli), and fungi (Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae) were completely inactivated when stored in sealed vessels -20 degrees C for 24 h. However, Staphylococcus aureus was only partly inactivated under the same conditions. This method opens up a new application of high pressure for storing, transporting, and sterilizing of foods and biological materials.
Hayakawa
K
K
Kyoto Prefectural Comprehensive Guidance Center for Small and Medium Enterprises, Japan.
Ueno
Y
Y
Kawamura
S
S
Kato
T
T
Hayashi
R
R
D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D003080:Cold Temperature; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005615:Freezing; D005628:Frozen Foods; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D011312:Pressure; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development; D013242:Sterilization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
D017744:Medical Waste Disposal