Decontamination of chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa L.) by cold plasma treatment and its effects on biochemical composition and storage quality of their corresponding juices

To improve the microbiological quality of chokeberries, corona discharge plasma jet (CDPJ) was employed as a decontaminating agent. The mean levels of aerobic bacteria and yeast and molds contaminants in chokeberries were 4.78 and 4.87 log CFU/g, respectively; the viable counts were decreased by 2.09 and 1.83 log units following CDPJ treatment for 3 min, respectively. A first-order kinetic model was well-suited for explaining the inactivations. The concentration of total polyphenols of chokeberries was unaffected (up to 3 min treatment), whereas DPPH radical scavenging activity was significantly decreased by CDPJ treatment (2 min and more). CDPJ treatment (all tested times) of chokeberries led to a significant decrease of monomeric anthocyanin content of their corresponding juices, whereas soluble solids content (Brix) and pH were unaffected. After storage at 4 °C for 72 h, juices obtained from CDPJ-treated berries possessed relatively low levels of contaminants with no significant alterations in pH and soluble solids content when compared with controls. In conclusion, CDPJ treatment for 2 min was optimal to improve the microbiological quality of the berries without negatively affecting biochemical qualities of their corresponding juices.     

Ozonation at Wiggins Water Purification Works,Durban, South Africa

The post-ozone plant at Wiggins waterworks was commissioned during 1984. The main objective of the post–ozone plant was to ensure proper disinfection, including the elimination of viruses, whenever raw water for the works was pumped from the polluted lower Umgeni River. The main problems experienced with the post–ozone plant were poor ozone transfer efficiency in the contact tank and poisoning of the catalyst in the thermal-catalytic destructor.     

紫外线对原水中几种微藻的作用效果研究

采用准平行光束仪对梅尼小环藻、谷皮菱形藻、钝脆杆藻、小球衣藻、镰形纤维藻、斜生栅藻、铜绿微囊藻和卵形隐藻等8种微藻进行辐射,确定剂量反应关系,研究紫外线对它们的作用效果及特点。结果表明,紫外线对梅尼小环藻、谷皮菱形藻、镰形纤维藻、斜生栅藻、铜绿微囊藻和卵形隐藻均具有一定的灭活作用,灭活率随着紫外线剂量的增加而提高,在剂量为400mJ/cm2时它们的灭活率分别为15.5%、26.9%、50.4%、6.9%、64.3%和19.8%;低剂量的紫外线对钝脆杆藻和小球衣藻细胞生长有促进作用,在剂量大于300mJ/cm2时有灭活作用,在剂量为400mJ/cm2时的灭活率分别为15.7%和6.2%。藻细胞个体大小不是影响紫外线灭活效果的原因,藻的种类、藻细胞壁的有无及其成分的不同等可能是造成不同灭活效果的原因。     

汽车三效催化转化器劣化机理分析与仿真研究

在三效催化转化器特性的研究中,为解决发动机台架实验的断油劣化、周期长、成本高等缺点,并为开发高效长寿低排放的汽车TWC,缩短开发周期,节省开发费用,提出在分析TWC劣化机理的基础上,运用数值仿真技术,建立了包含劣化过程化学反应、储放氧反应、催化剂颗粒直径、反应速率、烧结速率及转化率的TWC劣化特性数学模型,对影响TWC的劣化的排气温度场、浓度场及表征劣化性能的Pt颗粒直径、失活因子及转化效率等参数进行了仿真与分析.研究表明可为预测TWC劣化特性的变化,提高TWC抗劣化性能与制定TWC抗劣化对策提供依据,具有很大的实际应用价值.     

Inactivation of Bacillus subtilis spores in soybean milk by radio-frequency flash heating

An apparatus to pasteurize soybean milk using radio-frequency flash heating (RF-FH) was developed. An electrode surface was covered with a 50-μm thick Teflon film, and 28 MHz RF-FH was applied to soybean milk flowing through the electrode.     

Use of zero-valent iron nanoparticles in inactivating microbes

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) particles were investigated in inactivating gram-positive Bacillus subtilis var. niger and gram-negative Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria, and the fungus Aspergillus versicolor. NZVI particles were synthesized using NaBH₄ and Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O, and the microbial suspensions were subjected to the treatments of NZVI particle suspensions with concentrations of 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/ml for 5 min. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) was used to characterize the synthesized NZVI particles, suspensions and the surface morphologies of the treated agents.FE-SEM images showed that the NZVI particles were spherical with a fairly uniform size of about 20–30 nm, and the iron precipitates FeO(OH) appeared in needle-shape aggregates. When treated directly with NZVI particles under aerobic condition, the surfaces of microbes were quickly coated with needle-shape yellow-brown iron oxides. In this study, complete inactivation was achieved both for B. subtilis var. niger and P. fluorescens when treated with 10 mg/ml NZVI particles with vigorous shaking under aerobic condition. When NZVI particle concentration decreased to 1, 0.1 mg/ml, there was still a complete inactivation for P. fluorescens, while for B. subtilis var. niger the inactivation decreased to 95%, 80%, respectively. However, no inactivation was observed for the fungus A. versicolor when treated the same manner. Physical coating, disruption of membrane and generation of reactive oxygen species have played major roles in the inactivation observed.     

Pilot-Scale and Full-Scale Evaluation of the Chlorine-Ammonia Process for Bromate Control During Ozonation

An innovative approach to minimize bromate formation using sequential chlorine and ammonia (Cl₂-NH₃ process) was developed at pilot scale and validated in a full-scale drinking water facility. Pilot-scale results showed the Cl₂-NH₃ process minimized bromate formation by 65–95% compared to 40–70% using ammonia only. A 90-day full-scale evaluation confirmed the Cl₂-NH₃ process could prevent bromate concentrations from exceeding 10 μg/L. Full-scale implementation of the Cl₂-NH₃ process allowed an increase in ozone exposure level from 3.0 mg-min/L to 8.6 mg-min/L at 15.1°C. The increased exposure level is important as drinking water utilities strive to meet more stringent drinking water regulations such as Cryptosporidium inactivation.     

Effects of Different Treatments on the Inactivation of Various Seedborne Viruses in Some Vegetables

In this study, we considered the efficacy of seed treatments for the inactivation of some seedborne viruses in tomato, pepper, melon, squash, bean and lettuce seeds, which are essential for human nutrition and seed production in our country. A total of 325 seed samples obtained from various farmers and foundations were tested by DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR procedures. Eight seed lots infected with Tomato mosaic tobamovirus (ToMV), Tobacco mosaic tobamovirus (TMV), Cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV), Soybean mosaic potyvirus (SMV) and Lettuce mosaic potyvirus (LMV) were selected as research materials. Virus inactivation treatments were made by using acetic acid (CH₃COOH), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), hydrochloric acid (HCl), sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), Triton X 100, dry heat, heated water, ozone (O₃), and UV (305 nm wavelength). The most effective treatments for reducing virus concentration were HCl, heated water (65 °C) and ozone (10 g m^?3). These treatments reduced concentrations of seed-borne viruses in ranges of 51%, 42%, and 32%, respectively. Other treatments were less effective and reduced virus concentrations in the range of 27%–12%. HCl and ozone treatments were the most effective and applicable methods because they did not have negative effect on seed germination.     

Hochdruckinaktivierung von Mikroorganismen – mit Dynamik zum quasi‐kontinuierlichen Prozess

Static high pressure treatment has become a gentle alternative in sterilization of fluids, but due to high costs, this technology is currently restricted to high‐quality products. The innovative use of dynamic high pressure has the potential to overcome these restrictions as the introduction of additional process parameters allows for amplification of lethal effects on microorganisms. In addition, through the possibility to further convey the product during low‐pressure periods, the dynamic treatment also enables quasi‐continuous modes of operation, which opens a broader field of applications.