Pulsed UV-light treatment of corn meal for inactivation of Aspergillus niger spores

  1. Soojin Jun1,
  2. Joseph Irudayaraj1,*,
  3. Ali Demirci1,2,
  4. David Geiser3

Article first published online: 18 NOV 2003

DOI: 10.1046/j.0950-5423.2003.00752.x

Issue

International Journal of Food Science & Technology

International Journal of Food Science & Technology

Volume 38, Issue 8, pages 883–888, December 2003

Additional Information

How to Cite

Jun, S., Irudayaraj, J., Demirci, A. and Geiser, D. (2003), Pulsed UV-light treatment of corn meal for inactivation of Aspergillus niger spores. International Journal of Food Science & Technology, 38: 883–888. doi: 10.1046/j.0950-5423.2003.00752.x

Author Information

  1. 1

     Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA

  2. 2

     Life Sciences Consortium, Penn State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA

  3. 3

     Department of Plant Pathology, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA

* * Fax: +1 814 863 1031; e-mail: josephi@psu.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 NOV 2003
  2. Article first published online: 18 NOV 2003
  3. (Received 20 October 2002; Accepted in revised form 1 May 2003)

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Keywords:

  • Flour;
  • fungal spore;
  • lethality;
  • rapid inactivation;
  • response surface

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 log10 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 4.93log10 reduction of A. niger. Modification of the pulsed UV-light system was recommended to maximize the UV fungal disinfection while minimizing the heat generation.

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