MEASUREMENT OF OPTICAL ABSORBENCY OF CLOSTRIDIUM-SPOROGENES PA-3679 SPORES AS A METHOD FOR DETERMINING THEIR THERMAL INACTIVATION

The loss of optical density of Clostridium sporogenes PA 3679 spores a fter heating at temperatures of 121, 126, 130 and 135 degrees C was st udied, together with the relationship between this parameter and the r ecovery capacity of the heated spores. The results show that the spore s suffered a greater loss of optical density when they were subjected to more severe heating. A linear relationship was observed between the loss of viability and the optical absorbance of the spores. A certain parallel was detected between the heat resistance parameters of the s pores DT (decimal reduction time) and z (thermal inactivation coeffici ent), and the kinetic parameters D-T(A) and z(A), which describe the r eduction in absorbance.