MODELING COMBINED EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AND PH ON HEAT-RESISTANCE OFSPORES BY A LINEAR-BIGELOW EQUATION

A generalized linear-Bigelow model was proposed to describe the effect s of both temperature and pH on spore heat resistance. The model requi red only 3 parameters, each having a physicochemical significance. In addition to the conventional z value, the effect of pH on thermal resi stance of spores was characterized by a z(pH) value. Although the mode l neglected interactions between temperature and pH, its goodness of f it and its robustness enable it to be applied for optimization of heat treatments. Further experiments need to be undertaken to validate the model under industrial conditions.