Effect of electrical treatment on Salmonella typhimurium in poultry scalder water using a flow-through treatment system

A flow-through electrical treatment system was evaluated as a method to eli minate S typhimurium in poultry scalder water. The flow-through treatment s ystem consisted of an inlet tank, a treatment cylinder and an outlet tank. A de power supply provided electrical signals to platinum wire electrodes i n the treatment cylinder. With 0.15 M NaCl added as art electrolyte, a 2-A electrical current was applied to poultry scalder water flowing through the treatment cylinder at a rate of 5 L/min. Residence time in the cylinder wa s 1.82 min. Samples were tested for salmonellae using standard plating meth ods as well as pre-enrichment/enrichment techniques. All salmonellae were e liminated from the treated poultry scalder water while the untreated scalde r water contained large numbers of salmonellae.