Reaction kinetic interpretation of heat destruction influenced by environmental factors

Based on reaction kinetics and thermodynamic considerations a mathematical model was developed to describe the thermal death rate of microbes as a fun ction of environmental factors such as temperature, water activity, pH and redox potential. The mathematical model is discussed and validated by fitti ng to data sets of heat destruction of Lactobacillus burr is and Lactobacil lus plantarum. The mathematical analysis of the kinetic model and the param eters of the model fitting demonstrate its applicability both for the predi ction of the heat destruction rate and estimation of the thermodynamic para meters of heat destruction. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.