INACTIVATION OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI SUSPENDED IN LIQUID EGG USING PULSEDELECTRIC-FIELDS

Liquid egg inoculated with Escherichia coli was exposed to a 26 kV/cm pulsed electric field with 2 and 4 mu s pulse duration, 1.25 and 2.50 Hz pulsing rates, up to 100 pulses/unit volume, and stepwise and conti nuous recirculation treatment schemes while maintaining a bulk tempera ture below 37C. The inactivation of E. coil was a function of the puls e duration and the number of pulses. The destruction of Escherichia co li in liquid egg followed a first order kinetic and the treatment was more effective when the applied pulses were of a 4 mu s pulse duration . A 6D reduction was obtained for viable E. coli using both pulsing ra tes and treatment schemes with no protein coagulation.