Disinfection of nalta juice dry powder food by atmospheric-pressure non-equliblium DC pulse discharge plasma jet

Abstract

Many of granular and powder dry foods such as health food, functional food, dried vegetables, Chinese herbal remedy, and crude drug are imported from overseas. This results in the general viable bacteria and coliform bacteria adhered to the surface of granular and powder dry foods being brought to Japan. To deal with this problem, sterilization and disinfection technology that does not alter taste, color, savor, flavor, and shape of the products is being demanded in the industries. This study suggests a sterilization method using radical active species emitted from atmospheric-pressure non-equilibrium DC pulse discharge plasma jet with no heat and vapor on nalta jute coarse powder. Using oxygen as plasma gas generates OH and O3 radicals in the atmospheric-pressure non-equilibrium DC pulse discharge plasma jet, allowing sterilization of general viable bacteria count (9.8×105 pc./g). The study also revealed that increasing the oxygen gas flow rate in the plasma gas proportionally decreased (~1.9×105 pc./g) the general viable bacteria count.