초록 ▼

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for applying volatile substances, particularly microbicidal substances, to materials such as foods, pharmaceutical products and ingredients thereof for the purpose of achieving at least partial microbial decontamination and/or shelf-life extension. Th

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for applying volatile substances, particularly microbicidal substances, to materials such as foods, pharmaceutical products and ingredients thereof for the purpose of achieving at least partial microbial decontamination and/or shelf-life extension. The volatile substance, which is preferably carbonic acid, acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide and mixtures thereof, are entrained in a carrier gas and preferably applied to the material at an over-pressure of up to 3 bar (2250 mm Hg) above atmospheric pressure.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A method for reducing the viable microbial content of a solid material for human consumption, which is susceptible to microbial spoilage, said method comprisingcontacting exposed surfaces of the material with a gas mixture comprising a major portion of a carrier gas and a minor p

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A method for reducing the viable microbial content of a solid material for human consumption, which is susceptible to microbial spoilage, said method comprisingcontacting exposed surfaces of the material with a gas mixture comprising a major portion of a carrier gas and a minor portion of a volatile substance selected from the group consisting of natural food acids, chemical biocides and mixtures thereof for a period of 2 minutes or less during which time the volatile substance partitions into solution upon said exposed surfaces;wherein said method does not involve a prior step of subjecting the material to a vacuum, and further wherein, at the time of contacting the exposed surfaces of the material with said gas mixture, the exposed surfaces of the material have a water activity (A.sub.w) of greater than or equal to 0.85.