Summary
Abstract
Water disinfection is one of the most critical processing steps in fresh-cut vegetable production. Technologies capable for the efficient disinfection of process water and recycled water would allow reducing wastewater and have less impact on the environment. Among the chemical disinfectants, hypochlorite solutions are still the most widely used. Electrochemical disinfection of the wash water has been demonstrated to be effective in eliminating a wide spectrum of pathogens in process water. Both hypochlorite solutions and electrochemically produced chlorine compounds, in particular hypochlorous acid, are effective disinfectants when adequate doses are used. A new electrochemical process using boron-doped diamond electrodes can generate additional reactive oxidant species than chlorine and further enhance the disinfecting capacity. However, there are pros and cons on the use of one or other disinfectant agents. In this review, the technological advantages and the limitations of electrolyzed water, particularly regarding the organic matter content, are discussed and compared to the use of hypochlorite.
Study details
- Published in: Food and Bioprocess Technology 8.6 (2015): 1336-1348
- Microbes studied: Multiple
Source
Source: Food and Bioprocess Technology 8.6 (2015): 1336-1348
Conditions tested
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Relevant sectors | Food Processing |
| Publication | Food and Bioprocess Technology, 2015 |
Reading this responsibly
Published figures are obtained under controlled conditions, usually on clean surfaces or in defined matrices. Organic load, surface condition, temperature and application coverage all affect real-world performance. Use these numbers to design a protocol, then validate it on your own site with environmental swabbing.
Applying it
Concentrations in this range are within the adjustable output of every EcoloxTech commercial system, so implementing this protocol is a settings question rather than a procurement one. Where the claim needs to sit on a registered label, see HOCl-AS200, EPA Reg. No. 101112-1.