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Kyere-Yeboah K, Bique IK, Qiao XC. Advances of non-thermal plasma discharge technology in degrading recalcitrant wastewater pollutants. A comprehensive review. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 320:138061. [PMID: 36754299 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
With development and urbanization, the amount of wastewater generated due to human activities drastically increases yearly, causing water pollution and intensifying the already worsened water crisis. Although convenient, conventional wastewater treatment methods such as activated sludge, stabilization ponds, and adsorption techniques cannot fully eradicate the complex and recalcitrant contaminants leading to toxic byproducts generation. Recent advancements in wastewater treatment techniques, specifically non-thermal plasma technology, have been extensively investigated for the degradation of complex pollutants in wastewater. Non-thermal plasma is an effective alternative for degrading and augmenting the biodegradability of recalcitrant pollutants due to its ability to generate reactive species in situ. This article critically reviews the non-thermal plasma technology, considering the plasma discharge configuration and reactor types. Furthermore, the influence of operational parameters on the efficiency of the plasma systems and the reactive species generated by the system during discharge has gained significant interest and hence been discussed. Also, the application of non-thermal plasma technology for the degradation of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and dyes and the inactivation of microbial activities are outlined in this review article. Additionally, optimistic applications involving the combination of non-thermal plasma and catalysts and pilot and industrial-scale projects utilizing non-thermal plasma technology have been addressed. Concluding perceptions on the challenges and future perspectives of the non-thermal technology on wastewater treatment are accentuated. Overall, this review outlines a comprehensive understanding of the non-thermal plasma technology for recalcitrant pollutant degradation from a scientific perspective providing detailed instances for reference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwasi Kyere-Yeboah
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Ikenna Kemba Bique
- School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Xiu-Chen Qiao
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
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2
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A Plasma-Based Decontamination Process Reveals Potential for an in-Process Surface-Sanitation Method. PLASMA 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/plasma5030027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Methods, which use an indirect plasma treatment for the inactivation of microorganisms in foods, claim a vastly growing field of research. This paper presents a method that uses plasma-processed air (PPA) as a sanitizer. In addition to a sanitation concept for the decontamination of produce in the value chain, the presented method offers a possible application as an “in-process” surface sanitation. PPA provides antimicrobial-potent species, which are predominantly reactive nitrogen species (RNS); this has an outstanding groove penetration property. In an experimental approach, surfaces, made from materials, which are frequently used for the construction of food-processing plants, were inoculated with different microorganisms. Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 15313), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Escherichia coli (ATCC 10538), Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (ATCC 43971), and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis (ATCC 13076) are all microorganisms that frequently appear in foods and possess the risk for cross-contamination from the plant to the produce or vice versa. The contaminated samples were treated for various treatment times (1–5 min) with PPA of different antimicrobial potencies. Subsequently, the microbial load on the specimens was determined and compared with the load of untreated samples. As a result, reduction factors (RF) up to several log10-steps were obtained. Although surface and the bacterial strain showed an influence on the RF, the major influence was seen by a prolongation of the treatment time and an increase in the potency of the PPA.
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Hozák P, Jirešová J, Khun J, Scholtz V, Julák J. Shelf life prolongation of fresh strawberries by nonthermal plasma treatment. J FOOD PROCESS PRES 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jfpp.16150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- P. Hozák
- Department of Physics and Measurements University of Chemistry and Technology Prague Prague Czech Republic
| | - J. Jirešová
- Department of Physics and Measurements University of Chemistry and Technology Prague Prague Czech Republic
| | - J. Khun
- Department of Physics and Measurements University of Chemistry and Technology Prague Prague Czech Republic
| | - V. Scholtz
- Department of Physics and Measurements University of Chemistry and Technology Prague Prague Czech Republic
| | - J. Julák
- Institute of Immunology and Microbiology First Faculty of Medicine Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague Prague Czech Republic
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Milhan NVM, Chiappim W, Sampaio ADG, Vegian MRDC, Pessoa RS, Koga-Ito CY. Applications of Plasma-Activated Water in Dentistry: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084131. [PMID: 35456947 PMCID: PMC9029124 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The activation of water by non-thermal plasma creates a liquid with active constituents referred to as plasma-activated water (PAW). Due to its active constituents, PAW may play an important role in different fields, such as agriculture, the food industry and healthcare. Plasma liquid technology has received attention in recent years due to its versatility and good potential, mainly focused on different health care purposes. This interest has extended to dentistry, since the use of a plasma–liquid technology could bring clinical advantages, compared to direct application of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasmas (NTAPPs). The aim of this paper is to discuss the applicability of PAW in different areas of dentistry, according to the published literature about NTAPPs and plasma–liquid technology. The direct and indirect application of NTAPPs are presented in the introduction. Posteriorly, the main reactors for generating PAW and its active constituents with a role in biomedical applications are specified, followed by a section that discusses, in detail, the use of PAW as a tool for different oral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noala Vicensoto Moreira Milhan
- Oral Biopathology Graduate Program, São José dos Campos Institute of Science & Technology, São Paulo State University, UNESP, São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil; (A.d.G.S.); (M.R.d.C.V.); (C.Y.K.-I.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-12-991851206
| | - William Chiappim
- Plasma and Processes Laboratory, Department of Physics, Aeronautics Institute of Technology, Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes 50, São José dos Campos 12228-900, Brazil; (W.C.); (R.S.P.)
| | - Aline da Graça Sampaio
- Oral Biopathology Graduate Program, São José dos Campos Institute of Science & Technology, São Paulo State University, UNESP, São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil; (A.d.G.S.); (M.R.d.C.V.); (C.Y.K.-I.)
| | - Mariana Raquel da Cruz Vegian
- Oral Biopathology Graduate Program, São José dos Campos Institute of Science & Technology, São Paulo State University, UNESP, São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil; (A.d.G.S.); (M.R.d.C.V.); (C.Y.K.-I.)
| | - Rodrigo Sávio Pessoa
- Plasma and Processes Laboratory, Department of Physics, Aeronautics Institute of Technology, Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes 50, São José dos Campos 12228-900, Brazil; (W.C.); (R.S.P.)
| | - Cristiane Yumi Koga-Ito
- Oral Biopathology Graduate Program, São José dos Campos Institute of Science & Technology, São Paulo State University, UNESP, São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil; (A.d.G.S.); (M.R.d.C.V.); (C.Y.K.-I.)
- Department of Environment Engineering, São José dos Campos Institute of Science & Technology, São Paulo State University, UNESP, São Paulo 12247-016, Brazil
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5
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Microbiological Risk Assessment of Ready-to-Eat Leafy Green Salads via a Novel Electrochemical Sensor. CHEMOSENSORS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/chemosensors10040134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Nowadays, the growing interest in a healthy lifestyle, to compensate for modern stressful habits, has led to an increased demand for wholesome products with quick preparation times. Fresh and ready-to-eat leafy green vegetables are generally perceived as salutary and safe, although they have been recognized as a source of food poisoning outbreaks worldwide. The reason is that these products retain much of their indigenous microflora after minimal industrial processing, and are expected to be consumed without any additional treatment by consumers. Microbiological safety requires a systematic approach that encompasses all aspects of production, processing and distribution. Nevertheless, the most common laboratory techniques used for the detection of pathogens are expensive, time consuming, need laboratory professionals and are not able to provide prompt results, required to undertake effective corrective actions. In this context, the solution proposed in this work is a novel electrochemical sensing system, able to provide real-time information on microbiological risk, which is also potentially embeddable in an industrial production line. The results showed the sensor ability to detect leafy green salad bacterial contaminations with adequate sensibility, even at a low concentration.
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7
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Pilot-scale generation of plasma processed air and its influence on microbial count, microbial diversity, and selected quality parameters of dried herbs. INNOV FOOD SCI EMERG 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ifset.2021.102890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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8
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Bremenkamp I, Ramos A, Lu P, Patange A, Bourke P, Sousa-Gallagher M. Combined effect of plasma treatment and equilibrium modified atmosphere packaging on safety and quality of cherry tomatoes. FUTURE FOODS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fufo.2021.100011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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9
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Handorf O, Pauker VI, Weihe T, Schäfer J, Freund E, Schnabel U, Bekeschus S, Riedel K, Ehlbeck J. Plasma-Treated Water Affects Listeria monocytogenes Vitality and Biofilm Structure. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:652481. [PMID: 33995311 PMCID: PMC8113633 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.652481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Plasma-generated compounds (PGCs) such as plasma-processed air (PPA) or plasma-treated water (PTW) offer an increasingly important alternative for the control of microorganisms in hard-to-reach areas found in several industrial applications including the food industry. To this end, we studied the antimicrobial capacity of PTW on the vitality and biofilm formation of Listeria monocytogenes, a common foodborne pathogen. Results: Using a microwave plasma (MidiPLexc), 10 ml of deionized water was treated for 100, 300, and 900 s (pre-treatment time), after which the bacterial biofilm was exposed to the PTW for 1, 3, and 5 min (post-treatment time) for each pre-treatment time, separately. Colony-forming units (CFU) were significantly reduced by 4.7 log10 ± 0.29 log10, as well as the metabolic activity decreased by 47.9 ± 9.47% and the cell vitality by 69.5 ± 2.1%, compared to the control biofilms. LIVE/DEAD staining and fluorescence microscopy showed a positive correlation between treatment and incubation times, as well as reduction in vitality. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) indicated changes in the structure quality of the bacterial biofilm. Conclusion: These results indicate a promising antimicrobial impact of plasma-treated water on Listeria monocytogenes, which may lead to more targeted applications of plasma decontamination in the food industry in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Handorf
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Weihe
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jan Schäfer
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Greifswald, Germany
| | - Eric Freund
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Greifswald, Germany
| | - Uta Schnabel
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Greifswald, Germany
- School of Food Science and Environmental Health, College of Sciences and Health, Technological University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sander Bekeschus
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Greifswald, Germany
| | - Katharina Riedel
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jörg Ehlbeck
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Greifswald, Germany
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10
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Xiang Q, Fan L, Li Y, Dong S, Li K, Bai Y. A review on recent advances in plasma-activated water for food safety: current applications and future trends. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2020; 62:2250-2268. [PMID: 33261517 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2020.1852173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Plasma-activated water (PAW), the water or solutions treated with atmospheric cold plasma, is an eco-friendly technique with minimal changes in food products, making it a befitting alternative to traditional disinfection methods. Due to its potential microbicidal properties, PAW has been receiving increasing attention for applications in the food, agricultural, and biomedical fields. In this article, we aimed at presenting an overview of recent studies on the generation methods, physicochemical properties, and antimicrobial activity of PAW, as well as its application in the food industry. Specific areas were well discussed including microbial decontamination of food products, reduction of pesticide residues, meat curing, sprouts production, and disinfection of food contact materials. In addition, the factors influencing PAW efficiency were also well illustrated in detail, such as discharge parameters, types and amounts of microorganisms, characteristics of the liquid solution and food products, and treatment time. Moreover, the strategies to improve the efficacy of PAW were also presented in combination with other technologies. Furthermore, the salient drawbacks of this technology were discussed and the important areas for future research were also highlighted. Overall, the present review provides important insights for the application of PAW in the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qisen Xiang
- College of Food and Bioengineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, PR China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Cold Chain Food Quality and Safety Control, Zheng, PR China
| | - Liumin Fan
- College of Food and Bioengineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, PR China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Cold Chain Food Quality and Safety Control, Zheng, PR China
| | - Yunfei Li
- College of Food and Bioengineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, PR China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Cold Chain Food Quality and Safety Control, Zheng, PR China
| | - Shanshan Dong
- College of Food and Bioengineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, PR China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Cold Chain Food Quality and Safety Control, Zheng, PR China
| | - Ke Li
- College of Food and Bioengineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, PR China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Cold Chain Food Quality and Safety Control, Zheng, PR China
| | - Yanhong Bai
- College of Food and Bioengineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, PR China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Cold Chain Food Quality and Safety Control, Zheng, PR China
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11
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Characterization of Antimicrobial Effects of Plasma-Treated Water (PTW) Produced by Microwave-Induced Plasma (MidiPLexc) on Pseudomonas fluorescens Biofilms. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/app10093118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
For the decontamination of surfaces in the food production industry, plasma-generated compounds such as plasma-treated water or plasma-processed air offer many promising possibilities for future applications. Therefore, the antimicrobial effect of water treated with microwave-induced plasma (MidiPLexc) on Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilms was investigated. A total of 10 mL deionized water was treated with the MidiPLexc plasma source for 100, 300 and 900 s (pretreatment time) and the bacterial biofilms were exposed to the plasma-treated water for 1, 3 and 5 min (post-treatment time). To investigate the influence of plasma-treated water on P. fluorescens biofilms, microbiological assays (colony-forming units, fluorescence and XTT assay) and imaging techniques (fluorescence microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and atomic force microscopy) were used. The colony-forming units showed a maximum reduction of 6 log10 by using 300 s pretreated plasma water for 5 min. Additionally, a maximum reduction of 81% for the viability of the cells and a 92% reduction in the metabolic activity of the cells were achieved by using 900 s pretreated plasma water for 5 min. The microscopic images showed evident microbial inactivation within the biofilm even at the shortest pretreatment (100 s) and post-treatment (1 min) times. Moreover, reduction of the biofilm thickness and increased cluster formation within the biofilm was detected. Morphologically, the fusion of cell walls into a uniform dense cell mass was detectable. The findings correlated with a decrease in the pH value of the plasma-treated water, which forms the basis for the chemically active components of plasma-treated water and its antimicrobial effects. These results provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of inactivation of biofilms by plasma-generated compounds such as plasma-treated water and thus allow for further parameter adjustment for applications in food industry.
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12
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Adhikari B, Pangomm K, Veerana M, Mitra S, Park G. Plant Disease Control by Non-Thermal Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:77. [PMID: 32117403 PMCID: PMC7034391 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Disease stresses caused by pathogenic microorganisms are increasing, probably because of global warming. Conventional technologies for plant disease control have often revealed their limitations in efficiency, environmental safety, and economic costs. There is high demand for improvements in efficiency and safety. Non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma has demonstrated its potential as an alternative tool for efficient and environmentally safe control of plant pathogenic microorganisms in many studies, which are overviewed in this review. Efficient inactivation of phytopathogenic bacterial and fungal cells by various plasma sources under laboratory conditions has been frequently reported. In addition, plasma-treated water shows antimicrobial activity. Plasma and plasma-treated water exhibit a broad spectrum of efficiency in the decontamination and disinfection of plants, fruits, and seeds, indicating that the outcomes of plasma treatment can be significantly influenced by the microenvironments between plasma and plant tissues, such as the surface structures and properties, antioxidant systems, and surface chemistry of plants. More intense studies are required on the efficiency of decontamination and disinfection and underlying mechanisms. Recently, the induction of plant tolerance or resistance to pathogens by plasma (so-called "plasma vaccination") is emerging as a new area of study, with active research ongoing in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhawana Adhikari
- Plasma Bioscience Research Center, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kamonporn Pangomm
- Department of Basic Science, Maejo University Phrae Campus, Phrae, Thailand
| | - Mayura Veerana
- Plasma Bioscience Research Center, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sarmistha Mitra
- Plasma Bioscience Research Center, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Gyungsoon Park
- Plasma Bioscience Research Center, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, South Korea
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Chen C, Liu C, Jiang A, Guan Q, Sun X, Liu S, Hao K, Hu W. The Effects of Cold Plasma-Activated Water Treatment on the Microbial Growth and Antioxidant Properties of Fresh-Cut Pears. FOOD BIOPROCESS TECH 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11947-019-02331-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Choi EJ, Park HW, Kim SB, Ryu S, Lim J, Hong EJ, Byeon YS, Chun HH. Sequential application of plasma-activated water and mild heating improves microbiological quality of ready-to-use shredded salted kimchi cabbage (Brassica pekinensis L.). Food Control 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2018.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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15
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Schottroff F, Fröhling A, Zunabovic-Pichler M, Krottenthaler A, Schlüter O, Jäger H. Sublethal Injury and Viable but Non-culturable (VBNC) State in Microorganisms During Preservation of Food and Biological Materials by Non-thermal Processes. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2773. [PMID: 30515140 PMCID: PMC6255932 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state, as well as sublethal injury of microorganisms pose a distinct threat to food safety, as the use of traditional, culture-based microbiological analyses might lead to an underestimation or a misinterpretation of the product's microbial status and recovery phenomena of microorganisms may occur. For thermal treatments, a large amount of data and experience is available and processes are designed accordingly. In case of innovative inactivation treatments, however, there are still several open points with relevance for the investigation of inactivation mechanisms as well as for the application and validation of the preservation processes. Thus, this paper presents a comprehensive compilation of non-thermal preservation technologies, i.e., high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), pulsed electric fields (PEFs), pulsed light (PL), and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, as well as cold plasma (CP) treatments. The basic technological principles and the cellular and molecular mechanisms of action are described. Based on this, appropriate analytical methods are outlined, i.e., direct viable count, staining, and molecular biological methods, in order to enable the differentiation between viable and dead cells, as well as the possible occurrence of an intermediate state. Finally, further research needs are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Schottroff
- Institute of Food Technology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Antje Fröhling
- Quality and Safety of Food and Feed, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy, Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Anna Krottenthaler
- Institute of Food Technology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Oliver Schlüter
- Quality and Safety of Food and Feed, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Henry Jäger
- Institute of Food Technology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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Impact of a Pilot-Scale Plasma-Assisted Washing Process on the Culturable Microbial Community Dynamics Related to Fresh-Cut Endive Lettuce. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/app8112225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cold plasma is described as a promising technique for the treatment of fresh food. In particular, the application of plasma-treated water gained interest in fresh-cut produce processing. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of plasma-treated water (PTW) to decontaminate lettuce during washing on a pilot-scale level with special interest in the dynamics of the culturable microbial community in a first approach. PTW was used in pilot-scale washing at different processing steps, and the total viable count (TVC) of endive lettuce was determined after treatment and after storage (seven days, 2 °C). Microflora representatives were identified using MALDI-ToF MS. The highest reduction of TVC (1.8 log units) was achieved using PTW for washing whole lettuce before cutting. The microbial community structure showed high variations in the composition along the processing chain and during storage with a decrease in diversity after washing with PTW. PTW reduced the microbial load of endive lettuce; however, this was not clearly detectable at the end of storage, similar to other sanitizers used in comparable studies. To assure the safety of fresh products, detailed knowledge about the microbial load and the composition of the microbial community close to the end of shelf life is of high interest for optimized process design.
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