Researchers at the
Pennsylvania State University (PSU) have teamed up with US-based pulsed-light developers,
Xenon, to investigate whether or not pulsed ultraviolet light can sterilize food.
Current methods of killing spores and bacteria on food are largely based on mercury-emitting lamps and gamma rays. However, toxins released during these processes can damage health, which makes photochemical sterilization with ultraviolet light an attractive alternative. Ali Demirci, assistant professor at PSU's Agricultural and Biological Engineering department, says that pulsed-light methods are already effective in making medical equipment germ-free, and is hopeful that the technology can be used on food.
"We are testing [pulsed-light sterilization] on food and biological applications to see if it will provide an effective method of destroying microorganisms at, or close to a [contaminated] surface," Demirci said. "This approach is safer than mercury lamps and other methods."
Xenon's lamp kills microbes by firing narrow pulses of light at a contaminated surface. The light breaks organic molecular bonds, which dissociate a microbe's DNA and prevent reproduction. Lou Panico, chief executive of Xenon, is keen to drive his technique forward.
"We expect the Xenon Steripulse system to have far-reaching applications, " he said. "Other areas could include optical lenses, pharmaceuticals and farm fisheries."
A US company
PurePulse Technologies uses broadband pulsed light, which includes UV wavelengths between 200-300 nm, for sterilization applications largely in the medical and commercial water industries.
