| Pulsed UV light systems offer high peak power that has have been
shown to completely eradicate microorganisms and provide a higher
rate of sterilization than continuous mercury UV exposure. Pulsed
UV light is particularly useful in applications where continuous mercury
UV is unable to meet the requirements for complete DNA destruction,
process speed, penetration, low product temperature, personnel safety
and process flexibility. Pulsed UV offers faster processing, little
or no product temperature buildup, process flexibility, freedom from
toxic lamp materials, penetration of plastic packages, and ease of
meeting special lamp configuration requirements. The pulsed UV light
process is environmentally benign since it does not create or use
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or create suspended airborne particulates.
DNA Damage
The pulsed UV light causes formation of Pyrimidone dimers in DNA,
resulting in genetic damage to cells and their ultimate destruction.
Types of damage induced by pulsed UV light are: (a) photolysis;
(b) loss of colony-forming ability (death); (c) inability to support
phage growth (enzyme inactivation) and (d) destruction of nucleic
acid.
Food and Drug Administration Approves
Pulsed UV Light
Code 21CFR179.41 issued by the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Health and Human Services,
approves the use of Pulsed UV light in the production, processing
and handling of food.
Pulsed UV Light Benefits
The most important reasons for considering pulsed UV light systems
for sterilization are:
• Total DNA destruction
• Safety
• Inline production
• Temperature integrity
• Process effectiveness
• Process speed
• Process flexibility
• Free of toxic substances
• Worker-friendly (safe and easy to use)
• Minimum space requirements
Research Work on Pulsed
UV Light for Food and Related Applications
There is a great deal of work currently underway
at various Universities across the world to more fully understand
how Pulsed Light can be applied to solve many of the more difficult
heath issues facing industries such the agriculture, water and
food preparation. We have compiled a list of some of the more
recent research papers that have been published as well as papers
presented at key conferences reporting on the findings of these
research studies. We hope to update this list on a regular basis
to facilitate awareness of these important studies.
Research
Papers on Pulsed Light
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