Bacterial spore inactivation by ultra-high pressure homogenization

• Ultra high pressure homogenization was tested to inactivate bacterial spores.
• Bacterial spores of B. subtilis PS832 and G. stearothermophilus ATCC7953 were used.
• P > 300 MPa and Tvalve > 145 °C were needed to obtain a strong inactivation.
• No germination of bacterial spores was triggered by UHPH.
• UHPH shows a strong potential for continuous high pressure food sterilization.

A new generation of high pressure homogenizers reaching up to 400 MPa offers opportunities for spore inactivation and high pressure sterilization of foods. A Stansted Fluid Power ultra-high pressure homogenization (UHPH) unit was tested to inactivate bacterial spores in a model buffer system. Bacillus subtilis PS832 and Geobacillus stearothermophilus ATCC7953 spores’ thermal resistances were assessed (D, z-value and Ea). The pressure and valve temperature were monitored during UHPH. Residence times under pressure and high temperature were estimated and enabled comparison with thermal inactivation, indicating the estimated thermal contribution to inactivation. Spore germination was also assessed but no germination was observed. Up to five log10B. subtilis and two log10G. stearothermophilus spores were inactivated by the harshest treatments (> 300 MPa –Tvalve > 145 °C for ~ 0.24 s). The inactivation profiles were similar to the predicted thermal inactivation suggesting that the valve temperature might be a dominant parameter leading to bacterial spore inactivation.Industrial relevanceThis work showed the UHPH potential for spore inactivation and the need of highly thermoresistant surrogates for process validation, for instance, G. stearothermophilus ATCC7953 spores. Both these findings are highly relevant for industrial application as, to date, no surrogate for this process was suggested while the first patents for the technology transfer to industry are being issued.