Inactivation of Escherichia coli and Vibrio parahaemolyticus on polypropylene plastic container surfaces by non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Ji Yoon; Song, Min Gyu; Jeon, Eun Bi; Choi, Eun Ha; Lim, Jun Sup; Park, Shin Young
• Is Part Of: Journal of food engineering. Volume 338(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Analyse -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Recherche -- Périodiques; 664.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2022.111253
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0260-8774

Abstract

Abstract: We conducted a study on the antibacterial effect of dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBDP) treatment on Escherichia coli and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which cause food poisoning on the surface of polypropylene (PP) plastic containers. The initial concentrations of E. coli on PP plastic surfaces were 7.02 log CFU/coupon, and 6.50–5.37 log CFU/coupon in 5–60 min of DBDP treatment, respectively. In particular, the 60 min-treatment showed a high reduction of 1.65 log CFU/coupon (97.81% reduction). For V. parahaemolyticus, the control was 7.17 log CFU/coupon, with results of 6.81–6.13 log CFU/coupon in 5–60 min treatment, respectively. The D-values were 26.5 and 61.2 min, respectively (R 2 ; 0.95 for E. coli, 0.96 for V. parahaemolyticus ), showing significant differences ( P < 0.05). The 60 min of DBDP treatment can be an eco-friendly sterilization method that reduces more than 90% of bacteria from the PP plastic surfaces and has no physical effect. Furthermore, it will able be effectively applied to plastic or food production industry through more diverse and extensive studies on surface sterilization of DBDP. Therefore, we suggest DBDP as a novel commercial sterilization strategy against pathogenic bacteria including E. coli and V. parahaemolyticus on polypropylene plastic surfaces. Highlights: Reductions of E. coli on PP plastic surfaces after 5–60 min treatment of DBDP were 0.52–1.65 log CFU/coupon. Reductions of V. parahaemolyticus on PP plastic surfaces after 5–60 min treatment of DBDP were 0.36–1.04 log CFU/coupon. D-values of E. coli and V. parahaemolyticus were 26.5 and 61.2 min of DBDP, respectively. DBDP treatment of PP surfaces can be proposed as a feasible technology for commercial surface sterilization.