On the origin of the deviation from the first-order kinetics in inactivation of microbial cells by pulsed electric fields

Int J Food Microbiol. 2004 Feb 15;91(1):83-9. doi: 10.1016/S0168-1605(03)00321-0.

Abstract

A computer model was developed for the estimation of the kinetics of microbial inactivation by pulsed electric field (PEF). The model is based on the electroporation theory of individual membrane damage, where spherical cell geometry and distribution of cell sizes are assumed. The variation of microbial cell sizes was assumed to follow a statistical probability distribution of the Gaussian type. Surviving kinetics was approximated by Weibull equation. The dependencies of two Weibull parameters (shape n and time tau, respectively) versus electric field intensity E and width of cell diameters distribution were studied.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / growth & development*
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Food Microbiology*
  • Food Preservation / methods*
  • Kinetics
  • Mathematics
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Pulsatile Flow
  • Statistical Distributions