Perimetric Distributed UV Reactor and Its Validation and the Decontamination of Fresh Broccolis

The ultraviolet (UV) irradiation as a non-thermal processing technique for microbial decontamination of food (MDF) has been the gainer in many variations after the inclusion of UV light as an alternative for MDF by the US FDA. However the lasts years increase the application of the UV light in food, water and pharmaceutical utilization. In this report, we describe a new type of reactor, where the UV emitters are parametrically distributed for decontaminating fresh broccolis. We described the constructed reactor and its characterization with the validation of the system with controlled contaminated broccolis. The overall liquid was contamined with 105 UFC/mL E. coli operating with a flow rate of 80 L/min in 30 L and six lamps in the reactor and the collection of samples in intervals of 25 min. The E. coli used in this experiment was eliminated in 99,99% The intensity of UVC light distributed in the internal part of the reactor is practically homogeneous due to the developed geometry. The kinetics of microbial death presented no great influence on this variation. That is, any volume of water contained in the process can be decontaminated. A relation between UV and the flow rate was stablished. The system demonstrated its capacity in inactivating the microorganism.