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Collaborative project: Integration of bio-efficient physical detection and processing modules for sustainable cleaning and desinfection in the food production chain - subproject 5 (PROMONA)

Project


Project code: 281A108916
Contract period: 01.01.2020 - 30.06.2021
Budget: 112,510 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: hygiene, food safety, food processing, product safety, process quality

The aim of the project was to evaluate plasma technology (plasma-processed water, PPW) for on-demand cleaning of food conveyor belts after non-invasive detection of contaminations using a mobile sensor module. Cleaning of conveyor belts (silicone and PVC), contaminated with minced meat (50% beef/pork) and salmon, by pressurized water, foam and disinfectant reduced total bacterial counts by approximately 3 and 2 log10 CFU/cm², respectively. Substituting the disinfectant with PPW resulted in the same microbial reduction with a decrease in the required exposure time over 90% from 15 to 1 min. RGB colour measurement using an online sensor enables the monitoring of contaminations during the production process, since the L*a*b* colour values before and after washing could be differentiated statistically significant. In principle, previously used disinfectants can be replaced by environmentally friendly and faster-acting PPW and its application can be automated by means of sensor coupling.

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Subjects

Excutive institution

Silicann Systems GmbH

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