EXTENDED VALIDATION OF DYNAMIC IRREVERSIBLE THERMOPORATION: A NOVEL THERMAL PROCESS FOR MICROBIAL INACTIVATION

A novel thermal treatment for microorganism inactivation, characterized by a very rapid temperature increase (up to 30C/s) and a low final temperature (up to 65C) maintained for a relatively short holding time, has been recently presented and tested by the authors, showing microbial load reduction greater than 5 log units against several common bacteria and yeasts. With the aim of extending the possible use of the new thermal treatment to a wider microorganisms class, in this work the dynamic irreversible thermoporation (DIT) treatment was further tested on a well-known thermoresistant strain, the Enterococcus hirae: The results of these new experimental tests confirmed the reliability of t…