Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Welding/Sterilization and Sealing of Asceptic Food Packages

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The manufacturing of aseptic food packaging is limited in speed by the two critical and slow steps of sterilization and sealing which form two bottle.necks in production lines. The objectives of this research are to increase the rates of sterilization and sealing, evaluate the effect of sterilization onsealing, investigate alternative sealing (welding) techniques and study the effects of these processes on the formation of off flavors in the food. The Center for Welding Research (CWR), at Ohio State University and the Center for Aseptic Processing and Packaging Studies (CAPPS) at North Carolina State University are both Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers and are cost sharing and collaborating on this joint "Tie" research project. The researchers at CAPPS will study the use of electron beam irradiation for sterilization and its effect upon the creation of off flavors. Preliminary work shows irradiation to be faster and more effective than current methods. The researchers at CWR will study the use of laser and infrared sealing of aseptic packages. These new techniques permit faster, more localized, and more controlled heating than conventional methods. The effects of sterilization on sealing quality will be evaluated at CWR, while the effect of sealing on off flavor formation will be studied at CAPPS. The short term benefits of this work are to speed production and reduce cost of manufacturing of aseptic food packages. Long term benefits include improved understanding of sealing and sterilization leading to development of new processes and new specialty materials for aseptic food production. The Program Manger recommends a grant in the amount of $49,972 for two years.