Pulsed Xenon light disinfection performance in food processing environments

预防由病原体污染引起的食源性疾病是一个持续关注的问题。虽然食品加工设备通常是清洁和消毒的，但有可能遗漏某些地方，这就可能造成污染。杀菌紫外线（UV）光在食品消毒方面的应用已经进行了研究，并取得了可喜的成果。然而，一种名为脉冲氙气（PX）闪光灯的新型紫外线技术却很少受到关注。PX技术具有一定的潜在优势，如更紧凑的形状，高功率输出，以及不使用传统UV灯使用的汞。合作组织Solaris消毒有限公司开发了PX消毒系统，目前用于医院的病原体控制，他们希望详细研究其在食品加工环境中的潜在应用，以开发和改进产品。因此，本项目将在模拟食品加工的条件下，例如在存在水和有机污染物质的情况下，研究PX系统的功效。对消毒机制和影响因素的研究将为合作伙伴提供科学依据，以便在必要时修改其设计，并将其应用于食品加工业。相信在食品加工中应用PX系统将有助于减少或消除设备表面的潜在污染，从而进一步提高加拿大的食品安全。

The prevention of food borne illness due to contamination by pathogens is an ongoing concern. Although food processing equipment is routinely cleaned and disinfected, it is possible to miss certain spots and this allows for possible contamination. Germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light has been studied for use in disinfecting food products in the past, with promising results. However, a new UV technology called Pulsed Xenon (PX) flash lamps has received much less attention. PX technologies have certain potential advantages, such as more compact shapes, high power output, and the lack of mercury that traditional UV lamps use. The partner organization, Solaris Disinfection Ltd., has developed PX disinfection systems that are currently used in hospitals for pathogen control, and it is their desire that the potential application in food processing environments be studied in detail for product development and refinement.Therefore, this project will examine the efficacy of the PX system under conditions simulating those in food processing, such as in the presence of water and organic soiling materials. Studies on the mechanisms of disinfection, as well as the factors that impact it, will provide the partner with the scientific basis to modify their designs if necessary, and to apply them in the food processing industry. It is believed that the application of PX systems in food processing will help to reduce or eliminate potential contamination by equipment surfaces, thus further improving Canadian food safety.