Effective of different industrial disinfection in subzero cold-chain environment

Abstract

Effective disinfection methods are crucial in the cold chain transportation process of food due to the specificity of temperature and the diversity of contaminated flora. The objective of this study was to investigate the sanitizing effect of different disinfectants on various fungi at - 20 °C to achieve accurate disinfection of diverse bacterial populations. Peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and potassium bisulfate were selected as low-temperature disinfectants and were combined with antifreeze. The sanitizing effect of these cryogenic disinfectants on pathogens such as Bacillus subtilis black variant spores (ATCC9372), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Candida albicans (ATCC 10231), Escherichia coli (8099), and poliovirus (PV-1) was sequentially verified by bactericidal and virus inactivation experiments. After a specified time of disinfection, a neutralizing agent was used to halt the sanitizing process. The study demonstrates that different disinfectants exhibit selective effects during the low-temperature disinfection process. Peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and potassium monopersulfate are suitable for the low-temperature environmental disinfection of bacterial propagules, viruses, and fungal contaminants. However, for microorganisms with strong resistance to spores, a low-temperature disinfectant based on peracetic acid should be chosen for effective disinfection treatment. Our results provide a valuable reference for selecting appropriate disinfectants to sanitize various potential pathogens in the future.

Keywords: Cold chain; Disinfection; Pathogens.

Figure 1

The disinfected effectivity of PAA, H₂O₂, and PMPS on Escherichia coli (A) and Staphylococcus aureus (B) under low-temperature conditions. * Indicates the comparison of PAA and PMPS, and # indicates the comparisons of PAA and H₂O₂. * or ^# P < 0.05.

Figure 2

The effectivity of PAA, H₂O₂, and PMPS on PV-1 under low-temperature conditions.

Figure 3

The effectivity of PAA, H₂O₂, and PMPS on Candida albicans under low-temperature conditions. * Indicate the comparison of PAA and PMPS, and ^# indicates the comparisons of PAA and H₂O₂. *** or ^### P < 0.001.

Figure 4

The effectivity of PAA, H₂O₂, and PMPS on Bacillus subtilis black variant spores under lowtemperature conditions. * indicate the comparison of PAA and PMPS, and ^# indicates the comparisons of PAA and H₂O₂. *** or ^### P < 0.001.