Process for the destruction of microorganisms on a product
View Patent ↗A process for the destruction of microorganisms on a product using ultrasonic energy is disclosed. The process comprises contacting a product with an ultrasonic horn assembly and generating ultrasonic energy sufficient to result in a microorganism destruction rate of at least a 1-log kill.
1. A process for minimizing microorganisms on or in a product using ultrasonic energy, the process comprising:
contacting the product with an ultrasonic horn assembly comprising an ultrasonic horn and an anvil, and
generating a single pulse from the ultrasonic horn assembly for not more than about five seconds to excite the ultrasonic horn to an amplitude which generates ultrasonic energy at a frequency of an effective amount to destroy the microorganisms, wherein the ultrasonic energy results in a microorganism destruction rate of at least about a 1-log kill.
2. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pulse lasts for not more than about 4 seconds.
3. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pulse lasts for not more than about 3 seconds.
4. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pulse lasts for not more than about 2 seconds.
5. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pulse lasts for not more than about 1 second.
6. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the amplitude of the ultrasonic horn is less than about 0.013 centimeters.
7. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the amplitude of the ultrasonic horn is from about 0.0006 centimeters to about 0.006 centimeters.
8. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the amplitude of the ultrasonic horn is from about 0.004 centimeters to about 0.006 centimeters.
9. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the frequency of the ultrasonic energy is less than about 50 kHz.
10. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the frequency of the ultrasonic energy is from about 20 kHz to about 40 kHz.
11. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pulse is generated by air at a pressure of from about 0.01 MPa to about 0.5 MPa.
12. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pulse is generated by air at a pressure of from about 0.01 MPa to about 0.14 MPa.
13. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pulse is generated by air at a pressure of about 0.07 MPa.
14. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic horn is a rotary ultrasonic horn and wherein the anvil is a rotary anvil.
15. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the product is a piece of mail.
16. A process for minimizing microorganisms on or in a product using ultrasonic energy, the process comprising:
contacting the product with at least one ultrasonic horn assembly comprising an ultrasonic horn and an anvil, and
generating two to five pulses from the ultrasonic horn assembly for not more than about 1 second to excite the ultrasonic horn to an amplitude which generates ultrasonic energy at a frequency of an effective amount to destroy the microorganisms, wherein the ultrasonic energy results in a microorganism destruction rate of at least about a 1-log kill.
17. The process as set forth in claim 16 wherein each pulse lasts for about 0.5 seconds to about 1 second.
18. The process as set forth in claim 16 wherein the amplitude of the ultrasonic horn is less than about 0.013 centimeters.
19. The process as set forth in claim 16 wherein the amplitude of the ultrasonic horn is from about 0.004 centimeters to about 0.006 centimeters.
20. The process as set forth in claim 16 wherein the frequency of the ultrasonic energy is less than about 50 kHz.
21. The process as set forth in claim 16 wherein the frequency of the ultrasonic energy is from about 20 kHz to about 40 kHz.
22. The process as set forth in claim 16 wherein the pulse is generated by air at a pressure of from about 0.01 MPa to about 0.14 MPa.
23. The process as set forth in claim 16 wherein the pulse is generated by air at a pressure of about 0.07 MPa.
24. The process as set forth in claim 16 wherein the ultrasonic horn is a rotary ultrasonic horn and wherein the anvil is a rotary anvil.
25. The process as set forth in claim 16 wherein the product is a piece of mail.
26. A process for minimizing microorganisms on or in a product using ultrasonic energy, the process comprising:
contacting the product with at least one ultrasonic horn assembly comprising an ultrasonic horn and an anvil, and generating six to ten pulses from the ultrasonic horn assembly for not more than about 0.55 seconds to excite the ultrasonic horn to an amplitude which generates ultrasonic energy at a frequency of an effective amount to destroy the microorganisms, wherein the ultrasonic energy results in a microorganism destruction rate of at least about a 1-log kill.
27. The process as set forth in claim 26 wherein each pulse lasts for about 0.5 seconds to about 0.55 seconds.
28. The process as set forth in claim 26 wherein the amplitude of the ultrasonic horn is less than about 0.013 centimeters.
29. The process as set forth in claim 26 wherein the amplitude of the ultrasonic horn is from about 0.004 centimeters to about 0.006 centimeters.
30. The process as set forth in claim 26 wherein the frequency of the ultrasonic energy is less than about 50 kHz.
31. The process as set forth in claim 26 wherein the frequency of the ultrasonic energy is from about 20 kHz to about 40 kHz.
32. The process as set forth in claim 26 wherein the pulse is generated by air at a pressure of from about 0.01 MPa to about 0.14 MPa.
33. The process as set forth in claim 26 wherein the pulse is generated by air at a pressure of about 0.07 MPa.
34. The process as set forth in claim 26 wherein the ultrasonic horn is a rotary ultrasonic horn and wherein the anvil is a rotary anvil.
35. The process as set forth in claim 26 wherein the product is a piece of mail.