Pulsed UV-B Sanitization for Food Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sanitizing and sterilizing methods for containers in the food and beverage industry are inefficient, time-consuming, and environmentally problematic due to residual contamination issues, especially with complex geometries, and involve the use of harsh chemicals that are costly and difficult to dispose of.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing controlled exposure to high-intensity, pulsed electromagnetic radiation, particularly UV-B radiation, to sanitize and sterilize containers and enclosures, which is mercury-free and ozone-free, with exposure durations of less than 30 seconds and pulse durations of less than 2 milliseconds, achieving significant Log reductions in undesirable matter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional chemical washing methods are used to sanitize containers, then sanitization effectiveness is achieved, but residual contamination remains in complex geometries and chemical disposal becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical washing systems with an electromagnetic radiation system. Specifically, it uses pulsed electromagnetic radiation sources (such as pulsed xenon flash lamps) to sanitize containers, eliminating the need for chemical surfactants, anti-bacterial agents, and anti-septic agents. The electromagnetic radiation directly destroys microorganisms and contaminants without leaving residual chemicals, thereby resolving the contradiction between sanitization effectiveness and chemical residue elimination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the sanitization process by using high-intensity pulsed electromagnetic radiation with specific wavelength ranges (including UV, visible, and infrared). The pulse duration is controlled to be between 0.1 to 100 milliseconds, and the radiation intensity is adjusted to achieve effective sanitization. This parameter change allows sanitization without chemical substances, eliminating residual contamination issues while maintaining or improving sanitization effectiveness.
2Loss of substance
If multiple rinse cycles are used to remove chemical residues, then residual contamination is reduced, but processing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the multi-step chemical washing and rinsing process with a single electromagnetic radiation treatment step. The pulsed electromagnetic radiation system sanitizes containers in seconds without requiring subsequent rinse cycles, as no chemical residues remain to be removed. This substitution directly resolves the time loss associated with multiple rinse cycles while achieving complete elimination of residual contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sanitization function from the chemical washing process and implements it as a separate, independent electromagnetic radiation step. This extraction eliminates the need for the entire chemical washing sequence including multiple rinses, reducing the process to a single fast treatment step that leaves no residues, thereby dramatically reducing processing time while maintaining sanitization effectiveness.
3Reliability
If harsh chemicals are used for sanitization, then microorganism elimination is effective, but environmental disposal costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical-based sanitization with an electromagnetic radiation-based system. The pulsed electromagnetic radiation (including UV, visible, and infrared wavelengths) directly destroys microorganisms through photochemical and thermal effects without introducing any harmful chemicals into the environment. This substitution eliminates all chemical waste disposal issues and environmental hazards associated with harsh sanitizing chemicals, while maintaining effective microorganism elimination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful high-intensity electromagnetic radiation into a beneficial sanitization tool by carefully controlling pulse duration and wavelength distribution. The radiation pulses are designed to be intense enough to destroy microorganisms and contaminants but brief enough to avoid damaging the container materials. This approach transforms electromagnetic radiation from a potentially harmful energy form into a safe and effective sanitization method that produces no harmful waste, resolving the contradiction between microorganism elimination and environmental impact.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively sanitizes and sterilizes containers and enclosures with a high Log reduction in undesirable matter in a short time, avoiding chemical residues and environmental hazards, while being cost-effective and suitable for complex geometries.
Implementation Method 1
controlled exposure to high-intensity, pulsed electromagnetic radiation, including predetermined wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for sanitizing/sterilizing a container/enclosure for use in the food industry or the beverage industry comprising the steps of: providing a container and/or enclosure; providing an electromagnetic radiation source; controllably exposing the container and/or enclosure to electromagnetic radiation from the electromagnetic radiation source for a period of time; and at least one of sanitizing and sterilizing at least a portion of the container and/or enclosure with the electromagnetic radiation.