DE202020002412U1 - Arrangement of LED blue radiation to reduce bacteria, viruses, mold and yeast concentrations in juices - Google Patents

Abstract

Protection claim arrangement for preventing the growth and / or destruction of bacteria and / or viruses and / or molds and / or yeasts and / or spores in juices, characterized in that the juice with blue light in the wavelength range from 400 to 460 nm in a Arrangement is treated and the blue light is generated by LEDs.

Description

introduction

UV lamps in the wavelength range of 254 nm have long been used to disinfect water. This technology is sophisticated and implemented. The problem here is that this UV radiation is often considered to be hazardous to health and that it is usually not applicable to other liquids due to the high absorption at this wavelength.

For some years now, blue radiation (400 to 460 nm) has also been used for water disinfection in dentistry and cosmetics, as this wavelength range is harmless. In contrast to UV radiation, which is able to kill or eliminate bacteria, viruses, molds, yeasts and spores, a completely different process takes place. For some years now, LEDs have also been available that provide a suspended characteristic radiation in this wavelength range.

Scientific studies on disinfection with blue light have been around for about 10 years, especially by a working group at the Robertson Trust Laboratory for Electronic Sterilization Technologies (ROLEST) at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. The investigations were carried out with so-called HINS light (high-intensity narrowspectrum light) with an emission maximum at 405 nm. The effectiveness for a number of human pathogenic microorganisms, which belong to the groups of gram-positive, gram-negative and endospore-forming bacteria, yeasts, fungi and the Viruses belong to / 1 /. The method has been successfully tested for disinfection in clinical areas, among others.

Processes based on irradiation with blue light are already successfully used for acne therapy and in dentistry (405 nm - 470 nm) / 5 /. To combat mold in food, ASMETEC offers so-called METOLIGHT LED tubes to suppress the growth and toxin formation of mold for food storage rooms and transport vehicles (emission between 400 nm and 510 nm with a maximum at 460 nm). Further scientific work also shows a disinfection effect with regard to relevant infectious germs with emissions in different wavelength ranges can be realized / 2 - 6 /.

The treatment of juices with regard to long-term storage has so far been able to be carried out almost exclusively with the aid of the pasteurization process. The juice is briefly heated to 79 to 80 ° C. Thus germs, bacteria, fungi, yeasts and spores can be killed or reduced to such a concentration that they no longer or hardly multiply. The disadvantage of this method is a relatively high temperature, which in turn can lead to a change in the active substances in the juice, a relatively higher energy expenditure and the non-acceptance of corresponding consumers with regard to the heating of juices.

The aim of the utility model is to treat juices by means of energy-efficient blue LED radiation, in which bacteria, viruses, molds, yeasts, spores or the like present in the juice are killed or reduced to a minimum in a simple and inexpensive way.

The solution is that the juice is irradiated with the help of an LED blue radiation (light radiation) in the range from 400 to 460 nm. The specific wavelength is selected depending on the type of juice or the objective. One or more special wavelengths, e.g. 420 nm, can be used, which are particularly efficient in many applications. As a result, when the radiation passes through the juice, the corresponding germs, bacteria, viruses, etc. are destroyed or prevented to a minimum concentration and thus inhibited from further growth. LED emitters in the above-mentioned wavelength ranges are usually used for this purpose, since these are very inexpensive and can be easily constructed. Since different juices absorb differently in the ranges from 400 to 460 nm and the light has to reach the entire juice as far as possible, different methods are used depending on the type of juice. On the one hand, different wavelengths can be used in the above-mentioned ranges and / or different geometries. For example, the juice can run through a cylinder, with corresponding LEDs of wavelength λ1 being attached to the inside and / or outside of the cylinder, which operate in the above-mentioned wavelength ranges. LEDs with different wavelengths λ ₁ , λ ₂ , λ ₃ , etc. can also be attached, either side by side or one behind the other. This allows the juice to be treated with several wavelengths in the blue range at the same time. The LEDs can be offset (spiral-shaped) so that the radiation penetrates all volumes of the juice. In such an arrangement is shown.

In addition, plates can also be used on which LED elements in the above-mentioned wavelength ranges are applied. The juice is passed between these plates. Both the same and LEDs with different wavelengths (opposite, next to each other or one behind the other). This procedure is in the shown. Here, too, the LEDs can be staggered so that all volumes are effectively penetrated by the blue radiation.

Furthermore, multiple cylinder arrangements can also be used, different cylinders with different diameters being used, which have LED elements on the inside and / or outside that illuminate the juice flowing through. Here, too, LED elements of one or more wavelength ranges can be used next to one another or one behind the other. This procedure is in shown. Here, too, the LED elements can be staggered so that efficient irradiation is possible.

The respective distance d, which determines the thickness of the juice liquid to be irradiated, can be varied or adjusted. This happens depending on the absorption and the type of juice.

In the case of juices with low or negligible self-absorption in the area of blue radiation, it is also possible to use an immersion probe in which LEDs are arranged individually or in a ring along the probe.

The arrangements described can be used, for example, for the pretreatment of juice, for the aftertreatment of juice, for the treatment of the juice during storage, for juice for administration to children, but also for juice that is specifically intended for vegans. It is also possible to post-treat the juices during storage to prevent critical germs, spores or bacteria formation during storage. This is done sensibly in the transparent packaging, e.g. the bags from Bag-in-Box, whereby the bag is pressed to the feasible thickness between the LED plates.

1. /1/ J. G. Anderson, M. Maclean, G. A. Woosley, S. J. MacGregor: WO 2007/012875 A1 : Inactivation of gram-positive bacteria (2007)
2. /2/ T. Dai, A. Gupta, C. K. Murray, M. S. Vrahas, G. P. Tegos, M. R. Hamblin: Blue light for infection diseases: Propionibacterium acnes, Helicobacter pylori, and beyond ?, Drug Resistance Updates 4, 223-236 (2012)
3. /3/ B. Zhou: US 2012/0310307 A1 : Treatment of fungal infection by light irradiation (2012)
4. /4/ W. Peterson, C. A. Costello, S. F. Brown: Antimicrobial Efficacy of Visible Light Disinfection Systems as Applied in Laboratory, Controlled Environment, and Uncontrolled Public Space Copyright © 2014, Vital Vio, Inc .
5. /5/ J. De Lucca, C. Carter-Wientjes, K. A. Williams, D. Bhatnagar: Blue light (470 nm) effectively J.inhibits bacterial and fungal growth, Letters in Applied Microbiology 55, 460-466 (2012)
6. /6/ Lipovsky, Y. Nitzan, A. Gedanken, R. Lubart: Visible light-induced killing of bacteria as a function of wavelength: Implication for wound healing, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 42, 467-472 (2010)

It is also possible to attach a transmitter / receiver arrangement to the arrangement at the juice inlet in order to measure the absorption of the juice to be processed and to use this signal to select the optimal thickness and / or wavelength. The LEDs serve as the transmitter and a light-sensitive element attached to the opposite side as the receiver, for example a photodiode or photodiode matrix, which measure the incoming signal and this is used as a measure of the absorption. The transmitter LEDs can also be modulated for this purpose. This is in shown, but can be used for all arrangements.

1. / 1 / JG Anderson, M. Maclean, GA Woosley, SJ MacGregor: WO 2007/012875 A1 : Inactivation of gram-positive bacteria (2007)
2. / 2 / T. Dai, A. Gupta, CK Murray, MS Vrahas, GP Tegos, MR Hamblin: Blue light for infection diseases: Propionibacterium acnes, Helicobacter pylori, and beyond?, Drug Resistance Updates 4, 223-236 (2012)
3. / 3 / B. Zhou: US 2012/0310307 A1 : Treatment of fungal infection by light irradiation (2012)
4. / 4 / W. Peterson, CA Costello, SF Brown: Antimicrobial Efficacy of Visible Light Disinfection Systems as Applied in Laboratory, Controlled Environment, and Uncontrolled Public Space Copyright © 2014, Vital Vio, Inc .
5. / 5 / J. De Lucca, C. Carter-Wientjes, KA Williams, D. Bhatnagar: Blue light (470 nm) effectively J.inhibits bacterial and fungal growth, Letters in Applied Microbiology 55, 460-466 (2012)
6. / 6 / Lipovsky, Y. Nitzan, A. Denk, R. Lubart: Visible light-induced killing of bacteria as a function of wavelength: Implication for wound healing, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 42, 467-472 (2010)

List of reference symbols

1

- Juice

2 -

Blue emission 3 - LED

4 -

LED λ ₁

5 -

LED λ ₂

6 -

LED λ ₃

Legend for drawing 2

1

juice

2

Blue radiation

3

Photodiode or matrix

4th

LED

5

signal

6th

d

Legend for drawing 3

1

- Juice

2

- LEDs 3 - d

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• WO 2007/012875 A1 [0013]
• US 2012/0310307 A1 [0013]

Non-patent literature cited

• T. Dai, A. Gupta, C. K. Murray, M. S. Vrahas, G. P. Tegos, M. R. Hamblin: Blue light for infection diseases: Propionibacterium acnes, Helicobacter pylori, and beyond?, Drug Resistance Updates 4, 223-236 (2012) [0013]
• W. Peterson, C. A. Costello, S. F. Brown: Antimicrobial Efficacy of Visible Light Disinfection Systems as Applied in Laboratory, Controlled Environment, and Uncontrolled Public Space Copyright © 2014, Vital Vio, Inc [0013]
• J. De Lucca, C. Carter-Wientjes, K. A. Williams, D. Bhatnagar: Blue light (470 nm) effectively J. inhibits bacterial and fungal growth, Letters in Applied Microbiology 55, 460-466 (2012) [0013]
• Lipovsky, Y. Nitzan, A. Thought, R. Lubart: Visible light-induced killing of bacteria as a function of wavelength: Implication for wound healing, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 42, 467-472 (2010) [0013]

Claims (12)

Protection claim arrangement for preventing the growth and / or destruction of bacteria and / or viruses and / or molds and / or yeasts and / or spores in juices, characterized in that the juice with blue light in the wavelength range from 400 to 460 nm in a Arrangement is treated and the blue light is generated by LEDs. Protection claim arrangement according to point 1, characterized in that the juice is treated with blue light of one or more wavelengths in the range from 400 to 460 nm. Protection claim arrangement according to points 1 and 2, characterized in that the juice is treated with a wavelength of 420 nm. Protection claim arrangement according to items 1 to 3, characterized in that the arrangement is a cylinder, on the inside and / or outside of which LEDs are applied in the wavelength between 400 and 460 nm and the radiation runs into the center of the cylinder so that this flowing through juice shines through. Protection claim arrangement according to items 1 to 4, characterized in that the arrangement are plates, on the inside or outside of which the LEDs are applied with blue light and shine through the juice flowing through. Protection claim arrangement according to items 1 to 5, characterized in that the arrangement consists of several cylinders with different diameters, which are fitted inside one another, on the cylinder surface of which LEDs are applied inside and / or outside, which emit radiation in the range from 400 to 460 nm and the radiation runs inwards and / or outwards and that the radiation penetrates the juice flowing through it. Protection claim arrangement according to items 1 to 6, characterized in that the arrangement contains juices packaged in bottles or bags from bag-in-box packaging and the bottles or bags are irradiated with the blue light and this sporadically during storage or constantly happens during storage. Protection claim Arrangement according to items 1 to 7, characterized in that the arrangement is an immersion probe in which LEDs are arranged individually or in a ring along the probe. Protection claim arrangement according to items 1 to 8, characterized in that one or more light-sensitive elements are arranged at the entrance of the arrangement, which measure the radiation emitted by the opposite LED which passes through the juice and display it as a signal S. Arrangement according to points 1 to 9, characterized in that the signal S is used to set the optimum wavelength and / or the layer thickness of the juice to be irradiated. Protection claim arrangement according to items 1 to 10, characterized in that the layer thickness d of the juice to be irradiated can be set variably. Protection claim arrangement according to items 1 to 11, characterized in that the LED elements are offset and / or are arranged in a spiral shape on the arrangement.

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