JPH07156919A - Sterilization method of plastic container for drink - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a sterilization method which sterilizes plastic drink containers with a simple process and device without a residue of a sterilizing agent and also without restriction of materials of containers. CONSTITUTION:Ozone-water is forced to contact the inner wall and the outer wall of a plastic drink container to sterilize both inner and outer walls. Thereafter, hot water is sprayed to further sterilize both inner and outer walls and wash out the ozone-water.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for sterilizing beverage containers, especially plastic containers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plastic container such as a polyethylene terephthalate container (PET container) used for filling a beverage is filled with a sterilizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide before the beverage is packed. Also, after spraying the outer wall and the like, a sterilizing treatment is performed in which the sterilizing agent is dried with hot air. However, according to this method, the bactericidal agent remains on the inner wall of the container, which impairs the flavor of the packed beverage, which is particularly problematic in the case of tea beverages having a delicate flavor or drinking water. Further, since the remaining germicide is ingested together with the beverage, there is a problem that it impairs health.

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem,
Various proposals have been made. For example, JP-A-60-99
Japanese Patent No. 828 discloses a container sterilizer that sprays a sterilizing liquid (hydrogen peroxide solution) and then sprays a cleaning liquid to remove the sterilizing liquid.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-138931, a container is sprayed with a sterilizing agent (hydrogen peroxide solution, etc.) and then hot air is blown to dry the sterilizing agent. A method of washing off is described. However, these methods have a problem that the bactericide cannot be completely removed. Further, there is a problem that the process is complicated, the apparatus becomes huge, and the time required is long. Further, in JP-A-3-231674, the inner wall of a plastic bottle is heated to a sterilization temperature by hot water,
It describes a method of sterilization by heating the outer wall and holding the bottle at the sterilization temperature for a predetermined time. However, this method has a problem that it can only be used for heat-resistant plastic bottles because of the upper limit of heat-resistant temperature depending on the material of the plastic bottle. In any case, it can be used for plastic containers of any material, and can be completely sterilized by a simple process and device, there is no residue of the sterilizer on the inner wall of the container, and the influence on the beverage packed after sterilization is not affected. Absent,
There has been a demand for a method of sterilizing plastic containers for beverages.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an efficient and complete process in which a sterilizing agent does not remain on the inner and outer walls of a plastic container for beverages, and the container material is not limited, and a simple process and apparatus are used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sterilization method that can perform various sterilizations and does not affect the beverage packed after sterilization.

[0005]

According to the present invention, the ozone water having a sterilizing effect is brought into contact with the inner wall and the outer wall of the container, and then hot water having a high cleaning effect is used to spray the same on the inner wall and the outer wall of the container. It was made based on the knowledge that That is, the present invention is to provide a sterilizing method for a plastic container for beverages, characterized in that ozone water having a sterilizing effect and hot water having a high cleaning effect are combined, and the configuration of the gist thereof is for beverages. The purpose is to bring ozone water into contact with the inner and outer walls of a plastic container, and then spray hot water to sterilize it.

[0006]

By contacting the container with ozone water, the inner wall and outer wall of the container are first sterilized.

The ozone water is brought into contact with the container by jetting or by injecting a full amount into the container or by immersing the container in ozone water.

According to the sterilization method of the present invention, ozone water is brought into contact with the inner wall and the outer wall of a plastic container for beverage to sterilize the inner and outer walls, and then hot water is sprayed to further sterilize the inner and outer walls. The main point is to wash away the ozone water.

The ozone water used in the present invention is saturated ozone water obtained by bubbling ozone gas in water, and the ozone concentration thereof is 0.5 ppm or more, preferably 5 ppm.
Concentrations in the range from 1 to 10 ppm can be used in the present invention. If the concentration is lower than 0.5 ppm, the bactericidal effect may be insufficient, and if the concentration is higher than 10 ppm, the effect of the present invention can be obtained in the same manner, but the production of ozone water is expensive and the treatment of ozone water is difficult. Is inconvenient. It is preferable to use the ozone water in an amount of 0.2 times or more, preferably 0.5 times to 1.5 times the volume of the container to be sterilized. With such amount of ozone water,
The inner wall of the container to be sterilized can be uniformly contacted, and efficient and complete sterilization can be performed. The flow velocity of the ozone water is not particularly limited, but 150 ml / sec or more is preferably used, and more preferably 200 ml / sec.
2 seconds or more, preferably 5 seconds or more for the container
Spray for more than one second.

When a large amount of ozone water is injected into the container and is drained after holding, the liquid is drained after holding for 30 seconds or more, preferably 1 minute or more from the time of full filling. Also,
When the container is soaked in ozone water, 30 seconds or more, preferably 1 or more, from the time when the whole container is completely soaked in ozone water.
Hold for more than a minute.

As the hot water, any water can be used as long as it is sterilized water which has no offensive or offensive odor and is suitable for drinking. The temperature is 15 ° C. or higher, preferably 40 ° C. or higher, and more preferably. Is used at temperatures in the range of 60 ° C to 65 ° C. Although the effect of the present invention can be obtained even at a temperature of 65 ° C or higher, hot water of 15 ° C or higher is sufficient and economical in the method of the present invention, or heat resistance depending on the type of plastic material of the container is used. Can be used without consideration of sex. The amount of warm water used is 0.2 times or more of the capacity of the container to be sterilized, preferably by spraying an amount in the range of 0.5 times to 1.5 times, so that the inner wall of the container can be sufficiently contacted, Sterilization and residual ozone water can be completely removed. In addition, the flow velocity of the hot water is not particularly limited, but 150 ml / sec or more is preferably used, more preferably 200 ml / sec or more, and 2 seconds or more, preferably 5 seconds or more to the container. I do.

In the present invention, the contact or injection of the ozone water and the warm water with respect to the inner wall and the outer wall of the container is carried out by injection using a nozzle or the like, spraying, showering or the like. A method of injecting ozone water and warm water in an inverted state of the container is preferably used because ozone water and warm water are easily discharged from the container. For example, with the container inverted,
In the case of spraying to the inner wall of the container, it is sprayed from the container mouth into the interior of the container by a nozzle or the like, and in the case of the outer wall, spraying from a plurality of nozzles or moving the nozzles.

When a large amount of ozone water is injected into the container for contact with the inner wall, it may be injected with a nozzle or the like, or the container may be immersed in a tank filled with ozone water or the like. This can be done by injecting ozone water into the whole. Similarly, when the container is immersed in ozone water for contact with the outer wall, the entire container may be immersed in a tank filled with ozone water or the like. If the container is dipped in a tank filled with ozone water and the ozone water is introduced into the container, the contact between the inner wall and the outer wall of the ozone water can be performed at once.

In the present invention, it is efficient and preferable that the contact with ozone water and the injection of hot water are carried out continuously. Contacting or spraying on the inner wall and the outer wall of the container may be performed at the same time or sequentially. After the contact with the ozone water and the injection of the warm water, the beverage can be filled in the container as it is.

[0015]

[Example] As a plastic container, the inner diameter of the mouth is 38 m
m, and a PET container having an internal volume of 2000 ml was used. The inner wall and outer wall of the container were sterilized under the following conditions.

(Outer wall treatment) The PET container is inverted in the bottle carrier, and ozone water having an ozone concentration of 10 ppm is supplied from the upper and side shower nozzles for 5 seconds (flow rate 200 ml /
After spraying into the container, warm water at 65 ° C for 5 seconds (flow rate 200
(ml / sec) It was sprayed on the container.

This sample was designated as A. Under similar conditions,
After the ozone water was sprayed, 40 ° C. warm water was sprayed for 5 seconds to be sample B, and 15 ° C. warm water for 5 seconds to be sample C. Further, after the PET container was immersed in a tank filled with ozone water of the same concentration for 1 minute, hot water of 65 ° C., hot water of 40 ° C. and hot water of 15 ° C. were sprayed on the container for 5 seconds (flow rate 200 ml / second). Those were designated as samples D, E and F, respectively.

(Inner wall treatment) Following the outer wall treatment of samples A, B and C, ozone water having an ozone concentration of 10 ppm was passed through the nozzle from the mouth of the PET container for 5 seconds while the PET container was inverted with respect to the container carrier. (Flow rate 200 ml /
After spraying, warm water of 65 ° C., warm water of 40 ° C. or warm water of 15 ° C. was sprayed for 5 seconds (flow rate 200 ml / sec) respectively. Note that in samples A, B, and C, hot water having the same temperature as that used in the outer wall treatment was used in the inner wall treatment. Further, in Samples D, E and F, ozone water of the same concentration was injected into the container by a nozzle in a full amount, held for 1 minute, drained, and then discharged at 65 ° C. hot water, 40 ° C. hot water and 1 ° C., respectively.
Samples D, E, and F were prepared by spraying warm water at 5 ° C. on the container for 5 seconds (flow rate 200 ml / second). Samples D, E and F used hot water having the same temperature as that used in the outer wall treatment also in the inner wall treatment.

The PET container samples A, B, C, D, E and F which have been subjected to the above-mentioned outer wall treatment and inner wall treatment are filled with aseptic mineral water at room temperature in a clean room, and the container mouth is closed with an aseptic cap. It was A plurality of PET container samples A, B filled with this mineral water,
A plurality of C, D, E and F were prepared and stored at room temperature, and after 1 month and 1 year, the opened and filled mineral water was observed, but there was no deterioration and there was a problem with storability. No, the flavor of mineral water was not impaired, and it was sensually excellent.

[0020]

According to the method of the present invention, by contacting and spraying ozone water and warm water with the inner wall and outer wall of a plastic container, the disinfectant does not remain on the inner wall of the container. Even if the ozone in the ozone water used as a germicide naturally decomposes, there is no effect on the beverage packed in the container, and the inner and outer walls of the plastic container can be simply and efficiently and completely sterilized. You can Therefore, the flavor of the beverage filled in the container after sterilization is not impaired, and the safety of the beverage is not impaired.
Further, since the ozone water and the warm water can perform complete sterilization, the shelf life of the beverage is also good. Further, since the material can be applied without considering the heat resistance of the material of the plastic container, the material suitable for the beverage packed in the container can be freely selected, and the sterilization method of the present invention can be applied.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A method for sterilizing a plastic container, which comprises contacting ozone water with the inner wall and outer wall of a plastic container for beverage, and then spraying warm water to sterilize the container. 2. The contact between the ozone water according to claim 1 and the inner wall of the container is that the ozone water is sprayed or a large amount of ozone water is injected into the container and the liquid is drained after being held. How to sterilize plastic containers. 3. The plastic container characterized in that the contact between the ozone water according to claim 1 and the outer wall of the container is jetting of the ozone water or holding the container completely immersed in the ozone water. Sterilization method. 4. A sterilizing method for a plastic container, wherein the ozone concentration of the ozone water according to claim 1 is 0.5 ppm or more. 5. A method for sterilizing a plastic container, wherein the hot water according to claim 1 is water heated to 15 ° C. or higher. 6. A method for sterilizing a plastic container, wherein the hot water according to claim 1 is water heated to 40 ° C. or higher.