JPS5966866A - Sterilization in high-humidity refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sterilize the bacteria such as cryophilic bacteria in a high-humidity refrigerator, in a highly humid atmosphere, without affecting the quality of the fresh food, by spraying an aqueous solution of heavy water into the refrigerator. CONSTITUTION:A high-humidity refrigerator for the storage of fresh food, and having a humidity of >=60%, is sprayed with the mist of an aqueous solution of heavy water to exterminate the bacteria and to prevent the proliferation of the bacteria in the refrigerator. The concentration of heavy water in the solution is preferably 5-70vol%. When the concentration is higher than 70%, there occurs undesirable effect to the fresh food, and when it is <5vol%, the proliferation preventing effect for the bacteria cannot be attained. It is preferable in general to use a dilute solution for higher microorganisms and a concentrated solution for lower microorganisms.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sterilization method for storing fresh foods under refrigeration in a high humidity environment.

When fresh food is refrigerated, it is known that when the water in the food evaporates, the intracellular water concentration increases, disrupting homeostasis, causing denaturation of intracellular proteins and loss of freshness. Therefore, food is wrapped in plastic wrap or kept in a high humidity state in the refrigerator, but an environment with a storage temperature of around 0°C and a humidity of 60% or more provides sufficient moisture for microorganisms called psychrophiles. Under such an environment, the water activity (Aw) of psychrophilic bacteria is
It is extremely difficult to reduce only the value of The proliferation of these microorganisms naturally has a negative impact on maintaining the freshness of fresh foods.

The present invention was made for the purpose of sterilizing only bacteria such as psychrophilic bacteria in such a high humidity environment without having any adverse effect on fresh foods. Focusing on its growth-preventing effect, this product is characterized by spraying an aqueous solution of this in the form of a mist to kill bacteria in the refrigerator or prevent their growth. It is preferable that the heavy water concentration is 5 to 70 v/v%. 70v/v
If it exceeds 5%, it will have an adverse effect on fresh foods, and if it is less than 5v/v, the effect of inhibiting bacterial growth will not be obtained.

The peak point of heavy water is 101.4℃, and the freezing point is 3.8℃.
2O) higher. Heavy water concentration of 10% for higher animals such as rats
If you let them drink water, they will die, but lower creatures,
For example, if a fertilized sea urchin egg is placed in seawater with a concentration of 70% heavy water, it will immediately stop growing, but will not die. When these eggs are placed in normal seawater, they begin to grow again.

The present invention utilizes the action of heavy water to sterilize or inhibit the growth of bacteria, and it is thought that the growth-inhibiting effect is obtained based on the following principle. In water, proton exchange occurs constantly, in which hydrogen atoms from one water molecule are transferred to the next water molecule. In that sense, water molecules are by no means chemically stable compounds. So H2O
When D2O is dissolved in it, an exchange of H and D occurs, producing a molecule called HDO.

On the other hand, biopolymers such as proteins, nucleic acids, and sugars - NH3
It contains a large amount of groups such as -OH, -COOH, etc. The hydrogen atoms of these groups all exchange protons with water.

Therefore, when biological D2O is injected, some water-based atoms in the groups of biopolymers in the body are replaced with D because water circulates within the body at a high speed. This not only increases the degree of structuring of intracellular water, but also strengthens the interaction between biopolymers and water, which slows down biological reactions within the cell and the movement of substances across the cell membrane. As a result, nerve transmission and enzyme supply are also suppressed. This means that cell homeostasis is maintained by preventing bacteria that have formed in the warehouse from multiplying, and by suppressing intracellular water movement for fresh foods during storage. It is suitable for food storage in high humidity environments where bacteria are likely to grow.

When heavy water aqueous solutions of various concentrations were actually atomized and sprayed into a refrigerator containing fresh food, good results were obtained with an aqueous solution of 5 to 70% v/v, depending on the nature of the microorganisms.

Generally, it is better to use a dilute aqueous solution for higher microorganisms and a thicker aqueous solution for lower microorganisms. Finally, the effects of the method of the present invention will be explained using experimental results. The figure is a graph showing the number of viable bacteria/g of three samples of momen tofu stacked one above the other, depending on age and degree of storage. 0℃, humidity inside 100%
It can be clearly seen that the increase in the number of viable bacteria was suppressed when the 5v/v% heavy water aqueous solution was sprayed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure is an experimental graph showing the effect of the sterilization method of the present invention. Patent applicant: JIBCOM Co., Ltd. Same agent: Kunio Miura Waku

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) It is characterized by spraying an aqueous solution of heavy water in the form of a mist into a high-humidity refrigerator with an internal humidity of 60% or more where fresh foods are to be stored, to kill bacteria in the refrigerator or prevent their proliferation. A method of sterilizing inside a high humidity refrigerator. (2) The method for sterilizing a high-humidity refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the aqueous solution of heavy water is 5 to 70 v/v%.