Inactivation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by combined high pressure carbon dioxide and high pressure homogenization

Abstract

A combined treatment of high pressure carbon dioxide (HPCD) and high pressure homogenization (HPH) was investigated to inactivate Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a phosphate buffered solution. The inactivation kinetics, protein leakage, particle size distribution, SEM images, and TEM images of Saccharomyces cerevisiae exposed to HPH alone, HPCD alone, and the combined treatment of HPCD and HPH (HPCD+HPH) were studied. Results showed that HPCD+HPH was superior to HPH alone and HPCD alone in the inactivation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The inactivation kinetics of the combined treatment exhibited a fast-slow biphasic curve. The synergic bactericidal ability of HPCD+HPH could be attributed to the enhancing effect of HPH on CO2 germicidal capability. The possibility of the combination of HPH and HPCD for microbial inactivation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was validated, and the combined treatment has the potential to be a viable approach for microbial inactivation.