Ultrasonic-assisted supercritical CO2 inactivation of bacterial spores and effect on the physicochemical properties of oil-in-water emulsions

Abstract

A combined supercritical carbon dioxide and high power ultrasound treatment (SC-CO2 + HPU) to inactivate spores while minimizing the physicochemical changes in emulsions was investigated. The inactivation kinetics were obtained for Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus and Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores and the effect of the treatment conditions on the quality of the emulsions was explored using response surface methodology. The treatment for 20 min at 95 °C and 350 bar was effective at inactivating B. subtilis and B. pumilus. Treated emulsions showed, in general, minimal changes in density and good stability, although the pH decreased and the droplet size increased. The treatment at 600 bar, 95 °C and 12.5 min permitted satisfactory B. subtilis and B. pumilus inactivation with minimal physicochemical changes in the emulsions. Therefore, the use of SC-CO2 + HPU could be a viable alternative for the preservation of emulsions using temperatures lower than those of thermal treatments.