Heat Sterilization Research Articles

Equipment Validation of Moist Heat Sterilization

Equipment Validation of Moist Heat Sterilization

The binding mechanism of oat phenolic acid to whey protein and its inhibition mechanism against AGEs as revealed using spectroscopy, chromatography and molecular docking.

Heat sterilization of dairy products can promote the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), protein oxidation products (POPs) and α-dicarbonyl compounds, which have a significant influence on health due to the close association of these products with diabetes complications. In this study, eight oat phenolic acids were first analyzed for their inhibitory effect against AGEs formation. Due to their strong inhibitory effects and structural differences, caffeic acid (CA) and gallic acid (GA) were further selected to assess their anti-glycosylation mechanisms using spectroscopy, chromatography and molecular docking. CA/GA reduced the production of total AGEs and POPs in various bovine milk simulation models and protected whey proteins from structural modifications, oxidation, and cross-linking. Comparative analyses showed a structure-effect relationship between CA/GA and AGEs inhibition. Oat phenolic acids against AGEs and POPs might be related to the unique bonding of key amino acid residues in whey proteins, the inhibitory role of early fructosamine and the trapping of reactive α-dicarbonyl groups to form adducts. In conclusion, oat phenolic acids might present a promising dietary strategy to alleviate AGEs production and glycation of proteins in dairy products upon storage.

Investigation of the Structure and Allergic Potential of Whey Protein by Both Heating Sterilization and Simulation with Molecular Dynamics.

As the main allergens in milk, whey proteins are heat-sensitive proteins and are widespread in dairy products and items in which milk proteins are involved as food additives. The present work sought to investigate the effect of heating sterilization on the allergenicity of α-lactalbumin (α-LA) and β-lactoglobulin (β-LG), the main composite and allergen in whey protein isolate (WPI), by combining molecular dynamics with experimental techniques for detecting the spatial structure and IgE binding capacity. The structure of WPI was basically destroyed at heat sterilization conditions of 95 °C for 5 min and 65 °C for 30 min by SDS-PAGE analysis and spectroscopic analysis. In addition, α-lactalbumin (α-LA) may be more sensitive to temperature, resulting in exposure to allergic epitopes and increasing the allergic potential, while the binding capacity of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) to IgE was reduced under 65 °C for 30 min. By the radius of gyration (Rg) and root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) plots calculated in molecular dynamics simulations, α-LA was less structurally stable at 368 K, while β-LG remained stable at higher temperatures, indicating that α-LA was more thermally sensitive. In addition, we observed that the regions significantly affected by temperatures were associated with the capacity of allergic epitopes (α-LA 80-101 and β-LG 82-93, 105-121) to bind IgE through root-mean-standard fluctuation (RMSF) plots, which may influence the two major allergens. We inferred that these regions are susceptible to structural changes after sterilization, thus affecting the allergenicity of allergens.

Marty Roberts; The Man Who Brought Sorbent Dialysis to Life.

Marty Roberts; The Man Who Brought Sorbent Dialysis to Life.

Improving Simulations of Rice in Response to Temperature and CO2

Crop models are frequently used to assess the impact of climate change responses. Evaluation of model performance against empirical data is crucial to establish confidence, particularly for rice (Oryza sativa L.), one of the world’s important cereal crops. Data from soil-plant-atmosphere-research (SPAR) chambers and field plots were used to assess three versions of the ORYZA model to a range of climate conditions. The three versions were: V1–the original, V2–V1 plus a revised heat stress component, and V3–V2 plus a coupled leaf-level gas exchange algorithm. Comparison against SPAR datasets, which covered a range of temperatures at two CO2 levels, indicated successive improvement in yield predictions with the model version. Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) decreased by 520 and 647 kg ha−1 for V2 and V3, respectively, and Wilmott’s index of agreement improved by 10 and 12% compared with V1 when averaged across 20 treatments and three cultivars. Similar improvements were observed from 17 field dataset simulations with two additional varieties. These results indicated the importance of improving heat sterility functions and carbon assimilation methodologies that incorporate direct responses to air temperature and CO2 concentration in rice models. Accounting for cultivar differences in thermal sensitivity is also an important consideration for climate assessments.

Effects of sterilization methods on the survival of pathogenic bacteria in potting soil stored at various temperatures

Fresh food products can be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria in various agricultural environments. Potting soil is sterilized by heat sterilization and then reused. This study evaluated the effects of three sterilization methods (non-sterilized, pasteurized, and sterilized) on the survival of pathogenic bacteria in potting soil during storage for 60 days at 5, 15, 25, and 35 °C. The reduction in Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus in potting soil was higher at higher temperatures (25 and 35 °C) than at lower temperatures (5 and 15 °C). The population of pathogenic bacteria in pasteurized and sterilized potting soil was reduced below the detectable levels within 30 days at 35 °C. In contrast, the population of Bacillus cereus did not change in potting soil during storage for 60 days at all temperatures. These results indicate that sterilization and storage temperature of potting soil are critical factors influencing the survival of pathogenic bacteria.

Dry heat sterilization modelling for spacecraft applications.

Inactivation processes using heat are widely used for disinfection and sterilization. Dry heat sterilization of spacecraft equipment has been the preferred microbial inactivation method as part of interplanetary travel protection strategies. An antimicrobial model, based on temperature and exposure time based on experimental data, was developed to provide reliable sterilization processes to be used for interplanetary applications. Bacillus atrophaeus spores, traditionally used to challenge dry heat sterilization processes, were tested over a range of temperatures in comparison with spores of Bacillus canaveralius that have been shown to have a higher heat resistance profile. D-value and Z-values were determined and used to develop a mathematical model for parametric sterilization applications. The impact of the presence of a contaminating soil, representative of Mars dust, was also tested to verify the practical application of the model to reduce the risk of microbial contamination in such environments. The sterilization model developed can be used as an intrinsic part of risk reduction strategies for interplanetary protection. Forward and backward planetary protection strategies to reduce the risks of microbial contamination during interplanetary exploration and research is an important consideration. The development of a modern sterilization model, with consideration of microorganisms identified with higher levels of heat resistance than traditionally deployed in terrestrial applications, allows for the consideration of optimal inactivation processes to define minimum criteria for engineering design. The ability to inactivate living microorganisms, as well as to degrade biomolecules, provides a reliable method to reduce the risk of known and potentially unknown contaminants in future applications.

A state-of-the-art guide to the sterilization of thermoplastic polymers and resin materials used in the additive manufacturing of medical devices

Continuous development of additive manufacturing technologies has reached new areas, including medical research and healthcare applications, where precision, highly accurate reproducibility, disinfection, or even sterility of the end product is essential. The study aims to critically evaluate the effect of different sterilization and disinfection methods for most commonly used additive manufacturing technologies and materials in medical device development: PLA (polylactic acid), PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), and HIPS (high impact polystyrene) for material extrusion technology (FFF; fused filament fabrication), polyamide (PA2200) for powder bed fusion technology (SLS; selective laser sintering), MED610™ for PolyJet™ material jetting, and standard Formlabs™ white resin (V4) for SLA (stereolithography) technology. The materials were tested before and after different sterilization and disinfection protocols, including treatment with 70% ethanol, chlorine solution, H2O2 plasma sterilization, autoclave and dry heat sterilization, applying 10 and 20 cycles in all cases. Bacteriostatic/fungistatic and sterility tests were performed using Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans as reference strains. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using A549 cells. The samples showed significant structural or aesthetic alterations detected by various mechanical tests, scanning electron microscopy, or differential scanning calorimetry (DSC-TGA). No significant cytotoxic effect was revealed during the experiment. Our results can serve as a guide for the selection of effective sterilization and disinfection methods for the most common materials used in 3D printing in medical and healthcare applications.

Balsam Poplar Buds: Extraction of Potential Phenolic Compounds with Polyethylene Glycol Aqueous Solution, Thermal Sterilization of Extracts and Challenges to Their Application in Topical Ocular Formulations.

Phenolic compounds of natural origin have been valued for their beneficial effects on health since ancient times. During our study, we performed the extraction of phenolic compounds from balsam poplar buds using different concentrations of aqueous polyethylene glycol 400 solvents (10–30% PEG400). The aqueous 30% PEG400 extract showed the best phenolic yield. The stability of the extract during autoclave sterilization was evaluated. The extract remained stable under heat sterilization. Ophthalmic formulations are formed using different concentrations (8–15%) of poloxamer 407 (P407) together with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (0.3%), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (0.3%) or hyaluronic acid (0.1%). Physicochemical parameters of the formulations remained significantly unchanged after sterilization. Formulations based on 12% P407 exhibited properties characteristic of in situ gels, the gelation point of the formulations was close to the temperature of the cornea. After evaluating the amount of released compounds, it was found that, as the concentration of polymers increases, the amount of released compounds decreases. Formulations based on 15% P407 released the least biologically active compounds. Sterilized formulations remained stable for 30 days.

Combined treatment of ε-polylysine and heat damages protective structures and spore inner membranes to inactivate Bacillus subtilis spores

The sterilizing effect of a combination of heat (80, 90, and 100 °C) and ε-polylysine (ε-PL, 0.25 and 1 g/L) treatments on Bacillus subtilis spores was investigated and compared with that of conventional heat sterilization. The inactivation rate of spores and changes in their protective structure were evaluated using different methods and techniques. Changes in cell membrane's fatty acids, cell walls, proteins and nucleic acids were also analyzed. The results showed that the combined heat and ε-PL treatments significantly (p < 0.05) inactivated the Bacillus subtilis spores compared with the single heat treatment. Besides, the inactivation of spores was enhanced as the temperature and ε-PL concentration of combined treatments increased. The inactivation rate was found to be 2.18 log after heating at 90 °C for 60 min combined with the addition of 1 g/L ε-PL. Additionally, the electrical conductivity of spores' suspension and the positive region of flow cytometry significantly (p < 0.05) increased depending on temperature and ε-PL concentration of a combination treatment, indicating significant damage in the cell membranes and increased permeability. Significant changes in the spore morphology were also observed by the microscopy analysis after a combination treatment. Furthermore, the Fourier transform infrared spectra indicated a phase change in the inner membrane and alteration in the structure of peptidoglycan layer, as well as protein and nucleic acids denaturation after combined treatments. Therefore, the combined heat and ε-PL treatments can be suggested as sterilizing alternative to conventional heat sterilization in the food industry.

Preventing the Transmission of Murine Norovirus to Mice (Mus musculus) by Using Dry-heat Sterilization.

A critical component of an animal care biosecurity plan includes the sterilization of materials that come into direct contact with the animals. Dry-heat sterilization is gaining popularity in animal research facilities due to lower cost, less space utilization, no water usage, and the ability to sterilize water-sensitive materials. Currently, dry-heat sterilization ovens are validated against Bacillus atropheus spore strips with the assumption that a lack of sporulation is equivalent to successful sterilization. However, no published studies describe sterilization of rodent cages that contain relevant rodent pathogens by using this method. To determine if a dry-heat sterilizer can sterilize rodent cages and bedding against relevant rodent pathogens, we created murine norovirus (MNV)-contaminated cages by using mice with known MNV infection and shedding. The contaminated cages were either sterilized with the dry-heat sterilizer or not sterilized. Naïve, 4-wk-old, CD-1 mice were placed in the dry-heat-sterilized cages, contaminated unsterilized cages, or standard autoclaved cages for 2 wk. The mice were subsequently placed into clean, autoclaved cages for the remainder of the study. Fresh fecal pellets were collected at weeks 0, 12, and 16 and submitted for MNV PCR. Whole blood was collected for MNV serology at weeks 0, 8, 12, and 16. At week 16, all mice that had been in the unsterilized contaminated cages were positive for MNV by both fecal PCR and serology, whereas the mice in the dry-heat-sterilized and autoclaved cages were negative for MNV by both methods at all time points. Our study supports the use of dry heat sterilization as a viable sterilization method for rodent cages and bedding.

Rapid colonization of the post‐burn environment improves egg survival in pyrophilic ground beetles

AbstractMany insects are drawn to the heat, ash, and smoke produced by forest fires and arrive in large numbers at recent burns, often while the fire is still active. Some of these insects are pyrophilic and reproduce exclusively in the immediate aftermath of fire but are rarely, if ever, collected from unburnt habitats. Numerous observations made at active fires note an apparent preference among some pyrophilic insects to oviposit exclusively in the burnt portions of trees, raising broader questions about the adaptive benefits of reproduction in the post‐burn environment. Here, we tested whether the reproductive output of pyrophilic ground beetles (i.e., Sericoda spp.) increased in heat‐sterilized soils. In the first experiment, the eggs of Sericoda quadripunctata were reared in three types of soil collected from burnt forests: recently burnt soil (collected 1–2 weeks after the fire), soil collected 1 year after burn, and soil from an unburnt patch of forest adjacent to the fire. Daily monitoring through a dissecting microscope documented extensive predation of eggs by soil microarthropods (mites, springtails, and nematodes), especially in 1‐year‐old and unburnt soil treatments. This led to a second experiment that included the same three treatments and an additional fourth soil treatment: recently, burnt soil reheated to 100°C for 2 h (i.e., reheated soil). In this experiment, male and female pairs (n = 100) of Sericoda obsoleta were reared for 14 days in jars containing 90 g of soil corresponding to each of the four soil treatments. Reproductive output, measured as the number of larvae produced by each breeding pair, was significantly higher in the reheated soil, suggesting that heat sterilization and removal of soil‐dwelling predators improved egg survival. Our findings suggest that pyrophily in insects may have evolved as a means of increasing reproductive output in the post‐burn environment through access to heat‐sterilized ovipositing substrates. Furthermore, the abrupt disappearance of Sericoda and other pyrophilic insects following fire may be explained by suboptimal reproductive conditions as the burn is colonized by other organisms and by local emigration in favor of other recent burns on the landscape.

Performance Evaluation Fuzzy Logic Control on Low-Cost Medical Equipment Sterilizer

The equipment is not sterile when the health equipment is used repeatedly. Thus, it is at risk of infection. Data published by WHO reveals that one out of every ten hospital patients gets an infection. In developed countries, the number of infected hospital patients reaches 30%, while in developing countries it is at least 2-3 higher. One way to reduce the occurrence of infection is to sterilize medical equipment through a dry heat sterilization process at 1700 C for 60 minutes. The high price of sterilizers means that many health centers and clinics do not have this equipment. The aim of this study was to design a low-cost dry heat type health equipment sterilizer using fuzzy logic as a controller and evaluate the performance of the controller. Regarding to the research result, it indicated that the controller performance evaluation was very good with the highest overshoot value of 1.1%, the steady state error value was 1.1%, and the fastest rise time was 240 seconds.

The Effect of Heat Sterilization on Key Filtration Performance Parameters of a Commercial Polymeric (PVDF) Hollow-Fiber Ultrafiltration Membrane.

Membrane processes can be integrated with fermentation for the selective separation of the products from the fermentation broth. Sterilization with saturated steam under pressure is the most widely used method; however, data concerning heat sterilization applicability to polymeric ultrafiltration (UF) membranes are scarcely available. In this study, the effect of the sterilization process on the filtration performance of a commercial polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber UF membrane was evaluated. Membrane modules were constructed and sterilized several times in an autoclave. Pure water flux tests were performed, to assess the effect of heat sterilization on the membrane’s pure water permeance. Dextran rejection tests were performed for the characterization of membrane typical pore size and its fouling propensity. Filtration performance was also assessed by conducting filtration tests with real fermentation broth. After repeated sterilization cycles, pure water permeance remained quite constant, varying between approx. 830 and 990 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1, while the molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) was estimated to be in the range of 31.5–98.0 kDa. Regarding fouling behavior, the trans-membrane pressure increase rate was stable and quite low (between 0.5 and 7.0 mbar/min). The results suggest that commercial PVDF UF membranes are a viable alternative to high-cost ceramic UF membranes for fermentation processes that require heat sterilization.

Application of Modern Polymer Packaging for Food

The object of the study is a polymer combined C-PET packaging two-section, which consists of a polymer semi-rigid container-tray of multilayer PET /EVOH / CPP and multilayer polyethylene film S900775 PET / PE (for sealing containers). In the food industry can be used consumer polymer packaging of various types: hard, semi-hard, soft and others. In order for such packaging to be used for heat sterilization of products, it must have the necessary heat-resistant barrier layer. C-PET packaging is made of heat-resistant barrier material, which ensures its resistance to high temperatures. Therefore, such containers can be used for heat sterilization and guarantee long shelf life of food. Each polymeric material has certain indicators of heat resistance. One of the most problematic places on this issue is the lack of technological parameters of polymer C-PET packaging, such as the strength of the sealing of the package and the parameters of sterilization of packaging with the product for specific thermal equipment: temperature, time, back pressure. Without the values of such characteristics, it is impossible to use containers in food production to produce good quality products for long-term storage. The study used methods such as measuring the sealing strength or depressurization pressure of the container, which occurs during sterilization due to thermal expansion of the product; the standard membrane compensation method was used for this purpose. The development of sterilization regimes for food products was carried out in accordance with the approved regulations. The regulations include analytical calculation of the regime that ensures the production of industrially sterile canned food, laboratory testing of the selected regime and its production testing. Methods of calculating the sterilization regime are based on data on the heat resistance of the strain of microorganisms in the test culture. Studies have been carried out, which resulted in the value of the parameter of sealing strength or depressurization pressure of C-PET containers, without which it is impossible to carry out effective thermal sterilization of the product. Exceeding the required value of this pressure can lead to depressurization of the packaging and the emergence of physical defects, of substandard products. Also, scientifically based high-temperature sterilization regimes for meat and vegetable products in the studied form of polymer consumer packaging have been developed, which will allow companies to produce quality food safe for consumption, with high nutritional value and long shelf life

Enterprises of agricultural sector of the Republic of Kazakhstan: efficient functioning

The goal is to consider the problems and prospects for the development of enterprises in agricultural sector. Methods – analysis and synthesis, determination of absolute and relative indicators, abstract-logistical, economic-statistical. Results – the authors note the main features of agricultural production: high capital intensity, long payback period, low profitability, seasonality, dependence on natural and climatic conditions. Enterprises are insufficiently provided with modern technology, social infrastructure is poorly developed, soil fertility is declining, level of income of the rural population is much lower to income in other industries. At present, effective programs on development of agro-industrial complex and support for agricultural producers have been developed in the republic. The article presents data on the number of registered producers of agricultural products in the Republic of Kazakhstan: legal entities, individual entrepreneurs, peasant (private) farms, households. The volumes of gross output of agricultural goods, production of livestock products in Kazakhstan, cattle products sales in slaughter weight for all categories of farms are shown. It was revealed that for some types of food, dependence on imports remains: meat and milk processing products, poultry meat, vegetables and fruits. The main directions of development of AIC are substantiated: measures to ensure food security; digitalization and robotization; attraction of domestic and foreign investments; application of the achievements of selection and breeding work in the livestock industry; strengthening scientific potential by improving training of highly qualified personnel. Conclusions – specifics of modern economic entities is their broad specialization: the presence of several workshops for heat treatment, sterilization and preparation for sale. There are also highly specialized agricultural enterprises, which as a rule, are producing one type of product, for example, dairy farms, greenhouses, nurseries.

High pressure processing and heat sterilization of kale: Impact on extractability, antioxidant capacity and storability of carotenoids and vitamin E

AbstractFood process engineering represents a rapidly evolving discipline traditionally focussing on thermal treatments including objectives such as preservation and stabilization. Innovative and gentle preservation techniques such as high‐pressure processing (HPP) may potentially improve or replace conventional methods by enhancing nutritional and health aspects, flavor and taste, sustainability, and more consumer‐targeted, minimally processed food items. As information about the impact of HPP (600 MPa, 5–40 min) on lipophilic food ingredients (e.g., carotenoids, vitamin E) in kale is limited, a comparison to heat sterilization (20 min, 121°C) may result in new insights related to lipophilic, antioxidant capacity (L‐AOC), extractability and storage stability (8 weeks, 5°C). HPP of chopped kale resulted in significantly increased (p &lt; 0.05) total carotenoid and chlorophyll contents in contrast to declined concentrations of vitamin E. Significantly decreased extractabilities were observed for total carotenoids and chlorophylls in heat sterilized kale, showing no significant change (p &gt; 0.05) in vitamin E content. Moreover, 2 months of storage of HP‐treated kale resulted in a major loss of vitamin E and total carotenoid contents compared to thermally treated samples. Elevated α‐tocopherol equivalent antioxidant capacities (αTEAC) and lipophilic oxygen radical antioxidant capacities (L‐ORAC) correlated with an increased pressure holding time.

Factors Associated with Post-caesarean Complications in Emergency of Gynecology-Obstetrics Service of Saint Joseph Hospital in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Caesarean section is the most common surgical procedure in obstetrics, but also in pregnant women with dystocia. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that contribute to post-caesarean complications in emergency of gynecology-obstetrics service of Saint Joseph Hospital in Kinshasa. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study and was conducted at Saint Joseph Hospital in Kinshasa city for a month (1st and 30th July 2021). A questionnaire was used to collect different data namely socio-demographic characteristics and different variables important for the study. Independent variables were factors related to the parturient and the current pregnancy, the surgical procedure and the operational room. While the dependent variable was post-caesarean complications in gynecology-obstetrics service. Descriptive statistical analyses namely frequency and percentage were done to describe the sample profile. To measure the strength of association between different variables were estimated using Pearson's Chi-Square (X2) test and the p-value was 0.05. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20 software. The majority of participants are over 33 years of age, have secondary school skills, married and have 3 to 4 children. It was observed that 88.2% of participants have acute respiratory distress prior to caesarean section, 76.6% have a personal history of thromboembolic disease prior to caesarean section. All the participants who underwent caesarean section were victims of external ventilation through the windows of the operating room, which remained open before, during and after the surgery and benefited from antibiotic treatment without any para-clinical analysis before the caesarean section. Furthermore, 82.4% of participants had benefited from the caesarean section with sterilized care materials 48 hours before and after the intervention. While 47.1% of participants had caesarean sections with defective equipment for the operation (use of dry heat sterilization etc.). A better identification of these risk factors can reduce significantly rate of complications and can consequently improve the maternal-infantile prognosis. The obstacles to effective management are related to the provision of quality services.

Microbial Culture and Scanning Electron Microscopic Evaluation of Endodontic Hand Files: An In Vitro Study.

BackgroundEndodontic hand files are used during root canal treatment in the cleaning and shaping step of the procedure. Whether endodontic instruments should be single-use or reusable is a topic of debate. This in vitro study aimed to analyze the bioburden on used and new sterilized endodontic hand files.MethodologyA total of 30 K-files (15 used, 15 new) and 30 H-files (15 used, 15 new) were studied. After clinical use, the used and new files were subjected to phloxine B staining, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, and microbial culture. We used a Fisher’s exact test to investigate the significant difference in contamination and bioburden between new and used endodontic files.ResultsThe chi-square test showed no statistically significant difference between new and used groups in staining. In the used group, 20% of the H-files and 6.7% of the K-files were positive for bioburden (p > 0.05). The SEM analysis showed that all used files (100%) were contaminated with biological debris. All new files and most of the used files (86.7%) were negative for bacterial culture.ConclusionsUsed K-files and H-files (sizes 25 and below) had greater contamination and bioburden than new files. Our results highlight the inadequacy of cleaning methods (mechanical/ultrasonication pre-cleaning and heat sterilization) employed between re-usage of files in this study. Appropriate decision-making on either adapting an evidence-based and effective reprocessing strategy or single-use files can be considered by dentists.

Effect of acidification and thermal treatment on quality characteristics of high‐moisture laver ( Porphyra spp.)

Effects of two thermal treatments (sterilization at 118°C and pasteurization at 90°C) and acidification on the color, texture, chemical composition, and microstructure of high-moisture laver were investigated. Results showed that the reddish-purple of laver faded to varying degrees after heating due to rapid degradation of phycoerythrin. With increasing heating time, the a* value gradually decreased accompanied by the increase in b* value, and the color changed to yellow-green. Besides, the hardness and toughness gradually decreased, while the adhesiveness increased. Microstructure and soluble sugar results indicated that the cell tissue of the laver was destroyed after intensive heating. Compared to sterilization, laver subjected to pasteurization at 90°C exhibited better texture and color. Intensive thermal processing accelerated quality deterioration as evidenced by pigment degradation, cell rupture, and increase in soluble substances. The combination of acidification (pH < 4.6) with mild heat treatment contributed to better quality retention of ready-to-eat lavers with higher moisture. Practical applications Since most of the existing laver products in the market are dry, the development of high-quality wet laver products has attracted attention. However, due to the extremely thin leaves and soft texture, the color and texture of laver are prone to deterioration during the heat sterilization process. Understanding the quality changes of laver under typical sterilization conditions is conducive for exploring solutions. The present study clarifies the effects of heat treatment and acidification on the characteristics of high-moisture laver, which serves as a foundation for the future development of instant wet laver products that can meet both safety and palatability, and provides theoretical guidance for the seaweed processing industry.