Non-thermal Technique Research Articles

Construction of sp2/sp3 Hybrid Carbon Thin Layers on Silicon Substrates Using Nonequilibrium Excitation Reaction Fields.

The authors have developed a crystal growth process that utilizes electron beams from field emission (FE) to grow materials bottom-up by a method other than the transfer of thermal energy. In this study, highly crystalline single-walled carbon nanotubes were used as a field emission electron source. Electron beams with high resolution energy emitted from the source were irradiated onto acetylene gas as a nonequilibrium reaction field to induce acetylene dissociation. The generated carbon ions were then irradiated onto a [100] silicon substrate, resulting in the irradiation of the silicon substrate surface with graphene. Moreover, the crystal growth of sp2/sp3 hybrid carbon thin layers, which is different from the crystal structures of graphite, diamond, and diamond-like carbon, proceeded on the surface of the silicon substrate. Carbon layers on periodic crystal structures whose growth depends at least on the morphology of the substrate are formed through bridging with the binding site of the substrate. The authors have succeeded in developing a nonthermal technique of crystal bridging between different elements. The substrate on which the carbon layer is formed is not limited to silicon; other substrates with various crystal structures and periodicities are expected to be used.

Understanding the mechanisms of action of atmospheric cold plasma towards the mitigation of the stress induced in molds: The case of Aspergillus chevalieri

Aspergillus chevalieri is a xerophilic/xerotolerant fungi affecting dried food products. In this study the ability of non-thermal cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) at high power density (NOx) to affect biological process inducing the stress responses of A. chevalieri species exposed for 5 min (5’CAP-NOx) and 30 min (30’CAP-NOx) were analysed at 0, 1, 6, 12 and 48-h post treatment (hpt). At 48 hpt with 30’CAP-NOx, 84% of fungal growth reduction was observed. The membrane integrity estimated by confocal investigation after carboxyfluorescein diacetate/propidium iodide staining showed the dead surface mycelium layers exposed to the treatments. Reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR revealed an early downregulation, at 0 hpt, followed by upregulation or recovery starting to 1 hpt, of selected key genes involved in fungal stress responses. The cellular response to stress was confirmed by mycelial glutathione accumulation in the early phase after both CAP-NOx treatments, at 0 and 1 hpt, followed by the strong glutathione reduction at 12 and 48 hpt using 30’CAP-NOx treatment. The ability of A. chevalieri to modulate metabolic profile according to treatments was underlined by volatilome investigation, which mainly involved lipid metabolism. This work highlighted the adaptative response mechanisms of A. chevalieri to overcome the CAP-NOx treatment. Industrial relevanceThe application of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) technology to avoid microbial growth in foods is considered of high interest. Utilization of CAP technology, a nonthermal technique, is encouraged because of its efficiency in maintaining natural aroma and flavor and product shelf-life. Regarding the management of Aspergillus chevalieri, the developments in mechanistic insights indicated that cold plasma affected several targets in fungal cells and was a successful tactic when employed to stop the selection of resistant fungal strains.

Effect of thermal and nonthermal techniques on the physicochemical quality of high‐fat coconut cream

AbstractIn light of the nutritional properties of coconut and the growing demand for plant‐based foods, this work was aimed toward the development of high‐fat coconut cream. Coconut milk was subjected to novel thermal (microwave, MW, and ohmic heating, OH) and nonthermal (ultrasound, US, and pulsed electric field, PEF) treatments. A high‐fat cream (fat content >60%) was obtained by centrifugation; its microstructure, color, particle size and zeta potential, textural, and rheological properties were evaluated. All treatments resulted in a significant increase in moisture content and a decrease in fat content; thermal treatments resulted in higher yield (up to ~18% higher than control samples). US resulted in the least particle size and highest absolute zeta potential owing to cavitation effects. MW cream had the highest value of firmness (498.38 ± 4.09 g) and consistency (5501.73 ± 178.08 g s), followed by OH cream and PEF cream had the least values. All cream samples showed shear thinning behavior with US cream exhibiting the lowest flow behavior index (0.22 ± 0.01). Sensory scores indicated that US cream was the most acceptable, especially with high preferences in terms of creaminess and spreadability. The findings of this research provide insights into the development of high‐fat plant‐based creams.Practical applicationsOver the years, there has been a surge in the focus on plant‐based foods. The present work focuses on the development of a novel coconut‐based high‐fat cream and the impact of different processing techniques. The developed novel product can be used as a replacer for animal‐based creams, spreads, and emulsified sauces such as mayonnaise, whilst providing the benefits of coconut fats. This study also provides insights into the development of novel plant‐based high‐fat creams and the use of novel processing techniques for improved quality and stability.

Influence of 10 MeV electron beam irradiation on the lipid stability of oat and barley during storage

This study investigated the effect of electron beam irradiation (EBI) on the lipid stability of oat and barley during long-term storage. Results showed that the initial free fatty acid content in oat was higher than that in barley. This may mean that lipid hydrolysis started under the function of lipase when oat and barley were milled into flours. Both storage and EBI factors influenced lipid-degrading enzyme activity and promoted lipid oxidation in oat and barley. However, it seemed that storage had higher impacts because the DPPH scavenging activity decreased greatly, and the contents of both malondialdehyde and volatile lipid oxidation products increased in all samples. Thus, the antioxidant capacity and level of lipid oxidation after EBI treatment should be considered when producing oat and barley foods. Overall, this study shows the high potential of EBI for use as a non-thermal technique in stabilising the storage quality of oat and barley.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Locoregional Treatments for Solid Pancreatic Neoplasms.

Solid pancreatic neoplasms are one of the most diagnosed gastrointestinal malignancies thanks to the current and progressive advances in radiologic methods. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided techniques have over time gained a prominent role in the differential diagnosis and characterization of these pancreatic lesions, including pancreatic cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, and metastases. Recently, several endoscopic ultrasound-guided locoregional treatment techniques, which are divided into thermal ablative techniques and non-thermal injection techniques, have been developed and applied in different settings for the treatment of solid pancreatic neoplasms. The most common ablative techniques are radiofrequency, microwave, laser, photodynamic therapy and hybrid techniques such as hybrid cryothermal ablation. The most common injection techniques are ethanol injection, immunotherapy and brachytherapy. In this review, we update evidence about the efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided locoregional treatments for solid pancreatic neoplasms.

Enhancement of physicochemical stability and reduction in enzyme and microbial activity of apple juice by hydrodynamic cavitation processing

Conventional thermally processed apple juices are nutritionally depleted because the heat sensitivity degrades the bioactive compounds that comprise them. This study proposed a non-thermal technique, hydrodynamic cavitation (HC), to preserve the nutritional content and prevent the loss of bioactive components in apple juice. In addition, the effect of hydrodynamic cavitation on the physicochemical, nutrition, and enzyme inactivation of freshly expressed apple juice has been studied. The design expert software has been used for process optimization, while fuzzy logic was applied for sensory. Hydrodynamic cavitation has been used on freshly extracted apple juice with inlet pressure in the range of (34.47–103.421 kPa) for a treatment time of (0–30 min). The apple juice was treated thermally at 90 °C for 2.5 min to compare the cavitation results. The settling of particles in the cavitation sample was 7%, which was lower than the heat-treated sample (10%) and untreated control sample (39%) and had a noticeable effect on the cloud value and stability of the apple juice. The HC treatment reduces the particle size of fresh apple juice from 8934.09 nm to 1112 nm, resulting in a homogenizing effect, a decrease in viscosity, and improved juice stability. Hydrodynamic cavitation reduced the antioxidant activity from 0.4987 mg GAE mL−1 (control) to 0.3951 mg GAE mL−1 yet retained better activity than the heat-treated apple juice (0.3489 ± 0.34 mg GAE mL−1) with microbial log reduction of 0.9 at 103.42 kPa treated for 30 min. After 15 days of storage at 4 °C, HC-treated juice had higher quality features and nutrient retention than heat-treated apple juice.

New Developments in Image-Guided Percutaneous Irreversible Electroporation of Solid Tumors.

This review will describe the various applications, benefits, risks, and approaches of conventional irreversible electroporation (IRE), as well as highlight the new technological developments of this procedure along with their clinical applications. Minimally invasive image-guided percutaneous IRE ablation has emerged as a newer, non-thermal ablation technique for tumors in the solid organs, particularly within the liver, pancreas, kidney, and prostate. IRE allows for ablation near heat-sensitive structures, including major blood vessels and nerves, and is not susceptible to the heat sink effect. However, it is limited by certain requirements, such as the need for precise parallel placement of at least two probes with a maximum inter-probe distance of 2.5 cm to reduce the risk of arching phenomenon, the requirement for general anesthesia with muscle relaxant, and the need for cardiac synchronization. However, new technological advancements in the ablation system and image guidance tools have been introduced to improve the efficiency and efficacy of IRE. IRE is a safe and effective treatment option for solid tumor ablation within the liver, pancreas, kidney, and prostate. Compared with other ablation techniques, IRE has several advantages, such as the absence of heat sink effect and minimal injury to blood vessels and bile ducts while activating the immune system. Novel techniques such as H-FIRE, needle placement systems, and robotics have enhanced the accuracy and performance in placement of IRE probes. IRE can be especially beneficial when combined with chemotherapy, immunomodulation, and immunotherapy.

Impact of thermal and nonthermal process intensification techniques on yield and quality of virgin coconut oil

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is valued for its nutraceutical potential. The focus of this research was to assess the effect of selected thermal and nonthermal pre-treatments on the yield and quality of subsequently wet-extracted VCO. The fresh coconut cream was subjected to microwave heating (450 W, 2 min), ohmic heating (180 V, 5 min), ultrasonication (350 W, 10 min), or a pulsed electric field (40 kV cm−1, 12.32 min). The thick cream was separated, and VCO was obtained after a freeze–thaw process. The highest VCO yields (>93%) were observed in the cases of ultrasonicated and pulsed electric field-treated samples. A range of oil quality parameters, total phenolic content, and antioxidants were evaluated. Further, the fatty acid composition of all oils was studied. Observations from this research indicate that ultrasonication pre-treatment resulted in the best VCO yield and quality.

Insights into the formulation properties, biocompatibility, and permeability of poorly water-soluble methoxyflavones with PEG400 and propylene glycol.

Herein, thermal and non-thermal techniques were used to elucidate the putative physical and chemical interactions between poorly water-soluble Kaempferia methoxyflavones and PEG400/propylene glycol. Additionally, the biocompatibility of methoxyflavone-glycol solutions was evaluated using Caco-2 cells whereas the absorptive transport was investigated by measuring the apparent permeability coefficient (P app) of the methoxyflavones and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) of the Caco-2 cell monolayer. Data from differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopic analysis revealed physico-chemical compatibility between the three methoxyflavones and PEG400/propylene glycol. Furthermore, PEG400 and propylene glycol solutions of the methoxyflavones were shown to be compatible with Caco-2 cells at pharmacologically effective concentrations. In vitro transport studies across the Caco-2 cell monolayer revealed high P app values of 24.07 × 10-6 to 19.63 × 10-6 cm s-1 for PEG400 solutions of the methoxyflavones. The TEER values of the Caco-2 cell monolayers indicated that the increased drug transport was partly due to increased tight junction openings, but without compromising the epithelial barrier integrity. The good pharmaceutical and biocompatibility profiles, as well as improved transport of the methoxyflavones in PEG400 and propylene glycol solutions, are suggestive of the worthiness of this approach for further consideration pertaining to the development of these drugs into oral liquid dosage forms.

Cold plasma as an emerging nonthermal technology for food processing: A comprehensive review

Cold plasma, a partially ionized gas maintained at low temperatures, has emerged as a promising nonthermal food processing technique with various applications, including food sterilization and improved agricultural output. By generating reactive species such as ions, radicals, and photons, cold plasma interacts with and modifies the surfaces of materials or living cells. This comprehensive review focuses on the microbial decontamination capabilities of cold plasma and its impact on a wide range of food products, including cereals, milk, fruits, vegetables, and meat. Cold plasma treatment offers distinct advantages over traditional methods such as heat treatment, chemical treatment, and irradiation. It effectively eliminates pathogenic microbes from food surfaces while preserving the quality, flavor, and nutritional content of the food. By sterilizing food surfaces and packaging materials, cold plasma significantly reduces the risk of harmful microorganism contamination. Moreover, it extends the shelf life of food products by eliminating germs, viruses, and other hazardous microbes. This review critically assesses the qualitative impact of plasma treatment, emphasizing the importance of selecting the appropriate cold plasma technology for various food products. To ensure the safety and effectiveness of cold plasma technology for commercial implementation, this review investigates the properties of cold plasma treatment for different food products. It examines the molecular connections between dietary components and cold plasma species, highlighting potential avenues for future research.

Pulsed light irradiation improves degradation of ginkgolic acids and retainment of ginkgo flavonoids and terpene trilactones in Ginkgo biloba leaves

Although high temperature processing is a traditional physical processing method used to degrade ginkgolic acid (GA) in Ginkgo biloba L., it leads to loss of abundant bioactive compounds in G. biloba leaves (GBL) such as ginkgo flavonoids, ginkgolides, etc. Pulsed light (PL) is a prospective non-thermal technique that might be a possible solution to the above problem. In this research, the impact of PL and heating pretreatment on GA, ginkgolides and bilobalide, flavonoid profile, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD), antioxidant capacity, and total phenolics content (TPC) of GBL was evaluated. Besides, an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/orbitrap High-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) was employed to gain insight into the degradation pathway of GA C13:0. The findings showed that fluences of 0.52 J/cm2 for 300 s reduced GA by 19.94%, while heating at 180 °C for 300 s only reduced the GA by 7.04%. Moreover, the ginkgo flavonoids and terpene trilactones (bilobalide and ginkgolides A to C) in GBL were effectively retained after PL irradiation but significantly reduced by heating at 180 °C. Ginkgo leaves irradiated by PL for 200 s had the highest antioxidant capacity and TPC, while heating produced opposite results. Pulsed light and heating treatments significantly inactivated PPO and POD, but PL preserved color of leaves (lower total color change). UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS results showed that PL irradiation degraded GA C13:0 by removing the hydroxyl or carboxyl group of the benzene ring. These findings demonstrate that PL treatment can improve quality of GBL, opening a broader way for its applications in food industry.

Recent advances in the improvement of protein-based edible films through non-thermal and thermal techniques

A major area of food research focuses on the study of food packaging, which plays a critical role in the containment and protection of foods. In the past, packaging materials have largely consisted of polymers derived from petroleum. However, consumers are more concerned with the environmental and health effects of synthetic polymers. Considering this, protein films may be useful in preserving food freshness due to their ability to insulate light and water. Nevertheless, they are not suitable for use in the food industry because of their limited mechanical strength, tendency to rupture, and poor water resistance. A variety of non-thermal techniques (such as microwave, ultrasound, cold-plasma, irradiation, and high-pressure processing) and thermal methods may be used to overcome this issue by modifying the properties of protein films. The use of these techniques improves protein film properties by reducing particle size, enhancing intermolecular electrostatic repulsion between molecules, and facilitating cross-linking. Further, modified protein films with excellent barrier properties can also be used to reduce food waste and environmental pollution, as well as to improve the quality, safety, and security of food. Thus, this review mainly focuses on the impact of non-thermal and thermal techniques on protein film properties and their applications.

Non-thermal processing of milk: Principles, mechanisms and effect on milk components

The conventional thermal treatment causes chemical modifications to milk constituents such as protein denaturation, loss of vitamins and flavoring compounds, depression at freezing point, and nonenzymatic browning, which may result in adverse changes to the flavor, color, and nutritional value of milk. This review looks into the emerging non-thermal processing techniques such as high-pressure processing (HPP), pulsed electric field (PEF), ultrasonication and hydrodynamic, UV-irradiation and plasma technology, cavitation, and their effects on milk components and bioactive compounds. For consumer acceptability and safety, simultaneous and crucial needs exist: microbial safety, fresh like quality and preservation of bioactive compounds. Technologies like HPP and PEF have been capable of achieving microbial reduction with moderate thermal inputs. Ultrasonication and hydrodynamic cavitation have the dual functions of deactivating microorganisms and homogenizing, and plasma and UV-C radiation could ensure minimal loss of heat-sensitive components. These processing techniques could be an alternative to pasteurization and sterilization of milk with assured microbial inactivation and maximal retention of nutrients in dairy.

Evaluation of cold extracted bioactive compounds from tomato pomace and its use in food fortification

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to find a method for the cold extraction of biologically active compounds from tomato pomace, as there are no acceptable, affordable and environmentally friendly extraction methods, and its ability to maintain their vital functions and properties. This method was then evaluated as compared to the traditional thermal extraction methods. The limits of traditional extraction techniques have been overcome by the advent of numerous non-thermal new extraction techniques over the past 20 years. Three methods were used to help extract these compounds, which are blending the frozen (BF), microwave-assisted (MA) and Ohmic heating (OH). The results showed that the BF method was the best extraction method, and the amount of lycopene 487.4 µg/g, β-carotene 115.8 µg/g, total phenolics 1297.4 µg GAE/g, total flavonoids 462.5 µg QE/g and antioxidant activity 89.1%. It was found that the most abundant phenolic compounds in tomato pomace were gallic acid and ellagic nacid, as it contains seven essential amino acids, and that glutamic acid was the dominant acid. Fatty acid estimation showed that linoleic cis and oleic cis were the dominant acids, as they were 585.50 and 164.67 µg/g total fatty acids, respectively. It also contained on unsaturated fatty acids 820.44 µg/g.

High-frequency terahertz waves disrupt Alzheimer’s β-amyloid fibril formation

The accumulation and deposition of amyloid can cause a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The degradation or clearance of this accumulation is currently the most widely accepted therapeutic strategy for intervention in these pathologies. Our study on amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers in vitro revealed that high-frequency terahertz (THz) waves at a specific frequency of 34.88 THz could serve as a physical, efficient, non-thermal denaturation technique to delay the fibrotic process by 80%, as monitored by a thioflavine T (ThT) binding assay and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Additionally, THz waves of this frequency have been shown to have no side effects on normal cells, as confirmed by cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential assays. Furthermore, molecular dynamic (MD) simulations revealed that the THz waves could resonate with Aβ fibrils, disrupting the dense conformation by breaking the β-sheet structure and promoting the formation of abundant coil and bend structures. This study uses the amyloid of Aβ as an example, and the results will further guide interventions for the accumulation of other amyloids, which may provide new ideas for the remission of related diseases.

Alternative methods for RuBisCO extraction from sugar beet waste: A comparative approach of ultrasound and high voltage electrical discharge

Ultrasound (US) and high voltage electric discharge (HVED) with water as a green solvent represent promising novel non-thermal techniques for protein extraction from sugar beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris var. altissima) leaves. Compared to HVED, US proved to be a better alternative method for total soluble protein extraction with the aim of obtaining high yield of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase enzyme (RuBisCO). Regardless of the solvent temperature, the highest protein yields were observed at 100% amplitude and 9 min treatment time (84.60 ± 3.98 mg/gd.m. with cold and 96.75 ± 4.30 mg/gd.m. with room temperature deionized water). US treatments at 75% amplitude and 9 min treatment time showed the highest abundance of RuBisCO obtained by immunoblotting assay. The highest protein yields recorded among HVED-treated samples were observed at a voltage of 20 kV and a treatment time of 3 min, disregarding the used gas (33.33 ± 1.06 mg/gd.m. with argon and 34.89 ± 1.59 mg/gd.m. with nitrogen as injected gas), while the highest abundance of the RuBisCO among HVED-treated samples was noticed at 25 kV voltage and 3 min treatment time. By optimizing the US and HVED parameters, it is possible to affect the solubility and improve the isolation of RuBisCO, which could then be purified and implemented into new or already existing functional products.

Enhanced Electrical Injury Using Triangular Interdigitated Electrodes for Catheter-Based Irreversible Electroporation

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a promising nonthermal ablation technique that uses high-voltage electrical pulses to create permanent pores in the cell membrane of target tissue. Recently, endoscopic IRE with catheter-based electrodes has attracted significant attention as a potential alternative tool for gastrointestinal tumors, but it has been challenged owing to the limited electric field distribution in an in-plane electrode configuration, in which rectangular interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) are commonly used. Herein, we report an enhanced electrical injury in tissue using triangular IDEs that cause strong electric fields to be induced at the tip of the electrode fingers. A set of 10 pulses with a duration of 100 μs and a frequency of 1 Hz were delivered to the tissue, and a finite element method was used to calculate the electrical injury in the gastrointestinal model. The probability of cell death by electrical injury at the triangular IDEs increases by approximately 10 times compared to that of conventional rectangular IDEs at the same electrode distance. These results could potentially pave the way toward designing electrodes in catheter-based IRE devices.

Enhanced Adhesion of Copper Films on Fused Silica Glass Substrate by Plasma Pre-Treatment.

A non-thermal atmospheric jet plasma pre-treatment technique was introduced to help the growth of extremely sticky copper films on fused silica glass substrates. A tape test was utilized to assess the bonding quality between copper films and fused silica glass substrates. AFM was used to characterize the sample surface roughness and XPS for chemical bonding characterization. The Owens-Wendt method and a Theta Lite Optical Tensiometer were used to analyze the contact angle and surface energy. The results showed that the surface energy greatly increased from 34.6 ± 0.3 mJ·m-2 to 55.9 ± 0.4 mJ·m-2 after 25 s plasma pre-treatment due to the increasing Si-O and Si-N concentrations, which brought about the electrostatic force increasing at the copper/glass interface. After 25 s plasma pre-treatment, the average surface roughness (Sa) grew from 0.8 ± 0.1 nm to 2.4 ± 0.3 nm. With higher surface roughness, there were more spaces and vacancies for the copper atoms to make contact on the bonded surfaces and increase the mechanical bite force. The electrostatic force and the mechanical bite force on the interface helped to form an atomic diffusion connection layer and improved the interactions between the copper film and the glass substrate. The findings in the SEM supported the conclusions stated above. Therefore, the adhesion between copper films and fused silica glass substrates increased by about 20% by 25 s plasma pre-treatment compared with the untreated glass substrate.

Application of different orifices for hydrodynamic cavitational effects on deactivation of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in milk

Thermal processing reduces the nutritional value and flavour of milk due to the application of heat, although it has the benefits for safety and shelf life by eliminating microbes. Also, the growing preference of consumers for natural and minimally processed foods has led to an increase in the use of nonthermal milk processing techniques. Hydrodynamic processing (HC) is one such recent, inventive, scalable, and economically favourable nonthermal technique. Thus, the influence of hydrodynamic cavitation on the deactivation of Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria was investigated using four different orifice plates: ORFP 1 (Ø=4 mm); ORFP 2 (Ø=3 mm); ORFP 3 (Ø=2.27, 3 holes), and ORFP 4 (Ø=2 mm, 5 holes). Milk with cell inoculum was treated at three different pressures (3, 5 and 7 bar) and six different treatment time (5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 min). Multi-hole orifices with higher α-value (plate parameter) were more effective in deactivation of microbial population in comparison to single hole orifices. Multi-hole orifice (ORFP 4) had the highest reduction of microbial cells, with 3.5 and 2.83 Log reduction for E. coli and S. aureus, respectively followed by ORFP 3, ORFP 2, and ORFP 1. Cavitation number in the range of 0.21–0.66 resulted in significant reduction of E. coli and S. aureus. From this study, it can be said that both flow geometry (α, β and flow area) of orifice plates and flow characteristics (flow rate and cavitation number) of the hydrodynamic cavitation system had an impact on the reduction of bacteria. Thus, hydrodynamic cavitation with different configuration of orifice plates can offer a potential option for thermal pasteurization.

Simulation of High-voltage Pulse Generator for Environment-friendly, Non-thermal Pasteurization Applications

Nowadays, the demand for high-voltage pulse generators has begun to proliferate in many industries. Particularly in the food processing industries, the conventional method of pasteurization involves the use of heat treatment processes, which are not environment-friendly; hence, researchers are working towards environment-friendly, non-thermal food processing techniques by which the microorganisms present in the liquid food can be eliminated. High-voltage pulsed electric field technology is one of the popular non-thermal food processing techniques. Recent advancements in power electronic switching technology have facilitated the development of solid-state pulse generators for these applications. In this paper, the simulation of a high-voltage pulse generator for eco-friendly pasteurization applications has been attempted using a cascaded boost converter topology. The entire simulation is carried out using MATLAB/Simulink software. The designed two-stage cascaded boost converter is tested for varying duty cycles and loads. The results with resistive and inductive loads have been analyzed.