Systems and methods disclosed herein provide an improved high voltage plasma-based product treatment by integrating the plasma reactor into the processing container. This unique device can deliver a high throughput rate of raw food, without adverse effects on quality. The system is operationally efficient, and is capable of being scaled up or down to provide lower or higher throughput rates, depending on the product manufacturer or processor's needs. In particular, the system obviates the need for further containerization or packaging of product during pasteurization processing.

Methods for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate goods (1), containing the following steps: a) producing an electron beam (5), b) pasteurizing and/or sterilizing the goods (1) by the electron beam (5) in a treatment zone (3), wherein the electrons of the electron beam (5) have an energy that lies in the range of 80 keV to 300 keV, preferably from 140 keV to 280 keV, and more preferably from 180 keV to 260 keV, the goods (1) are exposed to the electron beam (5) for a treatment time which lies in the range from 5 ms to 25 ms, and the electron beam (5) has a mean electron current density in the treatment zone (3) which lies in the range of 10.sup.15 s.sup.−1.Math.cm.sup.−2 to 2.77.Math.10.sup.15 s.sup.−1.Math.cm.sup.−2.

Methods and apparatus for sterilizing plant material include disposing plant material in a sub-atmospheric pressure environment, dispersing a non-toxic, non-polymerizable gas into the sub-atmospheric pressure environment, applying an electric field to change the gas into cold plasma, and maintaining exposure of the plant material to the cold plasma until substantially sterilized plant material is obtained, wherein an amount of at least one active constituent in the plant material is substantially unchanged by the sterilizing. The plant material may be Cannabis

A devices (10) and method for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material. The device contain at least one electron source (20) for generating an electron beam and a treatment zone (19) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam. The device (10) comprises a vibration surface (11) which vibrates to convey and individualize the material. The first vibration surface (11) has a plurality of grooves (12) into which the material is conveyed and individualized. The device (10) has a material channel (21) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam in the region of the treatment zone (19). The device (10) has at least one auxiliary channel (22) through which a fluid flows, between the electron source (20) and the material channel (21), and is separated from the material channel (21). A cartridge (24) for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material is also disclosed.

A devices (10) and method for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material. The device contain at least one electron source (20) for generating an electron beam and a treatment zone (19) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam. The device (10) comprises a vibration surface (11) which vibrates to convey and individualize the material. The first vibration surface (11) has a plurality of grooves (12) into which the material is conveyed and individualized. The device (10) has a material channel (21) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam in the region of the treatment zone (19). The device (10) has at least one auxiliary channel (22) through which a fluid flows, between the electron source (20) and the material channel (21), and is separated from the material channel (21). A cartridge (24) for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material is also disclosed.

Systems and methods disclosed herein provide an improved high voltage plasma-based product treatment by integrating the plasma reactor into the processing container. This unique device can deliver a high throughput rate of raw food, without adverse effects on quality. The system is operationally efficient, and is capable of being scaled up or down to provide lower or higher throughput rates, depending on the product manufacturer or processor's needs. In particular, the system obviates the need for further containerization or packaging of product during pasteurization processing.

Systems and methods disclosed herein provide an improved high voltage plasma-based product treatment by integrating the plasma reactor into the processing container. This unique device can deliver a high throughput rate of raw food, without adverse effects on quality. The system is operationally efficient, and is capable of being scaled up or down to provide lower or higher throughput rates, depending on the product manufacturer or processor's needs. In particular, the system obviates the need for further containerization or packaging of product during pasteurization processing.

A sterilizing device evenly irradiating an entire surface of a food with electron beam to provide a sterilizing effect based on the electron beam to the entire surface is provided. The sterilizing device includes: an electron-beam irradiator unit 10 configured to irradiate a process-target object (such as a raw egg) 40 with electron beam EB; a placement stage 22 for the process-target object 40; and a slit SL arranged between the process-target object 40 and the electron-beam irradiator unit 10, the slit unit SL includes a plurality of openings, and is arranged to be upper than a high portion of the process-target object 40. In this manner, since the process-target object 40 is irradiated with the electron beam EB through the slit SL, its entire surface can be more evenly irradiated with the electron beam, and a sterilizing effect based on the electron beam can be provided to the entire surface. The influence of the bremsstrahlung X ray caused by the irradiation with the electron beam on the inside contents of the process-target object 40 can be made small, and a dose of the X ray with which the inside contents (that is the portion to be the eatable part) of the process-target object 40 is irradiated can be made small so as to meet a criterion value regulated in a law or others.

Methods and apparatuses for reducing the bioburden of cannabis using low-pressure radiant energy processing. The present invention achieves sufficient microbial killing and/or adequate drying without impacting product quality (terpene loss, smell, color, texture, etc.) by appropriate determination and application of pressure(s) and radiant energy (e.g., microwave intensity).

There are provided methods of treating edible matter comprising applying a composition comprising performic acid to the edible matter or a substrate therefor. Other embodiments are also disclosed.