Provided are a nitrite substitute including a mixture of plasma-treated vegetables and egg white, a food including the nitrite substitute, and a method of preparing a food, the method including mixing the nitrite substitute with raw materials of a food to prepare a food emulsion. Foods having added thereto the nitrite substitute may exhibit colors and effects similar to those in conventional foods without an unpleasant taste.

Provided are a nitrite substitute including a mixture of plasma-treated vegetables and egg white, a food including the nitrite substitute, and a method of preparing a food, the method including mixing the nitrite substitute with raw materials of a food to prepare a food emulsion. Foods having added thereto the nitrite substitute may exhibit colors and effects similar to those in conventional foods without an unpleasant taste.

Provided is a cell wall or cell membrane disrupting device whereby cell walls and/or cell membranes of microorganisms, algae and the like contained in organic sludge and the like are disrupted, the device comprising a fixed disc, a rotating disc, a rotating shaft for driving of the rotating disc, a pressure reducing means and a housing, wherein at least one pair of the fixed disc and rotating disc are disposed facing each other, the center section of the fixed disc has a hollow section that is larger than the outer diameter of the rotating shaft passing through the center section, shearing force generated between the rotating disc and the fixed disc is applied to a target fluid having a water content of 89% or higher that has been loaded into the device, and the pressure inside the cell wall or cell membrane disrupting device is reduced to no greater than −0.08 MPa by the pressure reducing means. The device can contribute to increasing biogas, reducing sludge, culturing of algae, plant cultivation and culturing of marine products, and also to separation of CH.sub.4 and CO.sub.2, for example, as resources.

Provided is a cell wall or cell membrane disrupting device whereby cell walls and/or cell membranes of microorganisms, algae and the like contained in organic sludge and the like are disrupted, the device comprising a fixed disc, a rotating disc, a rotating shaft for driving of the rotating disc, a pressure reducing means and a housing, wherein at least one pair of the fixed disc and rotating disc are disposed facing each other, the center section of the fixed disc has a hollow section that is larger than the outer diameter of the rotating shaft passing through the center section, shearing force generated between the rotating disc and the fixed disc is applied to a target fluid having a water content of 89% or higher that has been loaded into the device, and the pressure inside the cell wall or cell membrane disrupting device is reduced to no greater than −0.08 MPa by the pressure reducing means. The device can contribute to increasing biogas, reducing sludge, culturing of algae, plant cultivation and culturing of marine products, and also to separation of CH.sub.4 and CO.sub.2, for example, as resources.

An apparatus and method for modifying the organoleptic properties of a beverage, such as wine in a bottle, said apparatus having a least one light-source, said light-source applying peak wavelengths at intensities and time durations optimal for modifying said beverage's organoleptic properties with a highly reflective inner surface, a translucent air flow baffle, a translucent liquid barrier, and a controlled oxygen concentration in the bottle headspace.

Provided is a method which is capable of three-dimensionally forming a food into a desired shape such as a complicated shape or a hollow shape, using a starch powder as a raw material. The method for three-dimensionally forming a food using a starch powder as a raw material comprises the steps of: mixing a starch powder and water together to provide a mixture of the starch powder and the water; irradiating a part of the mixture with laser light to cause starch particles of the starch powder to swell due to the water to form swollen starch particles, followed by causing the swollen starch particles to gelatinize to form gelatinized starch particles, and causing the gelatinized starch particles to gelate, thereby obtaining gelated starch: and extracting the gelated starch from the mixture, wherein the step of irradiating includes irradiating the mixture with the laser light, according to a pattern predetermined based on a three-dimensional shape of a food.

Provided is a method which is capable of three-dimensionally forming a food into a desired shape such as a complicated shape or a hollow shape, using a starch powder as a raw material. The method for three-dimensionally forming a food using a starch powder as a raw material comprises the steps of: mixing a starch powder and water together to provide a mixture of the starch powder and the water; irradiating a part of the mixture with laser light to cause starch particles of the starch powder to swell due to the water to form swollen starch particles, followed by causing the swollen starch particles to gelatinize to form gelatinized starch particles, and causing the gelatinized starch particles to gelate, thereby obtaining gelated starch: and extracting the gelated starch from the mixture, wherein the step of irradiating includes irradiating the mixture with the laser light, according to a pattern predetermined based on a three-dimensional shape of a food.

A catalyst 1 for food processing of the present disclosure includes a support 10 and a catalyst film 20. The catalyst film 20 is formed on the support 10 and contains a metal oxide. The catalyst film 20 has a first layer 21 and a second layer 22. The second layer 22 is separated from the support 10 by the first layer 21. A transmittance of the first layer 21 for light having a wavelength of 400 nm to 600 nm is higher than a transmittance of the second layer 22 for light having a wavelength of 400 nm to 600 nm. The second layer 22 has surface irregularities 22a having a radial wavelength of 25 nm to 90 nm.

A food processing apparatus includes a reaction tank having an internal space for storing a reactant that is in a liquid state and that is used for food, a cooler that cools a reactant stored in the reaction tank, and a catalytic reactor disposed in the internal space. The catalytic reactor includes a reaction tube, a light source disposed in the interior of the reaction tube, and a heat insulator disposed between the reaction tube and the light source. The outer surface of the reaction tube is provided with a photocatalyst. The reaction tube allows light radiated from the light source to pass therethrough. The reaction tube has a first end, and the first end is closed so as to serve as a bottom surface of the reaction tube. The thermal conductivity of the heat insulator is lower than the thermal conductivity of the reaction tube.

A food processing apparatus includes a reaction tank having an internal space for storing a reactant that is in a liquid state and that is used for food, a cooler that cools a reactant stored in the reaction tank, and a catalytic reactor disposed in the internal space. The catalytic reactor includes a reaction tube, a light source disposed in the interior of the reaction tube, and a heat insulator disposed between the reaction tube and the light source. The outer surface of the reaction tube is provided with a photocatalyst. The reaction tube allows light radiated from the light source to pass therethrough. The reaction tube has a first end, and the first end is closed so as to serve as a bottom surface of the reaction tube. The thermal conductivity of the heat insulator is lower than the thermal conductivity of the reaction tube.