Methods for reducing contaminants in cocoa beans are disclosed. The method includes placing the cocoa beans in contact with an effective amount of ozone, thus reducing a level of contaminants in the cocoa beans. The contaminant may be a smoky odor, a different off odor, microbes, or combinations of any thereof. Systems for reducing contaminants in cocoa beans are also disclosed.

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to, among other things, systems for generating engineered water nanostructures (EWNS) comprising reactive oxygen species (ROS) and methods for inactivating at least one of viruses, bacteria, bacterial spores, and fungi in or on a wound of a subject in need thereof or on produce by applying EWNS to the wound or to the produce.

A circulation chamber for a cargo container comprises a cargo container extension including a housing, a cargo container aperture, and an interior volume; the cargo container extension is structured and dimensioned to be attached to an opening of the cargo container, thereby placing the interior volume in fluid communication with an interior of the cargo container. The housing, cargo container aperture, and interior volume may be cooperatively structured and dimensioned to allow at least a portion of the cargo container to be disposed and projected through the cargo container aperture, and furthermore, allow, at least partially, the opening of a door of the cargo container while the circulation chamber is attached to the cargo container.

A circulation chamber for a cargo container comprises a cargo container extension including a housing, a cargo container aperture, and an interior volume; the cargo container extension is structured and dimensioned to be attached to an opening of the cargo container, thereby placing the interior volume in fluid communication with an interior of the cargo container. The housing, cargo container aperture, and interior volume may be cooperatively structured and dimensioned to allow at least a portion of the cargo container to be disposed and projected through the cargo container aperture, and furthermore, allow, at least partially, the opening of a door of the cargo container while the circulation chamber is attached to the cargo container.

Method and system to prepare and store untreated foods destined for processing and conservation packaging. The system eliminates bacteria from untreated or transformed foods, and includes a degasser, an injector to inject gas or liquid and a cooler. Degassing is carried out after the foods have been gathered together, cut, washed, and optionally treated to neutralize the enzymatic activity, then cooled, before the products are sterilized or pasteurized. The degassing is followed by reinjection of non-condensable neutral gas. During the reinjection of neutral gas which takes place in a liquid form, cooling is imposed on the degassed foods to the vaporization of the neutral gas projected into the enclosure where the foods are confined. All of the operations are directed to the elimination of the non-sporulated microorganisms, which limits the inoculum found in the products when they are stored.

Devices, methods and systems for disinfecting dry goods are described herein. In an aspect, dry goods such as dry foods can be sprayed within a disinfection device by a gas and liquid mixture. The gas and liquid mixture may include a mild acid and an ozone gas fluidized using a fluidization element of the device. As a result, spraying the dry goods with the gas and liquid mixture, the microbial activity on the dry goods are reduced and disinfection is achieved. Furthermore, organic dry goods such as corn, garlic, onions, and other such food items can maintain its organic status using the described disinfection devices, methods, and systems.

Devices, methods and systems for disinfecting dry goods are described herein. In an aspect, dry goods such as dry foods can be sprayed within a disinfection device by a gas and liquid mixture. The gas and liquid mixture may include a mild acid and an ozone gas fluidized using a fluidization element of the device. As a result, spraying the dry goods with the gas and liquid mixture, the microbial activity on the dry goods are reduced and disinfection is achieved. Furthermore, organic dry goods such as corn, garlic, onions, and other such food items can maintain its organic status using the described disinfection devices, methods, and systems.

Nitrogen oxide is used to safely sterilize inside of a space area or an object arranged within the space area. A sterilization method is provided to comprise: introducing nitrogen oxide liquid stored in a vessel (4) into a space area (2, 2′, 2″) to gasify nitrogen oxide liquid, and sterilizing inside of space area (2, 2′, 2″) or object (1) arranged in space area (2, 2′, 2″) with nitrogen oxide gas evaporated from nitrogen oxide liquid to completely annihilate and destroy microorganisms inclusive of bacteria and virus with nitrogen oxide gas for preventing the infection by microorganisms to human body and damage to precision components.

Nitrogen oxide is used to safely sterilize inside of a space area or an object arranged within the space area. A sterilization method is provided to comprise: introducing nitrogen oxide liquid stored in a vessel (4) into a space area (2, 2′, 2″) to gasify nitrogen oxide liquid, and sterilizing inside of space area (2, 2′, 2″) or object (1) arranged in space area (2, 2′, 2″) with nitrogen oxide gas evaporated from nitrogen oxide liquid to completely annihilate and destroy microorganisms inclusive of bacteria and virus with nitrogen oxide gas for preventing the infection by microorganisms to human body and damage to precision components.

Methods and systems for treatment of grain in a storage container using ozone may be used for treating grain for toxins, insects, mold, and/or odor. Downdraft methods for applying high concentrations of ozone to grain in a storage container treat grain without generating ozone-related objectionable odors or with generation of only minimal ozone-related objectionable odors. A method for downdraft ozone treatment of grain with minimal generation of ozone-related objectionable odors involves providing a negative air pressure at a bottom of a volume of grain in a storage container. A high ozone concentration is generated in air above an upper surface of the volume of grain. The ozone is drawn down into the volume of grain using the negative air pressure for a treatment time sufficient to effectively treat the grain without causing significant ozone-related commercially-objectionable foreign odors in the grain.