A method for treating a perishable product is provided, the method comprising: determining a desired product treatment outcome selected from sanitization, protection, preservation, or enhancement of the perishable product; after harvesting, wet or dry washing the perishable product; directly or indirectly applying a substance to the surface of the perishable product using a carrier; and packaging the perishable product. A system for treating a perishable product with a substance treatment is provided, the system comprising: one or more devices for directed substance application to a surface of the perishable products prior to final packaging of the perishable product using a carrier; and wherein the one or more devices is an electrostatically charging device or a nebulizer. Embodiments of the invention which use multiple, sequenced, and engineered applications enhance the efficacy of sanitizers and other functional substances for increasing the quality, safety, and overall shelf life of perishable products.

The present invention is a device for sterilizing microorganisms on a liquid or solid substrate. The device includes a light source for producing a light and an optical device positioned proximate the light source. The optical device is configured to focus the light generated by the light source to provide a high intensity light output. The optical device also includes a dichroic reflector. The dichroic reflector is configured to pass thermal energy generated by the light source and reflect the light produced by the light source. The device also includes a power supply, where the power supply is coupled to the light source and the optical device. The device thereby killing microbial organisms presented within the range of the high intensity light output.

The present invention is a device for sterilizing microorganisms on a liquid or solid substrate. The device includes a light source for producing a light and an optical device positioned proximate the light source. The optical device is configured to focus the light generated by the light source to provide a high intensity light output. The optical device also includes a dichroic reflector. The dichroic reflector is configured to pass thermal energy generated by the light source and reflect the light produced by the light source. The device also includes a power supply, where the power supply is coupled to the light source and the optical device. The device thereby killing microbial organisms presented within the range of the high intensity light output.

A device for creating reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species comprising: a plasma generator comprising at least one electrode positioned within an open-ended chamber and a centrifugal mixing chamber in fluid communication with the plasma generator, said centrifugal mixing chamber comprising a mixing chamber side wall and a blade, said blade oriented to allow passage of air in a circular motion around a central post of said centrifugal mixing chamber, and an exit nozzle on an opposing end of said centrifugal mixing chamber.

A device for creating reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species comprising: a plasma generator comprising at least one electrode positioned within an open-ended chamber and a centrifugal mixing chamber in fluid communication with the plasma generator, said centrifugal mixing chamber comprising a mixing chamber side wall and a blade, said blade oriented to allow passage of air in a circular motion around a central post of said centrifugal mixing chamber, and an exit nozzle on an opposing end of said centrifugal mixing chamber.

In at least one illustrative embodiment, an electromagnetic filter may include a transfer pipe and multiple electromagnetic filter elements positioned in an interior volume of the pipe. Each electromagnetic filter element includes a support comb, a solenoid coupled to the support comb, and multiple magnetic members arranged in a planar array positioned within an opening of the support comb. Each magnetic member may rotate about an end that is coupled to the support comb. The magnetic members may be magnetostrictive sensors and may include a biorecognition element to bind with a target microorganism. A method for fluid filtration includes coupling the electromagnetic filter between a fluid source and a fluid destination, energizing the solenoids of each electromagnetic filter elements, and flowing a fluid media through the transfer pipe of the electromagnetic filter. The fluid media may be liquid food such as fruit juice. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

In at least one illustrative embodiment, an electromagnetic filter may include a transfer pipe and multiple electromagnetic filter elements positioned in an interior volume of the pipe. Each electromagnetic filter element includes a support comb, a solenoid coupled to the support comb, and multiple magnetic members arranged in a planar array positioned within an opening of the support comb. Each magnetic member may rotate about an end that is coupled to the support comb. The magnetic members may be magnetostrictive sensors and may include a biorecognition element to bind with a target microorganism. A method for fluid filtration includes coupling the electromagnetic filter between a fluid source and a fluid destination, energizing the solenoids of each electromagnetic filter elements, and flowing a fluid media through the transfer pipe of the electromagnetic filter. The fluid media may be liquid food such as fruit juice. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A compound and a method for prolonging shelf life of frozen aquatic products are provided. The compound includes: 15-20 parts by weight of modified carboxymethyl chitosan, 5-12 parts by weight of pectin, 2-5 parts by weight of oleic acid, 1-3 parts by weight of yeast selenium, 1-3 parts by weight of natamycin and 2-6 parts by weight of nisin. The method includes sequentially treating a frozen aquatic product under a mixed gas and soaking the frozen aquatic product in the compound. The method can obviously slow down the degradation and oxidative denaturation of protein in aquatic products during cold storage, thus effectively maintaining the activity of protein in the aquatic products and slowing down the deterioration of the aquatic products.

Dehydration and drying are some of the oldest methods of preserving food and other biological materials such as proteins and both live and dead live microorganisms or their metabolites. The invention disclosed herein seeks a method of further improving the process of preserving biological material by combining the freezing or freeze-drying process with a partial infrared dehydration step. By using infrared radiation energy to perform simultaneous blanching and dehydration, the drying speed is greatly increased and better cellular and molecular integrity is maintained. The invention herein is also particularly useful in connection with cannabis and hemp.

Embodiments herein relate to articles and methods for detecting heating patterns within model food compositions containing irreversible thermochromic ink, and for creating multi-dimensional temperature distribution profiles within a packaged model food composition. In an embodiment, a packaged model food composition for thermal testing is included. The packaged model food composition can include a package and a model food composition disposed in the package. The model food composition can include a model food material that shares processing characteristics with a target food material and 0.05 wt. % to 20 wt. % of one or more irreversible thermochromic inks. The irreversible thermochromic inks can exhibit a variable change in at least one color parameter in response to temperature change across a selected temperature range. Other embodiments are also included herein.