METHODS FOR PASTEURIZING AND/OR STERILIZING PARTICULATE GOODS

Abstract

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.

Claims

1-6. (canceled)

7. A method for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material, comprising the following steps: a) generating an electron beam, b) pasteurizing and/or sterilizing the particulate material by means of the electron beam in a treatment zone, wherein: the electrons of the electron beam have an energy ranging from 80 keV to 300 keV, the electron beam in the treatment zone has an average electron current density which is in the range from 1×10.sup.15 s.sup.−1.Math.cm.sup.−2 to 2.77×10.sup.15 s.sup.−1.Math.cm.sup.−2, and the particulate material is exposed to the electron beam for a treatment time in the range from 5 ms to 25 ms.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the electrons of the electron beam have an energy ranging from 140 keV to 280 keV.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the electrons of the electron beam have an energy ranging from 180 keV to 260 keV.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the particulate material is exposed by the electron beam to a radiation dose which lies in the range from 1 kGy to 45 kGy.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein, before step b), the particulate material is separated into individual particles.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the particulate material is separated into individual particles solely with a vibrating surface which is excited to vibrate and/or a sliding surface on which the particulate material slides down.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein the particulate material falls freely through the treatment zone.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein trajectories of the individual particles of the particulate material are determined solely by their velocity, a force of gravity acting and, if applicable, a process gas surrounding the particulate material.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the electron beam is produced by an electron source and the electron beam contacts the particulate material to be pasteurized and/or sterilized.

16. The method according to claim 7, wherein the particulate material moves through the treatment zone at a speed which is in the range from 1 m/s to 5 m/s.

17. The method according to claim 7, wherein the particulate material is foodstuff.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the foodstuff is selected from the group consisting of cereals, snacks, nuts, almonds, peanut butter, cocoa beans, chocolate, chocolate powder, chocolate chips, cocoa products, pulses, coffee, seeds, spices, tea mixtures, dried fruits, pistachios, dry protein products, bakery products, sugar, potato products, pasta, baby food, dried egg products, soya products, thickeners, yeasts, yeast extracts, gelatine and enzymes.

19. The method according to claim 7, wherein the particulate material is animal food.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the animal food is selected from the group consisting of pellets, feed for ruminants, poultry, aquatic animals or pets, and compound feed.

21. The method according to claim 7, wherein the particulate material is plastics.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the plastic is PET.

Description

[0023] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by way of specific embodiments and drawings.

[0024] FIG. 1: a schematic representation of a first method according to the invention;

[0025] FIG. 2: a schematic representation of a second method according to the invention.

[0026] In the first embodiment schematically shown in FIG. 1, a particulate, separated good 1, such as a spice, pistachios or almonds, falls freely through a treatment zone 3 at an in-creasing speed in the range from 1 m/s to 5 m/s. There it is pasteurized and/or sterilized by means of an electron beam generated by an electron source 4. The electron beam contains electrons of an energy in the range 80 keV to 300 keV and has an average electron current density in the treatment zone 3 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. The good 1 is subjected to this treatment for a treatment time in the range of 5 ms to 25 ms, whereby it is exposed to a radiation dose in the range 1 kGy to 45 kGy.

[0027] FIG. 2 schematically shows a second embodiment. A separated particulate good 1 is dosed onto a conveyor belt 2. The conveyor belt 2 transports the good 1 in a treatment zone 3 under an electron source 4. In treatment zone 3, the electron source 4 generates an electron beam with electrons of an energy in the range from 80 keV to 300 keV and an average electron current density in the range from 10.sup.15 s.sup.−1.Math.cm.sup.−2 to 2,77.Math.10.sup.15 s.sup.−1.Math.cm.sup.−2. The good 1 is subjected to this treatment for a treatment time in the range from 5 ms to 25 ms, whereby it is exposed to a radiation dose in the range from 1 kGy to 45 kGy.

[0028] With these methods, the particulate good 1 can be pasteurized and/or sterilized effectively and reliably, but still as simply, quickly and inexpensively as possible.