Electricity-based microbial contamination reduction in wheat flour
Innovative approach using electrical currents to reduce microbial contamination in wheat flour, targeting pathogenic bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella. This technology aims to enhance food safety by disrupting bacterial membranes, reducing their viability.
Overview
This innovative technology utilizes electrical currents to significantly reduce microbial contamination in wheat flour, specifically targeting harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp., and Enterobacteriaceae. By applying a controlled electrical current to wheat treated with electrolyzed water, this method effectively decreases bacterial viability, improving the microbiological quality and safety of wheat flour. This approach promises to enhance food safety standards in the food processing industry.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Utilizes low-voltage electrical currents to disrupt bacterial cell membranes, leading to cell death
- Targets specific pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella sp., and indicator Enterobacteriaceae
- Employs a precision current generator to apply currents between 0 to 120 mA
- Optimal exposure time determined through experimental validation
- Compliance with standard microbiological techniques for viability assessment
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently at TRL 5, having been validated in a laboratory setting with plans to optimize and validate in real-world conditions. The experimental phase includes determining optimal electrical current parameters and assessing microbial viability through detailed experiments, with a final report preparation planned for dissemination of results.
About Binghamton University
Binghamton University is a large, comprehensive public research university in the State University of New York system. Industry collaborates on campus through an advanced technologies complex with shared labs and prototyping facilities, and a health sciences campus adjacent to regional hospital partners. A downtown incubator and maker spaces connect faculty and startups with suppliers and manufacturing in New York’s Southern Tier, while co-op and internship pathways build talent pipelines for corporate R&D. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NSF, NIH, DOE, and DoD, with additional state and industry sponsorship. A dedicated technology transfer office streamlines IP protection, licensing, and startup formation.
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