Grain pasteurization using cold plasma reactive gases

Overview

Nanoguard Technologies has developed an innovative high-voltage atmospheric cold-plasma (HVACP) generator designed to improve grain safety through effective pasteurization. This technology harnesses reactive gas species (RGS), such as Ox, NOx, and HOx, generated through electrical discharge to target and eliminate microbial pathogens on grain surfaces. The approach provides a significant reduction in pathogen populations, achieving up to 99.9999% reduction without compromising the organoleptic qualities of the grains.

Technical specifications

• High-voltage atmospheric cold-plasma generator: Utilizes electrical discharge to produce reactive gases.
• Reactive gas species (RGS): Includes Ox, NOx, HOx, and others, targeting microbial cell membranes.
• Pathogen reduction: Achieves 2-6 log reductions, depending on treatment protocol and chemical reagent addition.
• Applications: Effective for whole grains; minimizes changes in smell and taste.
• Treatment duration: Typically spans a few hours, aligning with grain tempering stages.

Technology readiness level

Currently at TRL 4, the HVACP technology has undergone initial lab-scale validation. Future validation includes testing on larger scales (4.5kg batches) to demonstrate effectiveness across different pathogens and conditions. The technology promises a scalable solution for pathogen management in grain processing.