Modelling of factors influencing the effect of osmotic solution on reduction of selected microorganisms.

AIMS: The goal of this research is to model the effects of two osmotic solutions factors on the reduction of selected microorganisms, and to assess the application in osmotic dehydration process of animal raw materials from the aspect of microbiological safety.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Sugar beet molasses and aquatic osmotic solution were prepared and inoculated with Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. Varied factors of osmotic solutions were: time, temperature and concentration of osmotic solutions. Samples of osmotic solutions were subjected to standard and modified microbiological ISO methods. The result showed that increase in factors had a positive effect on the reduction of microbiological load, while the time of the process was the most influential technological parameter. Number of L. monocytogenes was reduced to <10 CFU per g at the end of the process in the highest concentration of sugar beet molasses at all process temperatures.

CONCLUSIONS: Developed mathematical models of reduction ratios for tested microorganisms were statistically significant, allowing good prediction of reduction ratio values based on applied factors.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Obtained levels of reduction of all tested microorganisms present good base for the production of safe osmotically dehydrated products of animal origin.