Microbial inactivation of pressure spray combined with high-voltage electrospray and its application in honey...

Pressure spray combined with high-voltage electrospray (PS-ES) has garnered considerable interest as a novel, non-thermal approach for microbial inactivation and preservation of liquid food. This study compared PS-ES with heat treatment (HT) to understand its inactivation mechanism against E. coli and S. aureus in a simulated system. Microbial activity, cell permeability, membrane integrity, membrane potential, and cell membrane structure were assessed. Furthermore, the impact of PS-ES treatment on microbial activity and flavor in honey raspberry juice, was examined. The changes in microbial growth and color during storage were also discussed. The experimental findings revealed that PS-ES treatment effectively reduced the number of E. coli and S. aureus by 1.99 and 1.83 log colony-forming units (CFU/mL). Additionally, it disrupted the integrity of bacterial cell membranes increasing their permeability, which led to the release of cellular proteins and nucleic acids. PS-ES treatment lowered the membrane potential and altered the structure of bacterial proteins. Application of PS-ES in honey raspberry juice reduced bacterial counts from 4.48 log CFU/mL to 1.99 log CFU/mL, with less flavor deterioration compared to HT treatment. After 30 days of storage at 4 °C and room temperature, PS-ES effectively controlled the growth of microorganisms in raspberry juice and maintained the color of the juice.