Multi-Frequency Power Ultrasound: A Versatile Tool for Advancing Food Processing-Applications, Underlying Mechanisms,...

Area of Science:

• Food Engineering
• Acoustics
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Conventional single-frequency power ultrasound enhances food processing via acoustic cavitation but suffers from uneven acoustic fields due to standing waves.
• This unevenness limits precise control and efficiency, hindering modern food industry demands for advanced processing technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and integrate the molecular mechanisms and applications of multi-frequency power ultrasound (MFPU) in food processing.
• To establish a theoretical framework highlighting MFPU's advantages over single-frequency systems.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature analysis of existing research on MFPU in food processing.
• Integration of findings to elucidate underlying molecular mechanisms and practical applications.

Main Results:

• MFPU demonstrates significant advantages over single-frequency systems, attributed to nonlinear interactions rather than simple linear superposition.
• Synergistic effects in MFPU generate a uniform cavitation field, overcoming standing wave limitations and showing broad applicability across various food matrices.
• MFPU is effective in diverse applications, from protein modification to complex tissue processing.

Conclusions:

• MFPU is a transformative technology for food manufacturing, addressing limitations of current methods by combining efficiency with quality preservation.
• Further research is needed to deepen the understanding of molecular mechanisms, standardize parameters, and develop intelligent process control systems for industrial implementation.