Cell ruptures of microorganisms by shock wave and ultrasonic wave

A sterilization and a cell rupture using the shock wave generated by a wire explosion was tested and the effect of the impulsive load on the mortality of microorganism. This technique enables the sterilization of foods, juice or chemical agents without heating them. Microorganism cells were broken by shock waves and ultrasonic waves and different fracture patterns were shown in the SEM image. In the shock the efficiency was depended on the size of bacteria, although that was depended on the strength of the cell membrane in the ultrasonic. It was also found that the shock is effective for spores of bacteria that are superior to normal cells in the endurance and the resistibility. Numerical simulations demonstrated the size effect in the shock cell rupture.Copyright © 2003 by ASME