Effect of Microwave Radiation on Survival of Some Bacterial Species

Abstract

Firouzi, R., Shekarforoush, S.S. and Hajikhani, F. 2003. Effect of microwave radiation on survival of some bacterial species. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 24: 207–211.

The bactericidal effect of microwave irradiation on different species of bacteria like Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium perfringens, E. coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes type 4a, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis has been studied. Two different volumes of bacterial suspension (50 and 100 ml) were used for colony count at successive time intervals. The decimal reduction time (D values in seconds) were 9 for B. subtilis, 9.5 for C. perfringens, 13 for E, coli, 10 for S. typhimurium, 6 for P. aeruginosa, 8.5 for L. monocytogenes, 8 for Staph, aureus and 7 for Ent. faecalis, for 50 ml suspensions of various bacteria, respectively. D values for 100 ml of bacterial suspensions were 25.5,10,14,13,7,16,15 and 10 seconds, respectively. Under different conditions with respect to duration and volume of bacterial suspensions, a useful effect of bacterial killing by microwave irradiation was noted. B. subtilis could be considered as an optimal indicator for the sterilizing effect of microwave.

Keywords:

• Bacteria
• microwave
• radiation dead time
• decimal reduction time