HyperInfo Canada Inc. <http://WWW.HyperInfo.CA/GS.Sunatori/>
65, des Parulines <mailto:GS.Sunatori@HyperInfo.CA>
Gatineau, QC J9A 1Z4 <skype:GS.Sunatori>
Canada <tel:+1-819-595-9210>
Submission Terms
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Technical Approach
Title of Proposal:
Low Energy Food Sterilisation Technology: Ultraviolet Exposure
Proposed Technical Approach:
The proposal is to use ultraviolet lamps to sterilise food by ultraviolet exposure.
Ultraviolet (UV) light has purification, germicidal and bactericidal effects. Specifically, ultraviolet C (UVC) with wavelengths from 200 nm to 280 nm is able to kill a wide array of micro-organisms, including bacteria, viruses, spores, algae and protozoa.
Ultraviolet sterilisation technology itself has been well established. Ultraviolet lamps have been successfully used for water purification and for sterilisation of medical instruments and supplies. The application of ultraviolet exposure is taking place for food packaging and beverage containers, as we speak. The next step is ultraviolet exposure of food in order to inactivate pathogenic bacterial spores with a minimum product quality impact.
Short exposure time leads to low energy usage due to equation (Energy = Power * time). Also, the shorter the wavelength, the shorter the exposure time required. For example, a short-wavelength excimer lamp will require only a few seconds of exposure at room temperature in order to achieve the required level of sterilisation of food. A longer-wavelength low-pressure UV lamp will achieve the required level of sterilisation of food in a minute or so, an order of magnitude shorter than conventional thermal processing.
There is a variety of ultraviolet light sources on the market. For the technical feasibility study, the following possibilities will be analysed to achieve the highest effectiveness for UV sterilisation of food.
Excimer Lamp (Xe2* at wavelength of 172 nm, KrCl* at wavelength of 222 nm, etc.)
Low-Pressure UV Lamp (Hg at wavelengths of 185 nm and 254 nm)
Technical feasibility study will be conducted for cost/benefit analysis of each approach (excimer lamps versus low-pressure UV lamps), most importantly to determine optimum wavelength, light intensity, UV exposure time, based on Beer-Lambert-Bouguer law. Optionally, biological inactivation results obtained with a high-power pulsed xenon flash-lamp could be compared to those with a continuous-wave medium-pressure mercury-argon lamp.
Unlike irradiation technology, ultraviolet sterilisation poses no risk of radioactive contamination. Compact ultraviolet lamps with long effective lamp life, suitable for food sterilisation, are commercially available from suppliers such as Ushio .
In conclusion, the Solver believes that ultraviolet exposure can achieve commercial sterility with a superior quality for shelf-stable food products for the Seeker.
Proposed Plan and Deliverables:
Phase 1 - Proof of Concept
a technical feasibility study report
a working bench-top prototype
Phase 2 - Pilot Scale Development
consultancy
Phase 3 - Scale up to Commercial Production
consultancy
Proposed Budget
Phase 1 (a total of $50 000 USD)
$30 000 USD for labour
$10 000 USD for materials
$10 000 USD for sub-contract to GFTC
Proposal Team Experience
Simon Sunatori, P.Eng./ing., M.Eng., is a Canadian engineer, inventor and entrepreneur. He obtained a Master of Engineering (Engineering Physics) degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1983, and is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a Member of the Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), a Life Member of the World Future Society (WFS), a Lifetime Fellow of the North American Academy of Arts and Sciences (NAAAS), among others.
HyperInfo Canada has conducted Research and Development projects, especially in the field of Electromagnetic Technology. The company owns more than 60 patents in many fields, i.e., electronics, magnetics, optics, dynamics, software, hardware, energy, safety, environment, medical, consumer products, sporting goods, fashion, food, etc. The company has commercialised the "HyperFeeder" (a squirrel-proof bird feeder with concentric perching rings and a transparent globe), the "MagneScribe" (an auto-retractable ballpoint pen with an ergonomic cushion) and the "Magic Spicer" (a self-sealing auto-aligning magnetically-hanging spice dispenser with a continuously-variable hole-size selector).
Here is a partial list of Simon Sunatori's Canadian patent applications.
Method for Producing a Coreless Frozen Pizza (2 650 085)
Drip-free Interconnect with Unisex Magnetic Connector (2 626 157)
Backpressure Regulator using Magnetic Repulsion (2 624 740)
