Ultrahigh pressure exposure can kill microorganisms without the use of heat. This effect is currently being investigated as a high quality method of food preservation. In addition to technical efficacy, wide spread commercialization depends on economic merit. This paper illustrates the analysis needed to gauge economic feasibility. The time needed to achieve equipment break-even is compared between different processing methods for given assumptions of UHP exposure, equipment cost, operating cost, energy cost, pressure vessel life, aseptic filling cost and value added to the product.
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