The effect of electron beam irradiation and modified pH on the survival and recovery ofEscherichia coli

摘要

The severity of radiation processing can be reduced by combining irradiation with other treatments, such as low pH. An exponential phase culture ofEscherichia coliwas irradiated at doses of 0–2.4 kGy at pH values ranging between 7.0 and 4.0, in an enriched nutrient broth.At pH 4.3 and above there was no significant effect of lowering the pH prior to irradiation. At pH 4.13 and 4.0, a much higher level of cell death occurred compared with irradiation at pH 7.0. This synergistic effect was observed only when the pH was lowered before radiation processin