Effect of the application of CO2 pressure cycling in supercritical ambient on the inactivation of spores of Aspergillus niger supported on stainless steel plates

• Grant number: 10/00468-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2010
• Effective date (End): April 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Industrial Operations and Equipment for Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Theo Guenter Kieckbusch
• Grantee: Fabiana Sayuri Kihara
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This undergraduate research proposal is part of a larger project supported by FAPESP (Proc. Nº 2009/02677-2 Evaluation and optimization of the process parameters that affect the inactivation of microorganisms in supercritical ambients applied to the sterilization of biomedical implants). The global project seeks the knowledge of scientific/technological fundamentals for the development of a sterilizing process under CO2 supercritical conditions able to attain Sterility Assurance Level (SAL) of 10-6 at temperatures below 50ºC and processing times lesser than 60 minutes, to be applicable in the sterilization of medical implants and foodstuffs. This specific undergraduate research intend to investigate the effect of pressure cycling (amplitudes, frequencies and depressurization rates) on the inactivation of Aspergillus niger spores, using pure supercritical CO2. This research will be in line with the work in progress and will be using the protocols that are being established in terms of the operation of the equipment, care with the samples asepsis (which includes the inoculation of the spores on the plates) and with the viable spores counting. The sequence of cycling that optimizes the inactivation process will, hopefully, serve as reference for the implement of process conditions that validate the objectives of the global proposal (different temperatures and pressure, different microorganisms, and the use of CO2 with additives). (AU)