Inactivation of Escherichia coli with Power Ultrasound in Apple Cider

The use of acoustic energy to secure apple cider safety was explored. Inactivation tests were performed with Escherichia coli K12 at 40 °C, 45 °C, 50 °C, 55 °C, and 60 °C with and without ultrasound, followed by a validation test with E. coli O157:H7 at 60 °C. The cell morphology was observed with environmental scanning electron microscopy for samples treated at 40 °C and 60 °C. Physical quality attributes of the apple cider (pH, titratable acidity, °Brix, turbidity, and color) were compared for treated samples. The inactivation tests showed that sonication increased E. coli K12 cell destruction by 5.3-log, 5.0-log, and 0.1-log cycles at 40 °C, 50 °C, and 60 °C, respectively. The additional destruction due to sonication was more pronounced at sublethal temperatures. At the lethal temperature of 60 °C, the rate of death by ultrasound was not significantly different compared with the thermal-alone treatment. The inactivation of E. coli K12 with heat was described by 1st-order kinetics, especially at 50 °C and 60 °C. For ultrasound treatments, concave upward survival curves were observed, which had a shape factor in the range of 0.547 to 0.720 for a Weibull distribution model. Extensive damage for ultrasound treated E. coli K12 cells, including cell perforation, was observed. Perforation is a unique phenomenon found on ultrasound-treated cells that could be caused by liquid jets generated by cavitation. Titratable acidity, pH, and °Brix of the cider were not affected by ultrasound treatment. Minor changes in color and turbidity for ultrasound treated samples, especially for sonication at 40 °C for 17.7 min, were observed.