Method and apparatus for preserving perishable products

Abstract

The invention can be summarized as follows. There is provided a method for preserving the quality of a perishable product comprising the step of treating the product with one or more near-infrared lights, wherein preferably at least one near-infrared light is a near-infrared laser (or laser diode). The perishable product may be simultaneously treated with a magnetic field. The invention also pertains to an apparatus that may be used to preserve the quality of a perishable product.

1 ) A method of preserving the quality of a perishable product comprising,
 treating the product with one or more near-infrared lights, wherein at least one near-infrared light is a near-infrared laser.   
   
   
       2 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein said preserving the quality comprises inhibiting the growth of one or more microorganisms in said perishable product. 
   
   
       3 ) The method of  claim 2 , wherein said one or more microorganisms are selected from the group consisting of yeasts, bacteria, fungi, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       4 ) The method of  claim 3 , wherein said microorganisms comprise  E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Leuconostoc oenes, Penicillum citrinum, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus oryzhae, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Asaia bogornsis, Lactobacillus brevis, Pediococcus cerevisiae, Gluconobacter cerinus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae  or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       5 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein said perishable product comprises dairy products, beer, juices, eggs, egg products, meats, produce, cereal crops, crop products, spices, pet food, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       6 ) The method of  claim 1  wherein said near infrared laser emits light with a wavelength in the range of about 800 nm to about 1200 nm. 
   
   
       7 ) The method of  claim 1  wherein said near infrared laser emits light with a frequency of about 5 Hz to about 1×10 6  Hz. 
   
   
       8 ) The method of  claim 7 , wherein said frequency is in the range of greater than 5 KHz to about 100 KHz. 
   
   
       9 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein said near infrared laser emits light with a period of about 10 nanoseconds to about 10 microseconds. 
   
   
       10 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein said near infrared laser emits light with a power in the range of about 1 W to about 100 W per a single pulse. 
   
   
       11 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein said perishable product is treated with near infrared laser light for between about 0.1 seconds and about 24 hours. 
   
   
       12 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein said laser comprises a material made from gallium-arsenide (Ga—As). 
   
   
       13 ) A method of preserving the quality of a perishable product comprising treating the product with a near infrared laser and one or more near infrared lights or light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
   
   
       14 ) A method of preserving the quality of a perishable product comprising,
 simultaneously treating the product with one or more near-infrared lights, wherein at least one near infrared light is a near infrared laser and;   subjecting said product to a magnetic field.   
   
   
       15 ) The method of  claim 14 , wherein said magnetic field is in the range of about 10 to about 500 mTesla. 
   
   
       16 ) The method of  claim 1 , said method comprising part of one or more processes selected from the group consisting of pasteurisation process, microfiltering process, heat inactivation process, irradiation process, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       17 ) The method of  claim 1 , said method comprising part of a batch process or continuous flow process. 
   
   
       18 ) An apparatus for preserving the quality of a perishable product comprising,
 a product container, and;   a near infrared laser.   
   
   
       19 ) The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising one or more near-infrared lights or LEDs. 
   
   
       20 ) The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a magnetic field generator. 
   
   
       21 ) An apparatus for preserving the quality of a perishable product comprising,
 a product container;   a near infrared laser;   one or more non-laser near infra-red lights or LEDs, and;   a magnetic field generator.   
   
   
       22 ) The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said container comprises an open container or a closed container. 
   
   
       23 ) The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said container is refrigerated. 
   
   
       24 ) The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the laser is external to the container. 
   
   
       25 ) The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the laser is inside the container. 
   
   
       26 ) The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the laser forms part of the container. 
   
   
       27 ) The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the container comprises a material substantially transparent to near-infrared in the range of about 800 nm to about 1200 nm. 
   
   
       28 ) The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said material comprises glass, PVC, polypropylene, polycarbonate, Pyrex®, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       29 ) The method of  claim 1  wherein said method destroys between about 80% to about 100% of microorganisms in said perishable product. 
   
   
       30 ) The method of  claim 29 , wherein said method destroys between about 95% to about 100% of microorganisms in said perishable product. 
   
   
       31 ) The method of  claim 29 , wherein said method destroys between about 99% to about 100% of microorganisms in said perishable product. 
   
   
       32 ) A method for preserving the quality of perishable products comprising treating the products with one or more non-laser near infrared lights and a magnetic field. 
   
   
       33 ) The method of  claim 29 , wherein said method provides between about a 5 log and an 8 log reduction, or more of microorganisms in said perishable product.