LIGHTING UNIT PROVIDING DISINFECTION FOR MICROORGANISMS VIA VARIABLE FREQUENCY AND DUTY CYCLE

There is a need for alternative methods of disinfection of bacteria in foods by the necessity of food safety. In recent years, interest in blue light (405 nm) technology has been increasing day by day to ensure the disinfection of bacteria causing contamination in food. The aim of this study was to develop a low-cost energy saving prototype by designing a microcontroller controller embedded circuit for pulsed 405 mu light and to examine its disinfection impact for Escherichia coli bacteria. For this purpose, tests were carried out at different frequencies, duty cycles, intensities and time intervals. As a result, different pulse types and time-dependent colony numbers were compared. Improvements were observed in bacterial inactivation and lower energy consumption was attained under pulsed conditions. Thus, practical lighting units that might be used for providing food safety that can prevent the transmission of foodborne bacteria were developed with the designed prototype.