JPH0858744A - Method and device for sterilizing food container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To sterilize a food container in a short time without raising the concentration of a sterilizer by a method wherein an inner surface of a food container is sterilized by heating a peracetic acid sterilizer compounded with hydrogen peroxide to a temperature corresponding to the concentration thereof. CONSTITUTION: When the concentration of peracetic acid in a peracetic acid sterilizer compounded with hydrogen peroxide is in a normal range of 1000-1500ppm. the sterilizer is heated to a temperature of 60-95 deg.C. When the concentration of peracetic acid is in a range of 1500-2000ppm, it is heated to 55 deg.C or higher. When 2000-3000ppm, it is heated to 50 deg.C or higher. When 3000ppm or more, it is heated to 45 deg.C or higher. Thereafter, the sterilizer is brought into contact with an inner surface of a food container. As a method for bringing the peracetic acid sterilizer into contact with an inner surface of a food container, a method for jetting it from a nozzle into the food container is preferably used, but the food container can be sterilized by being filled in with the peracetic acid sterilizer in a brimful state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sterilizing method for a container (hereinafter, simply referred to as "food container") filled with various foods and drinks such as drinking water, juice, oolong tea and milk coffee, and its apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a food container sterilizing method and a sterilizing apparatus for the food container, which can sterilize the food container in a short time without increasing the concentration of the bactericide.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a food container is sterilized by using a peracetic acid type bactericide, the food container is sterilized by filling the food container with the bactericide. After the sterilization, the filled bactericide is discharged from the food container, and the inside of the food container is washed with sterile water (washing step) to remove the bactericide inside the food container.

By the way, in order to prevent hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid from remaining after the cleaning step, there is a demand to keep the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid to be low. However, if the concentration of hydrogen peroxide or peracetic acid used is kept low, the bactericide cannot exert a strong bactericidal effect, so if sterilization is sufficient, the sterilization time will inevitably increase. That is the time uneconomical problem.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a food container sterilizing method and a food container sterilizing apparatus capable of sterilizing a food container in a short time without increasing the concentration of the bactericide.

[0005]

The present invention has been proposed to achieve the above object, and is characterized by having the following constitution. That is, according to the present invention, a peracetic acid-based bactericide containing hydrogen peroxide is added at 60 ° C.
There is provided a method for sterilizing a food container, which comprises heating at least the above and contacting at least the inner surface of the food container.

Further, according to the present invention, when hydrogen peroxide is added and the concentration of peracetic acid is 1500 ppm or more,
A peracetic acid-based bactericide made smaller than 00 ppm is used at 55 ° C.
There is provided a method for sterilizing a food container, which comprises heating at least the above and contacting at least the inner surface of the food container.

Further, according to the present invention, hydrogen peroxide is blended and the concentration of peracetic acid is 30 ppm at a concentration of 2000 ppm or more.
Peracetic acid-based bactericide made smaller than 00ppm at 50 ℃
There is provided a method for sterilizing a food container, which comprises heating at least the above and contacting at least the inner surface of the food container.

Further, according to the present invention, a peracetic acid type bactericide containing hydrogen peroxide and having a peracetic acid concentration of 3000 ppm or higher is heated to 45 ° C. or higher and is contacted with at least the inner surface of the food container. A method for sterilizing a food container is provided.

According to the present invention, the temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the peracetic acid germicide containing hydrogen peroxide to 45 ° C. and the peracetic acid germicide controlled by the temperature control means. There is provided a sterilizer for food containers, comprising: a plurality of sterilizing agent supplying means for supplying at least an inner surface of the food container.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a peracetic acid bactericidal agent containing hydrogen peroxide (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a peracetic acid bactericidal agent) is used at a predetermined temperature or higher, or peracetic acid. It is characterized in that it is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature corresponding to the concentration of the system bactericide, and the heated peracetic acid sterilizer is sterilized by contacting at least the inner surface of the food container.
As a result, the food container can be sterilized in an extremely short time without increasing the concentration of the peracetic acid-based bactericide.

In the present invention, the peracetic acid-based bactericides include P ₃ -oxoniaaktiv and P ₃ -oxo manufactured by Henkel Hakusui Co., Ltd.
nia aktiv 90 and the like, and it is preferable from the viewpoint of drug stability that the mixing ratio of peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide is 1 to 4 hydrogen peroxide to 1 peracetic acid. .

Further, the temperature of the peracetic acid type bactericide is set to 60 ° C. or higher in consideration of the fact that the concentration of peracetic acid of the peracetic acid type bactericide used for sterilizing food containers is usually 1000 to 1500 ppm. Is preferred. Further, the temperature is preferably 95 ° C. or lower from the viewpoint of practical use and the viewpoint that peracetic acid remains without being decomposed to such an extent that the bactericidal effect can be sufficiently exerted.

When a peracetic acid bactericide having a peracetic acid concentration of 1500 ppm or more and less than 2000 ppm is used, it is preferable to heat the peracetic acid bactericide to 55 ° C. or more. When the temperature of the peracetic acid-based bactericide is lower than 55 ° C, the sterilization time tends to be long.

When using a peracetic acid type germicide having a peracetic acid concentration of 2000 ppm or more and less than 3000 ppm, it is preferable to heat the peracetic acid type germicide to 50 ° C. or more. When the temperature of the peracetic acid type bactericide is lower than 50 ° C, the sterilization time tends to be long. Further, in the present invention, the peracetic acid type bactericidal agent is sterilized by bringing it into contact with at least the inner surface of the food container. As this method, a method of ejecting the peracetic acid type bactericidal agent through a nozzle in the food container can be adopted. It is also possible to sterilize by injecting the peracetic acid-based bactericide into the food container to make a full-filled state without ejecting the peracetic acid-based bactericide into the food container.

When the food container is sterilized by the above-mentioned jetting method, the jetting may be divided into plural times, or may be continuously jetted once. When the ejection is divided into a plurality of times, there are advantages that the contamination of the medicine ejected after the first ejection can be suppressed and the medicine can be collected and reused. Further, when the ejection is performed once, there are advantages such as shortening the sterilization time and simplifying the control of ejection of the bactericide. Also, by spraying a germicide,
In the sterilization method, the flow rate of the peracetic acid-based bactericide is
Depending on the volume of the container to be sterilized, etc., 1
It is preferably from 00 to 300 ml / sec from the viewpoint of sterilizing the entire inner surface of the container.

Further, in the case of performing sterilization by a method of pouring a sterilizing agent into a bottle, the amount of the peracetic acid sterilizing agent varies depending on the volume of the container to be sterilized and the like. However, it is preferable in terms of sterilizing the entire inner surface of the bottle. Further, the sterilizer for food containers according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a plurality of sterilizing agent supplying means for supplying at least the inner surface of the food container with the peracetic acid sterilizing agent whose temperature is controlled by the temperature controlling means. . That is, the sterilizer for food containers according to the present invention is configured to sterilize by another sterilizing agent supplying unit before sterilizing by the specific sterilizing agent supplying unit. Therefore, since the sterilization step by the other sterilizing agent supply means also serves as the pre-cleaning step before the sterilization step by the specific sterilizing agent supply means, the pre-cleaning means becomes unnecessary and the apparatus can be downsized.

An apparatus for carrying out the peracetic acid type germicide method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a bottle conveying device constituted by a belt conveyor and the like, and 2 is a bottle sterilizing unit. The bottle sterilization unit 2 is maintained at a sterility level of class 10000, and has a first sterilization nozzle (not shown) and a second sterilization nozzle.
A sterilizing nozzle (not shown) is provided.
Temperature control means for heating the peracetic acid-based bactericide to a desired temperature and holding it is provided. From each of the first sterilizing nozzle and the second sterilizing nozzle, the peracetic acid-based sterilizing agent whose temperature is adjusted by the temperature adjusting means is injected. The first sterilizing nozzle and the second sterilizing nozzle are arranged at positions facing the contents filling port of the bottle conveyed in an inverted state by the bottle conveying device 1.

Further, a sterile air transfer section 3 is provided downstream of the bottle sterilization section 2 in the bottle transfer direction (to the right in FIG. 1). The aseptic air transfer section 3 is provided with aseptic air blowing means (not shown) for blowing aseptic air to the bottle. Further, a bottle cleaning / filling and sealing unit 4 is arranged on the downstream side of the sterile air transfer unit 3 in the bottle transfer direction. The bottle washing / filling and sealing unit 4 is maintained at a class 100 sterility level. The bottle washing / filling and sealing section 4 is provided with a washing machine 5 having a sterile water jet nozzle (not shown) for jetting sterile water. Further, the bottle cleaning / filling / sealing unit 4 includes a cleaning machine 5
The filling section 6 is provided on the downstream side of the bottle transport direction. The filling section 6 is provided with food and drink supply means (not shown) for supplying food and drink such as milk coffee into the bottle.

Further, the bottle cleaning / filling and sealing section 4 is provided with a capper 7 on the downstream side of the filling section 6 in the bottle conveying direction. Further, the sterilizer according to the present invention includes a cap sterilizer 8 for sterilizing a cap that closes the food filling port of the bottle. This cap sterilizer 8
Are maintained at Class 1000 sterility levels.

The bottle before sterilization is conveyed to the bottle sterilization unit 2 in an inverted state by the bottle conveying device 1. In the bottle sterilization unit 2, first, the peracetic acid sterilizer whose temperature is adjusted to a predetermined temperature by the temperature adjusting means is jetted from the first sterilizing nozzle to the inner surface and outer surface of the bottle, or only the inner surface. As a result, foreign substances such as dust attached to the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle or the inner surface are washed away, and the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle or the inner surface are sterilized. Then
When the bottle reaches the position facing the second sterilizing nozzle by the bottle transporting device 1, the inner surface and outer surface of the bottle or the inner surface of the bottle is peracetic acid-based sterilized at a predetermined temperature by the second sterilizing nozzle. The agent is ejected. As a result, the bacteria not sterilized by the first sterilizing nozzle are sterilized.

In the sterilization in the bottle sterilization section 2, the peracetic acid type bactericide is heated to a predetermined temperature, that is, the sterilizing power of the peracetic acid type bactericide is increased, so that the peracetic acid type bactericide is jetted into the bottle. , The sterilization time is shortened.

The bottle sterilized by the bottle sterilization unit 2 is conveyed to the bottle cleaning / filling and sealing unit 4 by the bottle conveying device 1. In this carrying process, aseptic air is blown onto the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle by the aseptic air blowing means of the aseptic air carrying section 3.

The bottle transported as described above is washed by the washing machine 5.
The aseptic water ejection nozzle ejects aseptic water into and out of the bottle to remove the peracetic acid-based bactericide remaining in the bottle. In this case, in the present invention, as described above, since the bottle is sterilized by using the peracetic acid-based bactericide that has been heated, that is, by using the peracetic acid-based bactericide having a high bactericidal power, Since the concentration of peracetic acid in the acetic acid type bactericide can be suppressed to a low level, there is no concern that the peracetic acid type bactericide will remain after washing.

The bottle after cleaning is filled with food and drink such as milk coffee by the food and drink supply means in the filling section 6, and a cap sterilized by the cap sterilizer 8 is attached by the capper 7. It The bottle after the cap is attached is subjected to product inspection, and the whole process is completed. In the above, in the bottle sterilization unit 2, the first sterilization nozzle and the second sterilization nozzle perform sterilization in two steps, but a single sterilization nozzle is used, and the sterilization time is further increased. The sterilization can be performed once by taking two times of sterilization time by the first sterilization nozzle and the second sterilization nozzle.
Further, in the present invention, since the peracetic acid-based disinfectant is heated for sterilization, it is expected that a bad odor will be generated, but by providing the sterilizer with suction / discharge means, a clean environment can be created. Can be maintained.

[0025]

Example 1 Bacillus subutilis spores were uniformly distributed on the inner surface of a PET bottle (JUC-1500) having a content volume of 1500 ml by 10 ⁶
The test bottle was attached by adhering so as to be cfu / bottle. The sterilization conditions were as follows. Disinfectant used: Peracetic acid-based disinfectant (trade name: P3-ox
onia aktiv) Peracetic acid concentration in bactericide; 1000 ppm Temperature of peracetic acid bactericide; 60 ° C Method of supplying bactericide to bottle; Method of spraying bactericide on inner surface of bottle bactericide flow rate; 100 ml / sec Sterilization time 1sec, 3sec, 5sec, 8sec, 10se
The inner surface of the bottle was sterilized under the above conditions for each of c and 15 seconds, and the sterilization results are shown in Table 1.

Example 2 A test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the temperature of the bactericide was set to 65 ° C., and the bactericidal effect is shown in Table 1.

Example 3 The test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the concentration of peracetic acid in the bactericide was 1500 ppm and the temperature of the peracetic acid bactericide was 55 ° C. The results are shown in Table 2.

Example 4 The test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 3 except that the temperature of the bactericide was set to 60 ° C., and the bactericidal effect is shown in Table 2.

Example 5 A test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 3 except that the temperature of the bactericide was set to 65 ° C., and the bactericidal effect is shown in Table 2.

Example 6 The test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the concentration of peracetic acid in the bactericide was 2000 ppm and the temperature of the peracetic acid bactericide was 50 ° C. The results are shown in Table 3.

Example 7 A test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 6 except that the temperature of the bactericide was 55 ° C., and the bactericidal effect is shown in Table 3.

Example 8 The test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 6 except that the temperature of the bactericide was 60 ° C., and the bactericidal effect is shown in Table 3.

Example 9 A test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 6 except that the temperature of the bactericide was set to 65 ° C., and the bactericidal effect is shown in Table 3.

Example 10 The test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the concentration of peracetic acid in the bactericide was 3000 ppm and the temperature of the peracetic acid bactericide was 45 ° C. The results are shown in Table 4.

Example 11 A test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 10 except that the temperature of the bactericide was 50 ° C., and the bactericidal effect is shown in Table 4.

Example 12 A test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 10 except that the temperature of the bactericide was set to 55 ° C, and the bactericidal effect is shown in Table 4.

Example 13 The test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 10 except that the temperature of the bactericide was 60 ° C., and the bactericidal effect is shown in Table 4.

Example 14 A test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 10 except that the temperature of the bactericide was set to 65 ° C., and the bactericidal effect is shown in Table 4.

Comparative Example 1 A test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the temperature of the bactericide was 45 ° C., and the bactericidal effect is shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 2 The test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the temperature of the bactericide was 50 ° C., and the bactericidal effect is shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 3 The test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the temperature of the bactericide was 55 ° C., and the bactericidal effect is shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 4 The test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 3 except that the temperature of the bactericide was 45 ° C., and the bactericidal effect is shown in Table 2.

Comparative Example 5 The test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 3 except that the temperature of the bactericide was 50 ° C., and the bactericidal effect is shown in Table 2.

Comparative Example 6 A test bottle was sterilized under the same conditions as in Example 6 except that the temperature of the sterilizing agent was changed to 45 ° C., and the sterilizing effect is shown in Table 3.

[0045]

In Table 1 above, "⊚" indicates that the number of surviving bacteria was 1.
0⁰ Being less than or equal to cfu, "O" indicates that the number of surviving bacteria is 10⁰ 
10 over cfu¹ Indicates that it is less than or equal to cfu
In both cases, the number of surviving bacteria is less than the legal number of surviving bacteria.
Indicating that it has been properly sterilized
It In addition, “△” indicates that the number of surviving bacteria is 10¹ 10 over cfu
³ cfu or less, "x" indicates the number of surviving bacteria is 10³ c
It is shown that the number of surviving bacteria is legal or higher.
It is higher than the number of remaining bacteria (insufficient sterilization)
Is shown. From Table 1 above, in Example 1, 15 sec
In a short time, a sufficient bactericidal effect can be obtained, and in Example 2,
Is that a shorter sterilization effect can be obtained in 8 seconds.
Became clear. On the other hand, in Comparative Examples 1 to 3,
Also, in a short time within 15 seconds, a sufficient bactericidal effect can be obtained.
I couldn't.

[0047]

In Table 2, "◎", "○", "△",
“X” indicates the same content as in Table 1. In each of Examples 3 to 5, a sufficient bactericidal effect was obtained in a short time of 15 seconds or less, and particularly in Example 5, a sufficient bactericidal effect was obtained in an extremely short time of 5 seconds. On the other hand, in Comparative Examples 4 and 5, a sufficient bactericidal effect was not obtained within a short time of 15 seconds.

[0049]

In Table 3, "◎", "○", "△",
“X” indicates the same content as in Table 1. In each of Examples 6 to 9, a sufficient sterilizing effect was obtained in a short time of 15 seconds or less, and particularly in Example 9, an extremely effective sterilizing effect was obtained in an extremely short time of 5 seconds. On the other hand, in Comparative Example 6, a sufficient bactericidal effect was not obtained within a short time of 15 seconds.

[0051]

In Table 4, "◎", "○", "△",
“X” indicates the same content as in Table 1. Example 10
In Nos. 14 to 14, a sufficient bactericidal effect can be obtained in a short time of 15 sec.
That is, a sufficient bactericidal effect was obtained in an extremely short time.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a food container sterilizing method and a food container sterilizing apparatus capable of sterilizing a food container in a short time without increasing the concentration of the bactericide. Can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a process diagram of a method for sterilizing a food container according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Bottle sterilization unit 4 Bottle cleaning / filling and sealing unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method of sterilizing a food container, which comprises heating a peracetic acid-based bactericidal agent containing hydrogen peroxide to 60 ° C. or higher and bringing it into contact with at least the inner surface of the food container. 2. A peracetic acid-based bactericide containing hydrogen peroxide and having a peracetic acid concentration of 1500 ppm or more and less than 2000 ppm is heated to 55 ° C. or more and brought into contact with at least the inner surface of the food container. A method for sterilizing a food container, which comprises: 3. A peracetic acid bactericide containing hydrogen peroxide and having a peracetic acid concentration of 2000 ppm or more and less than 3000 ppm is heated to 50 ° C. or more and brought into contact with at least the inner surface of the food container. A method for sterilizing a food container, which comprises: 4. A peracetic acid bactericide containing hydrogen peroxide and having a peracetic acid concentration of 3000 ppm or more.
A method for sterilizing a food container, which comprises heating to 5 ° C. or higher and contacting at least the inner surface of the food container. 5. A temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the peracetic acid germicide containing hydrogen peroxide to 45 ° C. or more, and a peracetic acid germicide regulated by the temperature control means at least on the inner surface of a food container. And a plurality of sterilizing agent supplying means for supplying the sterilizing agent to the food container.