Abstract

GARZON-GARCIA, Alba Mary et al. Computational fluid dynamics as a technique for the UV-C light dose determination in horticultural products. Biotecnia [online]. 2020, vol.22, n.1, pp.84-92.  Epub Aug 03, 2020. ISSN 1665-1456.  https://doi.org/10.18633/biotecnia.v22i1.1128.

Horticultural products disinfection with short wave ultraviolet light (UV-C) depends mainly on dose. This parameter is defined as the product between time and intensity radiation. In general, short doses cause beneficial or hormetic effects, such as decrease of microbial load and fruits and vegetables quality preservation. While UV-C light high doses or long exposure times generate changes in those products, such as enzymatic browning, loss of texture, among others, which cause a decrease in shelf life and functional properties. Therefore, this article presents the most cited techniques to determine doses in horticultural products, some experimental and others that employ microbiology and mathematical knowledge, radiochromic films and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The review highlights that CFD allow the development of simulations in real environments, quickly and economically, including radiation models prone to experimental validation and help to improve the arrengement of horticultural products in the equipment to achieve a uniform irradiation.

Keywords : Safety; hormesis; UV-C radiation; simulation; mathematical modeling.

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