Kvasny Prum. 1976; 22(2): 25-28 | DOI: 10.18832/kp1976005

Instrument measuring the relation between the temperature and death-rate of microorganisms.Peer-reviewed article

J. ŠAVEL, M. PROKOPOVÁ

The authors describe a new instrument which has been developed for studying and measuring the relation between the temperature and death rate of microorganisms. It is essentially a metallic, massive vessel both ends of which are maintained at constant temperature. Microorganisms to be tested are put into the instrument as a suspension in agar gel. Different parts of the sample are therefore exposed to different temperatures. Since there is a linear relation between the temperature of any section of the sample and its distance from the vessel ends, it is easy to assess the effects of distance and, consequently of various temperatures. After a certain dwell the sample is taken out, cooled and surviving microorganisms incubated in an appropriate medium. The results of experiments show that the lethal temperatures for three strains of lactobacilli in a medium consisting of fermented worth with a number of ingredients are: 55.0°C, 55.2°C and 58.3°C, whereas for two strains of pediococci they are different, i.e. 51.3°C and 58.8°C. The instrument can help to solve many other problems.
(In Czech, English summary only)

Keywords: microorganisms, temperature, death-rate

Published: February 1, 1976