Quantifying the Electrostatic Adhesion Force of Powders on Food Contact Surfaces for Dry Cleaning and Sanitation
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EmailThe Food Safety and Modernization Act has no guidelines for the sanitization of processing equipment in a low-moisture environment as compared with wet cleaning.
Introduction: The Food Safety and Modernization Act has no guidelines for the sanitization of processing equipment in a low-moisture environment as compared with wet cleaning. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms of adhesion of food products to a food contact surface to develop better sanitation methods for low moisture environments.
Purpose: The study aims to analyze the relationship between electrostatic charge and particle adhesion to food contact surfaces.
Methods: Silicon quartz powders with mesh sizes of 100, 400, 1250, 3000, and 5000 were used. Initial triboelectric charge was measured using a handheld digital electrostatic field meter. Powders were agitated for 10 min to increase static charge in a rotating stainless-steel drum. Thereafter, 3 g of each powder was evenly attached across stainless steel coupons (10 mm x 10 mm) which were centrifuged at 119.5 × g for 1 min in a special holding apparatus. The amount of powder dislodged from the coupons surface was weighed. Three trials were conducted for each powder mesh size in both control and tumbled groups. The difference between the average percent loss for control and tumbled groups was calculated for each mesh size. The electrostatic charge before and after tumbling was compared with a 95% confidence paired t-test.
Results: The powders of mesh sizes 400, 1250, 3000, and 5000 were retained 2.21, 5.38, 23.81, and 5.62% more respectively after being tumbled and electrostatic charges (0.07, 0.60, 0.50, and 0.83 kV) were increased. However, the largest mesh size (100) powder was retained 18.53% less after being tumbled(0.81 kV). Electrostatic charge was significantly greater after tumbling (P < 0.01) for all powders.
Significance: By understanding the fundamental adhesion mechanics of powders, effective dry-cleaningmethods can be developed to prevent pathogen cross-contamination.
