Effect of ultrasound treatment conditions on Saccharomyces cerevisiae by response surface methodology.

OBJECTIVES:This study aimed to investigate the effect of different ultrasound treatment conditions on the inactivation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with the application of response surface methodology (RSM). METHODS:Ultrasound treatment were applied on different concentrations of S. cerevisiae cells with different pH, temperature, ultrasound power, irradiating time, and pulse duty ratio. Cell viability was determined by plate counting method. Response surface methodology was used to analyze the correlation among various factors. RESULTS:Limited with low ultrasound power, lower pH value slightly improved the ultrasound treatment efficiency. Also, higher nonlethal temperature and ultrasound power, longer irradiation time, and lower pulse duty ratio facilitated the inactivation of S. cerevisiae. Cell concentration had no effect on ultrasound efficiency. CONCLUSIONS:Ultrasound power played the most important role in the ultrasound irradiation process according to RSM analyses. Information derived from this study may aid in the control of the sublethal injury of S. cerevisiae during ultrasound treatment in food industry.