Enhanced microbial inactivation by carbon dioxide through mechanical effects

Abstract The development of efficient and sustainable microbial inactivation approaches is an important objective. Dense-Phase-Carbon-Dioxide and related approaches, which utilize high pressure CO2, were reported to be feasible methods. However, a major challenge is the enhancement of sustainability and economic viability by reducing the necessary temperatures, energy and time. Here we report on a new approach that exploits added mechanical forces due to sudden depressurization in