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As an emerging electrotechnology, induced electric field has attracted extensive attention in the development of innovative heat treatment equipment. In this study, a resistance heating unit based on induced electric field was built for inner heating of aqueous electrolyte solutions as well as liquid foods, such as vinegar. NaCl solutions and liquid foods with different conductivity were used to investigate the thermal effect and temperature rise of samples. Saline gel composed of 3% agar powder and 20% NaCl acted as a coil of conductor for inducing high-level output voltage. The utilization of the saline gel coil significantly improved the power conversion efficiency of the heating unit as well as the heating rate. The results revealed that duty cycle and applied frequency had immediate impact on the efficiency of inner heating. Additionally, the rate of temperature rise was proportional to the conductivity of the sample. The temperature of 200 mL NaCl solution (0.6%) increased from 25 °C to 100 °C in 3 min at 40% duty cycle and 60 kHz of applied frequency, and it was a circulating-flow process. The maximum temperature rise of black vinegar was 39.6 °C in 15 s at 60 kHz and 60% duty cycle, while that of white vinegar was 32.2 °C in 30 s under same conditions, whereas it was a continuous-flow process. This novel heating system has realized the inner heating of liquid samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kiwifruit juice is a popular liquid food with a large consumption. It usually needs high temperature sterilization before packaging and selling. Alternating magnetic field can produce alternating induced electric field, then a thermal effect is triggered. This study aims to explore the inner heating of kiwifruit juice via induced electric field and its impact on the physicochemical properties. Meanwhile, ultra-high temperature instantaneous sterilization (121°C, 5 s), and conventional heat treatment (93°C, 2 min) were conducted as controls, then effects were compared between these treatments. The results showed that the bacterial, mold and yeast colonies were completely eliminated, polyphenol oxidase activity decreased by 94.8%, and peroxidase activity decreased by 92.7%, at 1800 V and 6 mL/min. The induced electric field treatment and ultra-high temperature instantaneous sterilization had no significant effect on pH and titratable acid (P ≥ 0.05). Conventional heat treatment increased soluble solid content by 5.3%. The induced electric field treatment resulted in the closest color and browning index to the fresh juice owing to moderate thermal effect. It also demonstrated minimal loss on total phenols and flavonoids contents after induced electric field treatment (7.1% and 2.7%, respectively). The heating effect caused by induced electric field has great application potential for the treatment of fruit juice. • Induced electric field was utilized for direct heating of kiwifruit juice. • Contact-less thermal effect and temperature rise on kiwifruit juice was evaluated. • The microbe and enzyme could be inactivated within 7.7 s via continuous-flow treatment. • The minimal loss of total phenols and flavonoid was achieved via induced electric field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-conventional heating technology based on electric fields can be utilized to process liquid foods. In this study, the induced electric field (IEF) was investigated to clarify its inactivation mechanism on E.coli. Staining results show that inactivation of E.coli by IEF can be attributed to the reversible destruction of the cell membrane, followed by the denaturation of intracellular enzymes, and finally the irreversible rupture of the cell membrane. The increased levels of extracellular proteins and nucleic acids were also observed. IEF treatment at 400 Hz and 800 V (or 53 V/cm) results in a reduction of 4.5 log CFU·mL−1 in the number of E.coli. Storage life analysis shows that IEF treatment can improve the stability of apple juice and the content of bioactive components. Thus, IEF is a potential technique for liquid food processing. • The inactivation mechanism of induced electric field on E.coli was investigated. • A reduction of 4.5 log CFU·mL−1 of E.coli was realized by applying the IEF. • IEF treatment retains bio-active components in fresh apple juice. • The storage stability of apple juice was improved through IEF treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]