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A continuant-flow induced electric field (IEF) apparatus was presented for the treatment of the milk. The electric field originated from the magnetic energy, and the volumetric heating of the milk was observed. The inactivation effect of IEF treatment on the milk inoculated with exogenous bacteria was investigated under different IEF strengths (11.11, 14.81 and 18.52 V/cm) and the duration (98, 131 and 196 s), IEF treatment reduced E. coli and S. aureus by more than 5.9 Log CFU/mL, and the damage to cell membrane caused by the non-thermal effects was observed via SEM images. Under 14.81 V/cm for 196 s, the total number of colonies in raw milk was reduced by 4.58 Log CFU/mL. The results demonstrated IEF treatment effectively preserved nutritional properties of milk, with no significant influence on protein content. Furthermore, IEF-treated milk exhibited smaller color changes, compared to conventional heat (CH) treatments, while the process did not lead to the accumulation of casein and milk fat globules. Because of rapid temperature rise and electroporation effect on microorganisms, it suggests that IEF treatment has the potential to dairy processing. • The volumetric heating of the milk was observed via induced electric field. • IEF treatment reduced E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus by more than 5.9 Log. • IEF treatment had minimal effect on physicochemical properties of the milk. • Significant cytoarchitectural damage was observed by SEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effectiveness of induced electric field (IEF) as a novel electrotechnology to assist dilute acid pretreatment of wheat straw (WS) at atmospheric pressure and low temperature (90 °C). The effects of acid concentration and duration on cellulose recovery, hemicellulose and lignin removal were investigated. Meanwhile, the differences between IEF pretreatment and hydrothermal pretreatment were compared by quantitative and qualitative analysis. The optimal pretreatment condition was acid concentration 1 % with the period of 5 h. Under the parameters, the hemicellulose removal of WS after IEF pretreatment was up to 73.6 %, and the enzymatic efficiency was 55.8 %. In addition, the irregular surface morphology, diminished functional groups associated with hemicellulose, increased specific surface area and pore volume, as well as improved thermal stability of the residual WS support the remarkable effect of IEF pretreatment. The feasibility of IEF pretreatment is might be due to the fact that the magneto-induced electric field promotes ionization of H + and formation of hydrated hydrogen ions, increasing the acidity of the medium. Secondly, electroporation disrupts the anti-degradation structure of WS and increases the accessibility of cellulose to cellulases. It indicated that IEF is a green and efficient strategy for assisting the separation of hemicellulose from lignocellulose. [Display omitted] • Effectiveness of IEF-DAP for WS at low temperature was evaluated. • The hemicellulose removal of WS after IEF-DAP was up to 73.6 %. • IEF-DAP was more effective than HT-DAP in improving enzymatic efficiency. • IEF may act by promoting ionization, ion migration, and electroporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]