▪ A sample of fixed volume was held at a constant temperature and the number of micro-organisms in the

sample measured as a function of time. Calculate the decimal reduction time.

𝒕𝟐 − 𝒕𝟏
𝑫=
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝑵𝐚𝐭 𝒕𝟏 − 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝑵𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝟐

7.5 − 1
𝐷=
log 2 × 105 − log 6.32 × 102 ⇒ 𝐷 = 𝟐. 𝟓𝟗

7.5 − 2
𝐷=
log 4.31 × 104 − log 6.32 × 102 ⇒ 𝐷 = 𝟐. 𝟗𝟗

7.5 − 4.5
𝐷=
log 6.32 × 103 − log 6.32 × 102 ⇒ 𝐷 = 𝟑

7.5 − 6
𝐷= ⇒ 𝐷 = 2.99
log 2 × 103 − log 6.32 × 102
 ▪ A total of 1012 cans, with an initial contamination of 1 spore per can, are to be sterilized. The decimal
reduction time for the organism of interest at the processing temperature is 0.25 min. Determine the
probability that any one can will retain a spore after a process equivalent to F = 3 min.
𝑭 𝟑
⇒𝑫=
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝑵𝟎 − 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝑵 ⇒ 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 = ⇒ 𝐍 = 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟏 − 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝑵
𝑭
⇒𝑫=
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒓𝑵𝟎 − 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒓𝑵 ⇒ 𝐫 = 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟐

𝑭
⇒𝑫=
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒓𝑵𝟎 − 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟏

𝟏 𝑵𝟎
⇒ = 𝑭Τ𝑫
𝒓 𝟏𝟎

𝟏 𝟏
⇒ = 𝟑Τ𝟎.𝟐𝟓
𝒓 𝟏𝟎
 ▪ Estimate the spoilage probability at the end of a process in which an initial microbial population of 2 ×
105 organisms per container is subjected to heating at 118◦C for 45 min. The decimal reduction time for
the organism is D118 = 3.5 min
𝑭
⇒𝑫=
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝑵𝟎 − 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝑵

𝑭
⇒𝑫=
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒓𝑵𝟎 − 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒓𝑵

𝑭
⇒𝑫=
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒓𝑵𝟎 − 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟏

𝟏 𝑵𝟎
⇒ = 𝑭Τ𝑫
𝒓 𝟏𝟎

𝟏 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓
⇒ = 𝟒𝟓Τ𝟑.𝟓 ⇒ 𝐫 = 𝟑. 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎𝟕
𝒓 𝟏𝟎
▪ Fish is to be frozen in a flat pack, 2 cm thick, using a plate freezer. Estimate the time to just freeze the
pack if the fish is already at the freezing temperature. The plates are at −30◦C and the heat transfer
coefficient between the blocks and the freezer plates can be assumed to be 80 W m−2 K−1. The
following data are available:
▪ Fish is to be frozen in a flat pack, 2 cm thick, using a plate freezer. Estimate the time to just freeze the
pack if the fish is already at the freezing temperature. The plates are at −30◦C and the heat transfer
coefficient between the blocks and the freezer plates can be assumed to be 80 W m−2 K−1. The
following data are available:
▪ If the fish in is packed using 1 mm thick cardboard, of thermal conductivity 0.7 W m−1K−1