Electric field pulse sterilization of liquid food

We have studied the sterilization of liquid using high electric field pulses. The sample was liquid medium including Escherichia coli. We applied high voltage pulses to a coaxial cylindrical tank containing the sample liquid. After the application of 50 pulses, the survival rate of E. coli was reduced to 3.9×10 −3%. This value of 3.9×10 −3% is far superior to 1%, which is provided for milk sterilized at 63°C for 30 minutes. The length of E. coli cell, in most cases, becomes longer after the pulses application. It seems that the high electric field pulse application prevents E. coli from cell division.