On the modeling of electrochemical phenomena at the electrode- solution interface in a PEF treatment chamber: Methodological approach to describe the phenomenon of metal release

Abstract In pulsed electric field (PEF) processing of liquid foods, unavoidable electrochemical reactions occur, including those involving metal release from the electrodes, which may seriously affect food safety and quality as well as the electrode’s lifetime. The aim of this paper was to set up a mathematical model describing the phenomenon of the metal release from stainless steel (type AISI 316L) electrodes of a continuous flow parallel plate PEF treatment chamber into model liquid foods. The effect of PEF processing variables such as electric field strength, total specific energy input and treatment medium composition on the dynamics of the spatial distribution of the main metallic elements (Fe, Cr and Ni) released from the electrodes in the treatment volume as well as their concentration in the bulk of the product exiting the treatment chamber were simulated. All simulations were performed using a FEM based commercial software (COMSOL Multiphysics™). A validation of the predicted results was carried out and it was demonstrated that the model set up accurately describes phenomenon of metal release at the electrode solution interface.