JPH1080264A - Ozone sterilization method and ozone sterilization apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To exhibit a bactericidal effect efficiently with little ozone. SOLUTION: An ozone sterilization method is used in which an ozone atmosphere causes dew condensation on the surface of the object to be sterilized, and the surface of the object to be sterilized 6 is sterilized by an oxidation reaction of ozone absorbed and dissolved in the condensed water. 6, a surfactant may be added to the dew water generated on the surface, and the ozone disinfection device is capable of heating the outer shell capable of being heated in the coolable inner shell chamber 3 including the ozone generator 1 and the humidity controller 2. The sterilization chamber 5 having a double structure by covering the chamber 4
And a sterilization chamber 5 provided with a carrying-in means for bringing the material 6 to be sterilized into the inner shell chamber 3, a sterilization room provided with a cooling room for the material to be sterilized, an ozone generator and a humidity regulator. And the room
The apparatus may be configured to be connected by means for conveying the object to be sterilized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for sterilizing an object to be sterilized using ozone.

[0002] Ozone in the air gradually decomposes, and the nascent oxygen produced in the process has a strong oxidizing power, and
Ozone in (fresh water) is somewhat stable under acidic liquids, but decomposes rapidly with increasing pH and temperature, and the HO radicals and HO ₂ radicals, especially HO radicals, generated in the process have extremely strong oxidizing power. Demonstrate. The strong oxidizing power of ozone has been used for various types of sterilization and deodorization, as well as bleaching and decomposing harmful substances, for a long time. In recent years, it has been found that general bacteria, coliforms, fungi, yeasts or viruses are also effective,
In addition, since it has the characteristic of becoming oxygen after decomposition and leaving no harmful residue, the oxidizing power is being used for sterilization or deodorization for the purpose of preserving food, preventing mold, etc. .

[0003] As foods to be sterilized or deodorized by contacting with ozone in the air, various kinds of grains (milled rice and the like) as raw materials,
Flour products (such as flour); noodles; and various fruits and vegetables (such as strawberries and sprouts). Ozone in the air used for the sterilization of these foods, especially ozone in dry air, has a long half-life of about 10 hours and is difficult to sterilize efficiently, so ozone is passed through activated carbon or an ozone decomposition catalyst. It is customary to use auxiliary means for promoting decomposition.

[0004]

The disinfecting power of ozone in the air shows almost no disinfecting effect when the relative humidity RH of the air is less than 45%, but when the relative humidity RH exceeds 80%, a strong disinfecting effect starts to work. It has been shown that RH reaches a maximum at 90%. From this, it is imagined that more efficient sterilization can be expected by using ozone in water (fresh water), that is, ozone water than using ozone in air. However, a treatment that prevents the respiration of egg cells through a shell, such as a fertilized egg, that is, a food that cannot be filled with liquid around the food cannot be subjected to a sterilization treatment such as immersion in ozone water.

[0005] In order to improve the sterilizing ability of ozone in the air, in view of the sterilizing effect due to the difference in RH, the contact efficiency between the object to be sterilized and ozone is reduced by spraying charged ozone water into the air. A disinfection device that attempts to increase the temperature has been proposed (referred to as an ozone water charged spray method). The problem with this method is that since ozone is hardly soluble, a large amount of ozone exceeding the dissolved amount is required to generate ozone water having a required ozone concentration. This is very uneconomical and dangerous because a large amount of toxic ozone is handled, and there is a problem that the apparatus becomes large.

[0006] Therefore, ozone sterilization for efficiently exhibiting a sterilizing effect with a small amount of ozone for the purpose of sterilizing or deodorizing food using ozone in the air, preventing mold, etc., and particularly for sterilizing the surface of a fertilized egg. We decided to study to develop the method and the device.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As a result of the study, what has been developed is that, in an ozone atmosphere, dew forms on the surface of the object to be sterilized, and the surface of the object to be sterilized is absorbed and oxidized by the ozone dissolved in the condensed water. This is an ozone sterilization method for sterilizing ozone. Specifically, an object to be sterilized having a surface temperature lower than the temperature of the ozone atmosphere is carried into an ozone atmosphere to cause dew condensation on the surface of the object to be sterilized, and the oxidation reaction of ozone dissolved and absorbed in the dew water is performed. Can sterilize the surface of the object to be sterilized. The sterilization method using this condensation is particularly effective for sterilizing the surface of a fertilized egg. Depending on the material to be sterilized, a surfactant is added to the dew water generated on the surface of the material to be sterilized. The surfactant is preferably added by a method of spraying or applying a solution containing the surfactant to the material to be sterilized. Examples of objects to be sterilized when using a surfactant include metal, plastic, and ceramic instruments and containers.

In general, the concentration of ozone in the air is low, so that the driving force for the difference in concentration is small and the ozone is hardly soluble. To increase the dissolution rate of this ozone, (1) concentration gradient, (2) gas-liquid interface area,
(3) The mass transfer coefficients may be increased.
In the present invention, countless and independent minute water droplets or extremely thin water films (when a surfactant is used), that is, dew condensation water, are generated on the surface of the object to be sterilized, and ozone is absorbed and dissolved in each water droplet or water film. Looking at individual water droplets or water films, it is the same as the concentration gradient, which is very small even for dilute ozone, because it is extremely small (satisfies the above (1)),
Also, since it is very small, the surface area / volume ratio in each water droplet or water film becomes large (satisfies the above (2)), so that ozone is easily and quickly absorbed and dissolved to generate HO radicals having strong oxidizing power. You do it. In addition, the dew water composed of water droplets or water films has few impurities, and there is little risk of toxicity and displacement of by-products.

[0009] Dew condensation occurs regardless of the surface shape of the object to be sterilized, no matter how complicated and intricate, and the oxidizing power due to HO radicals spreads to every corner of the object to be sterilized. Can be completely sterilized. Further, the water droplets forming the dew condensation water have a substantially uniform size, so that the surface of the object to be sterilized can be sterilized uniformly. The size of the water droplets is determined by the difference between the amount of heat removed from the ozone atmosphere and the latent heat of condensation of the dew condensation water before the surface temperature of the sterilized object reaches the dew point temperature of the ozone atmosphere due to the temperature difference between the ozone atmosphere and the sterilized object. It can be calculated from the fact that it is equal to the calorific value of the heat flow. The tendency is that the larger the temperature difference between the dew point temperature of the ozone atmosphere and the object to be sterilized, the larger the water droplet and the thicker the water film, and the smaller the RH of the ozone atmosphere or the smaller the specific heat of the object to be sterilized, the smaller the water droplet. The film becomes thinner. From these, the size of the dew water and the thickness of the water film when the surfactant is used can be calculated and controlled in advance from the shape, weight, and specific heat of the material to be sterilized.

[0010] When macroscopically viewing the entire dew water composed of water droplets, it seems that the surface of the object to be sterilized is covered with a film of water.
Actually, as described above, the dew condensation water is in a state where countless very small water droplets adhere. For this reason, the gaps left between the water droplets serve as a ventilation path for respiration of egg cells, especially for fertilized eggs. Conversely, if you want to completely cover the surface of the object to be sterilized with a water film, adding a surfactant to the dew condensation water will weaken the surface tension of each water droplet and connect it to form a thin water film. it can. The surfactant may be applied to the surface of the object to be sterilized in advance, or may be sprayed in an ozone atmosphere so that the dew condensation water itself contains the surfactant.

As an apparatus configuration for realizing the above-mentioned ozone sterilization method, a heatable outer shell chamber is covered by a coolable inner shell chamber provided with an ozone generating section and a humidity control section, and a double-structure sterilization is performed. An ozone sterilizing apparatus may be used which has a chamber and is provided with a carrying-in means for introducing an object to be sterilized into the inner shell chamber in the sterilizing chamber. In this device, the surface temperature of the object to be sterilized is lowered by cooling the inner shell chamber, and then, after the cooling of the inner shell chamber is stopped, the outer shell chamber is heated, and the ozone generation unit controls the ozone and humidity control unit. , An appropriate amount of moisture is sent into the inner shell chamber, and the inner shell chamber is indirectly warmed to cause dew condensation on the surface of the object to be sterilized and sterilize. In this procedure, no dew condensation occurs on the wall surface of the inner shell chamber heated by heating the outer shell chamber, and ozone in the air can be absorbed and dissolved in the dew water on the surface of the sterile object without waste.

In order to cause condensation on the surface of the object to be sterilized,
In addition to the surface temperature of the object to be sterilized, the humidity and dew point temperature of the sterilizing chamber are related, and the dew point temperature of the sterilizing chamber and the ozone concentration of the ozone atmosphere are related to the sterilizing ability. These may be appropriately adjusted in accordance with processing conditions such as the degree of sterilization and the length of processing time, and by adjusting these dew point temperature or humidity,
It is possible to cause dew condensation only on the surface of the object to be sterilized without causing dew condensation on the wall surface of the inner shell chamber.

In addition to the above-mentioned ozone sterilizing apparatus, a cooling chamber for the object to be sterilized and a sterilizing chamber provided with an ozone generating section and a humidity control section may be connected to each other by means for transporting the object to be sterilized.
The cooling chamber and the sterilizing chamber are arranged side by side in the conveying direction of the object to be sterilized in the stated order. If necessary, in the back of the sterilization room, wash the object to be sterilized with water (especially when using a surfactant, wash out the surfactant)
And it is good to have a drying room.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a heatable outer shell chamber 4 provided with a coolable inner shell chamber 3 having an ozone generator 1 and a humidity controller 2.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a chicken egg ozone sterilization apparatus comprising a double-structure sterilization chamber 5 in which the inner shell chamber 3 is cooled.
Is represented. In FIG. 1, a control mechanism of each part and a carry-in port or a carry-out port of a chicken egg 6 to be sterilized are omitted. The sterilizing apparatus of this example sterilizes the surface of a chicken egg 6 mainly composed of fertilized eggs, and is the most effective use in the sterilizing method of the present invention.

The ozone generator 1 generates and supplies ozone to the inner shell chamber 3 to create an ozone atmosphere, and various existing ozone generators can be used. The humidity adjusting section 2 adjusts the humidity of the inner shell chamber 3. The cooling unit 7 and the cool air fan 8 send cool air to the inner shell chamber 3 to cool the eggs 6 to be sterilized, and the heating unit 9 and the hot air fan 10 change the space 11 between the outer shell chamber 4 and the inner shell chamber 3. To warm the ozone atmosphere in the inner shell chamber 3 indirectly. The dew point temperature, humidity, and ozone concentration of the inner shell chamber 3, which are important in the sterilization process, are constantly monitored by a temperature sensor 12, a humidity sensor 13, and a concentration sensor 14, respectively. The ozone decomposing unit 15 decomposes the ozone remaining after the sterilization process, so that the eggs 6 can be taken out safely.

In the sterilization procedure 1, the cooling air fan 8 is
Chilled air is sent into the inner shell chamber 3 to cool the eggs 6. The eggs 6 are placed on shelves 27 and are individually spaced. During this cooling, cold air is sent from one of the inner shell chambers 3 and sucked and circulated from the other, so that the cold air directly collides with the eggs 6 to cool them, and the cold air deprives the eggs 6 of heat and efficiently. The chicken eggs 6 can be cooled. This cooling of the eggs 6 is due to condensation in a later procedure, and if conditions such as a high dew point temperature and a high RH of the inner shell chamber 3 are prepared, condensation can be generated on the surface without particularly cooling the eggs 6. .

FIG. 2 shows that in the disinfection apparatus shown in FIG. 1, after the cooling of the inner shell chamber 3 is stopped, the heating fan 10 sends warm air from the heating part 9 to the space 11 FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of a sterilization procedure 2 showing a state in which ozone is supplied while being sent to the chamber and heated while adjusting the humidity of the inner shell chamber 3. In the sterilization chamber 5 of this example, the outer shell chamber 4 is made of a heat insulating material, and the inner shell chamber 3 is made of a material having excellent heat conductivity. When warm air is sent into the space 11 with the inner shell chamber 3, the inner shell chamber 3, and eventually the ozone atmosphere in the inner shell chamber 3, is heated. Further, the humidity of the inner shell chamber 3 is adjusted, and the dew point temperature is increased. As a result, dew condensation occurs on the surface of the egg 6 which has a large heat capacity and is still cooled. The supplied ozone is absorbed, dissolved and decomposed in this dew water,
The radicals oxidize and kill the egg surface.

In the sterilization process, the dew point temperature, humidity, and ozone concentration of the ozone atmosphere occupying the inner shell chamber 3, which are important, are constantly monitored by sensors 12, 13, and 14, respectively. The eggs 6 are operated by a control mechanism (not shown) so as to increase the sterilizing effect in accordance with the size and number of the eggs 6, that is, the mass, the surface area, and the specific heat, and are kept constant during the processing time. In particular, by setting the dew point temperature and the humidity optimally, it is possible to cause dew condensation only on the surface of the egg 6 without causing dew condensation on the inner wall surface of the inner shell chamber 3, and it is effective with less ozone. The sterilization process can be realized.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view near the surface 16 of the egg 6 showing a state in which ozone supplied to the inner shell chamber 3 is absorbed and dissolved in dew water. The size of the ozone 17 and the size of the water droplet 18 forming the dew condensation water are drawn ignoring the scale for the sake of explanation. As shown in FIG. 3, the dew water formed on the surface 16 of the egg 6 is an aggregate of minute water droplets 18 that are independent of each other, and a gap 19 is left between the water droplets 18. The egg cell 20 can inhale oxygen 21 through the gap 19. In addition, the ozone 17 has a relatively high concentration with respect to each of the water droplets 18, and absorbs, dissolves, and decomposes very efficiently by increasing the dissolution rate. Thus, the HO radical 22 generated in the water droplet 18 exhibits a strong oxidizing power and exhibits a bactericidal effect.

FIG. 4 is equivalent to FIG. 1 of the sterilization procedure 3 showing a state in which the ozone remaining in the inner shell chamber 3 is decomposed by the ozone decomposition section 15 and reduced to oxygen after the sterilization procedure 2 of FIG. FIG. Dew point temperature in ozone atmosphere during sterilization process,
If the humidity and the ozone concentration are adjusted optimally, all the supplied ozone should theoretically be consumed, but in reality, the ozone which does not absorb and dissolve in the dew condensation water and remains in the inner chamber 3 is there. Since ozone is highly toxic, the inner shell chamber 3 cannot be opened and the eggs 6 cannot be taken out when ozone remains. Therefore, for the sake of safety, the residual ozone is decomposed by connecting the inner shell chamber 3 and the ozone decomposing unit 15 after the sterilization treatment. For the decomposition of ozone, activated carbon or an ozone decomposition catalyst that promotes ozone decomposition in the air can be used.

In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the surface of a fertilized egg is sterilized. However, in this sterilizing apparatus, a device such as a metal, plastic, or ceramic device or container that does not cause a problem due to the formation of dew condensation is used. It can be an object to be sterilized.
In particular, since the surface of the device and the container does not require a gap between water droplets for the respiration of egg cells like the surface of a chicken egg, for example, the device and the container are immersed in a solution in which a surfactant is dissolved in advance, It is preferable to form a water film due to condensation on the surface of the object to be sterilized. Since the amount of water droplets in the water film of the condensed water is relatively smaller than that of ozone in the air, the dissolution rate of ozone is high, and HO radicals can be generated easily and quickly.

The form of the ozone sterilizer according to the present invention is not only a batch processing type as in the above example, but also a belt conveyor 23 which is a continuous conveying means as shown in FIG.
A quasi-continuous method in which a cooling chamber 24 and a sterilization chamber 25 provided with an ozone generation unit and a humidity adjustment unit are provided in parallel is also possible. If necessary, a drying chamber 26 for removing condensed water generated on the surface of the object to be sterilized at an early stage may be provided behind the sterilizing chamber 25 (right side in FIG. 5). In the sterilization apparatus of this example, the cooling room 24, the drying room
Although there is no problem even if 26 is partially open, ozone is filled in the sterilization chamber 25, so that the sterilization chamber 25 is sealed during the sterilization treatment for safety (for example, the facing entrance And a shutter at each of the carry-out ports (both not shown). For this reason, it is not a completely continuous system but a quasi-continuous system.

[0023]

EXAMPLES In order to confirm the effectiveness of the ozone sterilization method of the present invention, sterilization of a fertilized egg was tested using the sterilization apparatus shown in FIG. Fertilized eggs are foods that are feared that germs attached to the surface may harm the human body. However, sterilization by immersion in a disinfectant or high-concentration chemical fumigation will kill fertilized eggs, and low-concentration chemical fumigation will not provide sufficient sterilization. I have.
The following test confirms the usefulness of the ozone sterilization method of the present invention for such fertilized eggs.

A fertilized egg as a sample, which has been completely sterilized in advance, is immersed in a saline solution in which Staphylococcus aureus is cultured, and dried at room temperature of 25 ° C. and 60% of humidity for 1 hour. What was used was used. The drying was performed to remove moisture from the surface of the fertilized egg, and was performed to such an extent that the bacteria did not die. The fertilized eggs prepared in this way are (1) sterilized with ozone using the sterilizer shown in Fig. 1 with the ozone concentration as a variable (sample 1), and (b) steam exposure. Using time as a variable, disinfect the surface and then sterilize with ozone (sample 2), (c) Using the ozone concentration as a variable, sterilize with ozone without dew condensation on the surface (sample 3), and (2) as a comparative sample Leave the sample without ozone sterilization (sample 4), and collect bacteria from the surface of each sample using a food stamp for bacteria test (manufactured by Nissui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., culture area is 10 cm ² ). The number of colonies generated after culturing at 30 ° C. for 2 days in an incubator was compared.

The operating conditions of the ozone sterilizer are as follows. Fertilized eggs with a surface temperature of 25 ° C at room temperature, 25 ° C,
After storing in an inner shell chamber (volume 18,000 cm ³ ) with a humidity of 60%, seal it,
Water vapor at about 60 ° C. is sent at a rate of 10,000 cm ³ / min for a predetermined time to expose the fertilized eggs to condense the surface, and then ozone of a predetermined concentration made from dry air is sent for 3 minutes for sterilization. Observation of dew condensation on the surface of the fertilized egg due to the supply of water vapor showed that when the water vapor under the above conditions was sent into the inner shell chamber for 1 minute, the temperature inside the inner shell chamber reached 28 ° C and the humidity reached nearly 100%. Dew condensation was observed on the egg surface to the extent that the size of the water droplet could not be discerned with the naked eye. It was also found that under the conditions of this test, when the water vapor exposure time exceeded 90 seconds, water droplets began to form such that dew condensation could be visually observed.

In sample 1, the feed time of water vapor was 60 seconds.
The sample was fixed, and the sample 1-1 had an ozone concentration of 30 ppm, the sample 1-2 had an ozone concentration of 60 ppm, and the sample 1-3 had an ozone concentration of 90 ppm. In Sample 2, the ozone concentration was fixed at 30 ppm, and the time for feeding water vapor was 30 seconds for Sample 2-1, 60 seconds for Sample 2-2, 90 seconds for Sample 2-3, and 120 seconds for Sample 2-4. In Sample 3, the exposure to water vapor was omitted, and in Sample 3-1 the ozone concentration was 30 ppm,
Sample 3-2 has an ozone concentration of 60 ppm and sample 3-3 has an ozone concentration of 9
It was set to 0 ppm. Samples 4-1 and 4-2 were prepared corresponding to the test dates of Samples 1 and 3, respectively. For each sample, four fertilized eggs a, b, c, and d were prepared, the number of colonies was counted for each, and the average value was further obtained.

[0027]

[Table 1]

Table 1 is a list summarizing the test results of Sample 1, Sample 3, and Sample 4. In addition, the numerical value of the number of colonies in the table indicates the number of colonies in 10 cm ² of the food stamp for sample 1.
For sample 3 or 4, the number of colonies in 1 cm ² of food stamp was 1
It is a number converted to 0 cm ² . Comparing Sample 1, Sample 3, and Sample 4, which is a comparative control, clearly shows the ozone sterilization effect. Sample 3 by the conventional ozone sterilization method
Approximately half of sample 4 and 1/50 (sample 1-1: ozone concentration 30 ppm) to 1/100 (sample 1-2: ozone concentration 60 ppm, sample 1-3: ozone) in sample 1 by the ozone sterilization method of the present invention. Concentration 90p
pm). From this, it can be said that Sample 1 achieved almost complete sterilization.

Further, comparing Sample 1 and Sample 3, a sufficient sterilizing effect can be obtained at an ozone concentration of 60 ppm or more in Sample 1 by the ozone sterilization method of the present invention (Sample 1-1).
On the other hand, in the sample 3 by the conventional ozone disinfection method, the sample 3 was compared with the sample 1-2 or 1-3). 3-2
Since the increase in the average value of the number of colonies from Sample No. 3 to Sample No. 3-3 is larger, it can be seen that the bactericidal effect is not improved unless the ozone concentration is sufficiently increased. This means that a small amount of ozone is sufficient in the ozone sterilization method of the present invention, which proves that a compact sterilization apparatus including a small-scale ozone generator can be constructed.

[0030]

[Table 2]

Table 2 is a list summarizing the test results of Samples 2 and 4. The number of colonies in the table is
The group of sample 2 has the number of colonies in 10 cm ² of the food stamp, and the group of sample 4 has the number of colonies in 1 cm ² of the food stamp converted to 10 cm ² . Sample 1 and Sample 3
The sterilization effect of Sample 2 by the ozone sterilization method of the present invention is lower than that of Sample 4 by about 1/10. And the effectiveness of the sterilizing effect of the ozone sterilizing method of the present invention can be reconfirmed.

Comparing the bactericidal effects by the difference in the steam exposure time in Sample 2 classified by the test conditions, Sample 2-1 having the steam exposure time of 60 sec is the best, and when the steam exposure time exceeds 90 sec, On the contrary, it can be seen from the result that the sterilizing effect decreases. If this result is compared with the above-mentioned observation of dew condensation, if the dew becomes so large that water droplets can be confirmed with the naked eye, absorption and dissolution of ozone become difficult, so the original action in the ozone sterilization method of the present invention does not work. it is conceivable that. This does not mean that the water vapor exposure time simply becomes a problem, but the effectiveness of the ozone sterilization method of the present invention can be obtained by supplying water vapor such that water droplets are formed on the surface of the fertilized egg that is the object to be sterilized. It means that it is gone.

The present test proved, firstly, the usefulness of the ozone disinfection method utilizing dew condensation of the present invention. Although it depends on the material to be sterilized and various conditions at the time of the sterilization treatment, the number of bacteria can be reduced to about 1/10 to 1/100 as compared with the conventional ozone sterilization method. Secondly, the required amount of ozone is smaller than in the prior art, and the sterilization apparatus can be downsized and the operating cost can be reduced. And, thirdly, regarding the dew condensation of the object to be sterilized, which is a feature of the present invention, it was confirmed that water vapor exposure at least to such an extent that water droplets can be visually confirmed is not preferable. This dew condensation of the object to be sterilized is an important process for performing a sterilization process to every corner on the surface of the object to be sterilized with many irregularities, and setting conditions for the process is important.

[0034]

According to the present invention, the amount of ozone used can be suppressed and the object to be sterilized can be sterilized very efficiently. In particular, for the fertilized egg, the entire surface of the hen's egg can be uniformly sterilized while leaving a gap for respiration of the egg cell, and the sterilization of the object to be sterilized, which was conventionally difficult, can be completed in a short time. . The use of a small amount of ozone means that the cost of generating and decomposing ozone is low, which means that safety is improved, and that a sterilization device excellent in handling is provided. Will be able to do it.

Another advantage is that the degree of sterilization can be controlled via a variable called the amount of condensation that occurs. Simply, in sterilization treatment using ozone in the air or ozone in water (fresh water), it is difficult to grasp the amount of ozone that enhances the sterilization effect on the object to be sterilized. There is a problem that the degree of sterilization treatment changes if unevenness is generated or if the material to be sterilized changes. In the present invention, in consideration of the surface area of the object to be sterilized, the specific heat, the dew point temperature of the sterilization chamber, the humidity, and by keeping the ozone concentration constant, it is possible to uniformly generate water droplets of dew forming HO radicals, A constant sterilization process is always possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a chicken egg ozone sterilizer showing sterilization procedure 1.

FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of an ozone sterilization apparatus for chicken eggs, showing sterilization procedure 2.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view near the surface of a chicken egg showing a state in which ozone is absorbed and dissolved in dew water.

FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1 of an ozone sterilizing apparatus for chicken eggs, showing sterilization procedure 3.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a quasi-continuous sterilization apparatus in which a cooling chamber and a sterilization chamber are juxtaposed on a belt conveyor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ozone generation part 2 Humidity adjustment part 3 Inner shell room 4 Outer shell room 5 Sterilization room 6 Chicken egg 7 Cooling part 8 Cooling fan 9 Heating part 10 Heating fan 11 Space 12 Temperature sensor 13 Humidity sensor 14 Concentration sensor 15 Ozone decomposition part 16 Chicken egg surface 17 Ozone 18 Water droplets forming dew condensation water 19 Water droplet gaps 20 Egg cells of chicken eggs 21 Oxygen 22 HO radical 23 Belt conveyor 24 Cooling room 25 Sterilization room 26 Drying room 27 shelves

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An ozone sterilization method in which dew is formed on the surface of an object to be sterilized in an ozone atmosphere, and the surface of the object to be sterilized is sterilized by an oxidation reaction of ozone absorbed and dissolved in the condensed water. 2. An oxidizing reaction of ozone dissolved and absorbed in the condensed water, in which an object to be sterilized whose surface temperature is lower than that of the ozone atmosphere is carried into an ozone atmosphere to cause dew condensation on the surface of the object. An ozone sterilization method for sterilizing the surface of an object to be sterilized by the method. 3. An ozone sterilization method comprising adding a surfactant to dew water generated on the surface of an object to be sterilized according to claim 1. 4. A sterilizing chamber having a double structure is provided by covering a heatable outer shell chamber with a coolable inner shell chamber having an ozone generating section and a humidity adjusting section, and covering the sterilizing chamber. An ozone sterilizing apparatus provided with a carrying-in means for introducing a sterilized substance into the inner shell chamber. 5. An ozone sterilizer comprising: a cooling chamber for an object to be sterilized; and a sterilization chamber provided with an ozone generating section and a humidity adjusting section, connected by means for conveying the object to be sterilized.