COMPARISON OF PREDICTIVE MODELS FOR BACTERIAL SPORE POPULATION RESOURCES TO STERILIZATION TEMPERATURES

Comparisons of characteristics of recent models and the conventional model of bacterial spore populations during thermal sterilization showed the conventional model was inadequate for general representation because it lacks activation of dormant spores. New models accounting for activation differed in other assumptions but obviated heat shock of indicator spores required when using the conventional model in validations of thermal sterilization. Comparisons of rate constants and simulated and experimental responses of models of B. stearothermophilus spores in constant and dynamic temperatures showed one new model was more general, more accurate and preferred. Arrhenius equations accurately described temperature dependencies of all rate constants of that model.