Intense Pulse Light

      Pulsed light is a new method intended for the decontamination of food surfaces using short, high frequency pulses of an intense broad spectrum.Pulsed Light technology is an alternative to thermal treatment for killing pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms in foods, including bacteria, yeasts, molds,and viruses. The treatment consists in applying a series of very short, high power pulses of broad spectrum light. In the United States, FDA has approved the use of

Pulsed Light for the decontamination of food or food contact surfaces, provided that

the treatment uses a xenon lamp with emission of wavelengths between 200-1000 nm,

with a pulse width not exceeding 2 ms. The key component of a Pulsed Light unit is a flash lamp is filled with an inert gas, such as Xenon, which emits broadband radiation that ranges from the UV cut off of the envelope material. A high-voltage,high-current electrical pulse is applied to the inert gas in the lamp, and the strong collision between electrons and gas molecules cause excitation of the latter, which then emit an intense, very short light pulse (1 μs to 0.1 s). 

                                                                                 
         The exact mechanisms by which Pulsed Light causes cell death are not yet fully understood, but it is generally accepted that UV plays a critical role in microbial inactivation. The antimicrobial effects of UV light on bacteria are attributed to structural changes in the DNA, increased cell membrane permeability of the cell membrane. Some studies also indicated observable injurious effects on yeast cells and mold spores following exposure to Pulsed Light.

        This post is actually a summarization of a novels of intense pulsed light, it also mentioned about this intense pulsed light is used for skin treatment.  

                                                                                  
        example of food that can be preserve by using intense pulse light;

                                                                CuP cAkeSS!!!!... hehehe