13 december 2016
Improving the hygienisation processes of installations is high on the RHP agenda. Last year RHP executed the earlier renewed phytosanitary test on a whole range of installations at certified companies. The bacteria Bacillus globigii was used as a new test organism. This bacteria provides a good indication of the measure of the hygienisation of the installations, as appears from the tests. With this knowledge processes can be improved further.
A phytosanitary test can determine whether the hygienisation process of installations like wood fibre units, steam installations and gamma radiation installations, disinfect a product sufficiently. In the past, the Tomato Mosaic Virus (TMV) was used for this test, but this organism involves risk of contamination. In the renewed tests the harmless bacteria Bacillus globigii is used as test organism. In 2015 RHP validated the working of the bacteria with respect to TMV.
In the renewed phytosanitary test a product is inoculated with a specific number of Bacillus globigii per gram material. The inoculated product goes through the process and subsequently is tested on viability of the bacteria.
It appears from the tests with Bacillus globigii that this bacteria gives a good indication of the disinfecting effect of the equipment. Hygienisation processes can further be improved with this knowledge. For example, how to manage a ‘cold start’ of an installation or an interruption of the process. But also the interaction between dwell time of a product in an installation and the temperature. With this knowledge, more insight can be gained how installations defuse harmful organisms.
