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Title |
Ultrasound and Surfactant Pretreatment-Assisted Chlorine Disinfection Strategy for Inactivation of Pathogens on Hydrophobic Surfaces in Agricultural Hygiene
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Authors |
장서진(Seojin Jang) ; 이승연(Seungyeon Lee) ; 강민석(Minseok Kang) ; 이승기(Seunggi Lee) ; 서유진(Yu-Jin Seo) ; 신재돈(Jaedon Shin) ; 윤영건(Younggun Yoon) ; 조민(Min Cho) |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.15681/KSWE.2026.42.1.1 |
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Keywords |
Agriculture; Disinfection; Foodborne pathogen; Hydrophilization; Interfacial |
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Abstract |
Pathogenic microorganisms that persist on hydrophobic surfaces in agricultural environments present a significant sanitation challenge. Materials like Velcro can serve as reservoirs for bacteria and hinder the effectiveness of disinfectants. This issue is particularly critical in reusable equipment and high-contact areas, where microbial colonization can lead to recurrent contamination. This study evaluated the disinfection performance against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) inoculated onto Velcro surfaces. The disinfection methods tested included low-frequency ultrasound (<40 kHz), Tween 80 surfactant, and free available chlorine (FAC), applied individually and in combination. While FAC alone rapidly inactivated E. coli in aqueous suspension (over 4-log reduction within seconds), it demonstrated limited effectiveness against MRSA and bacteria strongly adhered to Velcro (less than 2-log reduction). However, pretreatment with either Tween 80 or ultrasound improved FAC penetration into the Velcro structure, enhancing bacterial inactivation. The combination of both pretreatments achieved greater than 4-log reduction for E. coli and approximately 1.6-log reduction for MRSA under the tested conditions. Surface analyses, including contact angle measurements and FT-IR, confirmed increased hydrophilicity without altering the chemical integrity of Velcro. These findings indicate that integrating physical and chemical pretreatments can address accessibility barriers on complex hydrophobic materials, thereby enhancing chlorine-based disinfection. This combined strategy offers a practical solution for agricultural and food production environments where conventional methods often struggle to achieve reliable pathogen control.
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