Efficacy of ozone to reduce bacterial populations in the presence of substance of citrus fruits

Ozone is a strong oxidizer and antiseptic. The efficacy of ozone to reduce bacterial populations in the presence of substance of citrus fruits has been studied here, included a Gram-positive bacterium, a Gram-negative bacterium and a spore former. The suspension quantitative bactericidal test was carried out. Five substrates, that were respectively sterile Class C buffer, 1% sucrose solutions,l% citric acid solution, 1% pectin solution(from citrus fruits) and 1% orange juice , were inoculated with vegetative cells of Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus or spores of Bacillus subtilis, and ozonated at 0.4mg/L for 2min and lOmin. It is showed that the citric acid provided no protective effects and the bacterial populations reductions is far fewer compared to the sterile Class C buffer as blank control. Sucrose, pectin and orange juice provided protective effects to the bacterial populations, the protection varied with the different bacterial.