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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1973 June; 25(6): 853-857
Copyright © 1973 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Some Factors Affecting the Activity of Diethylpyrocarbonate as a Sterilant¹

^a Department of Food Science and Technology, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, New York 14456

ABSTRACT

Quantitative data indicated logarithmic death in 5° Brix Concord grape juice when concentrations of cells under 10⁷/ml were exposed to diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC). Species differed considerably in their resistance; e.g., 50 ppm reduced the viable count of Saccharomyces cerevisiae over nine log₁₀ cycles, whereas 200 ppm reduced the count of Byssochlamys fulva ascospores by only about 1 log. DEPC lethality was enhanced by higher temperatures; destruction at 40 C was 10- to 100-fold greater than at 20 C. Studies on death rates showed that most yeasts and fungal spores were killed during the first hour of exposure, whereas 24 h or longer was needed for maximal destruction of several lactic acid bacteria. Repair of DEPC-induced damage was believed responsible for the slower death rates of the lactics.

¹ Approved by the Director of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station for publication as journal paper no. 2005.