Comparison Between Gamma Radiation and Kamoran Hj in the Decontamination of Sugarcane Must

The influence of gamma radiation (doses of 2.0, 4.0. 6.0, 8.0 and 10.0 kGy) and the antimicrobial Kamoran HJ (3 ppm) on bacterial bioburden of the sugarcane must and their effects in the ethanolic fermentation by yeasts were evaluated. Both treatments reduced the bacterial load of the sugarcane must and improved the biochemical parameters of the ethanolic fermentation (decrease of total acidity, volatile acidity, pH and production of the lactic and acetic acids). The irradiation of the must also improved the microbiological parameters of the yeast added afterwards (increase of viability, replication and percentage of living replicates) whereas, on the contrary, the antimicrobial Kamoran HJ decreased these microbiological parameters of the yeast. The gamma irradiation was a better treatment to decontaminate the sugarcane must because it did not originate a harmful effect to the yeast as observed with the application of the antimicrobial Kamoran HJ.