Thermal Inactivation Patterns of Aspergillus niger Spores in Capillaries.

Thermal inactivation patterns of spores of a mesophilic mold, Aspergillus niger, in capillaries heated at 66-55°C were studied. Thermal inactivation curves of A. niger spores in capillaries consisted of a shoulder and a linear decline at 66-57°C, whereas curves at 56 and 55°C consisted of a shoulder, a linear decline, and a sloping tail. The Arrhenius plot of the inactivation rate for the linear decline portions in inactivation curves was a broken line at around 57°C. The logarithm of the duration of the shoulder to the temperature was linear.