• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.228-233
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• 2008

Ultraviolet sterilizers (UVS) are widely used in restaurants, cafeterias and catering businesses in Korea. The proper application of UVS, however, is still questionable since no studies have clearly identified their efficacy and safety, while regulations and regulatory management systems are yet to be established. In the present study, the efficacy of UVS were investigated by measuring spatial UV intensity inside five commercially operated UVS. The operating safety parameters were also checked by measuring leaked UV intensity. The UV intensities were inversely proportional to distance from the UV lamp within 25 cm, and to the square of the distance exceeding 25 cm. The UV intensities in commercial UVS varied with the distance from UV lamp and the incident angle, highlighting efficacy and stability concerns. Notable leakage was detected through the door gaps of a studied UVS, which also brought about safety concerns. Allowable working distances for the UV leaking UVS were suggested based on international standards.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.202-211
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• 2022

In the pasteurization of escalator handrails using ultraviolet (UV) sterilizers, a combination of light distribution and escalator speed has priority over other important factors. Furthermore, since part of the escalator handrail has a curved structure, proper design is needed to improve the sterilization rate on the surfaces touched by users. In this paper, two types of sterilizers satisfying these conditions are manufactured with 275-nm UV-C LEDs, after modeling the three-dimensional (3D) structure of an escalator handrail and simulating optical distributions of UV-C irradiation on the handrail's surface according to light-emitting diode (LED) positions and reflector variations in the sterilizers. Pasteurization experiments with the UV-C LED sterilizers are conducted on six types of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, with exposure times of 0.2, 5, and 15 s at an actual installation distance of 20 mm. The sterilization rates for the gram-positive bacteria are 10.63% to 27.94% at 0.2 s, 89.44% to 96.30% at 5 s, and 99.64% to 99.88% at 15 s. Those for the gram-negative bacteria are 57.70% to 77.63% at 0.2 s, 98.90% to 99.49% at 5 s, and 99.88% to 99.99% at 15 s. The power consumption of the UV-C LED sterilizer is about 8 W, which can be supplied by a self-generation module instead of an external power supply.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.122-129
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• 2009

Ultraviolet (UV) is widely used as a sterilizing agent in restaurants and catering facilities in Korea. Efficacy of UV sterilizers (UVS) was investigated against E. coli on the inner bottom of stainless steel cups. UV intensity on the bottom of cups varied widely with the locations of cups in UVS, showing higher values at center while lower values at outskirts. The deviations in UV intensity were remarkable on top shelf, but alleviated as proceeded to middle and bottom shelves. Inactivation of E. coli was proportional to the UV intensity and treatment time, consequently to UV dose, and showed a pseudo-first-order kinetics with tailing. Initial inactivation rate constants ($K_{1}$) deviated with the locations of the cups, while final inactivation rate constants ($K_{2}$) showed comparable values. An equation for the calculation of the proposed UV treatment time was suggested.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 2023

In this study, we analyzed the microbial contamination level of ultraviolet sterilizer (UVS) chambers and suggested plans to improve hygiene management. In this study, UVS chambers targeted 98 UVS in some childcare centers in Jeollanam-do, Korea. Total aerobic bacteria and coliform bacteria were tested according to the Korean Food Code. Of the 98 UVS chambers, total aerobic bacteria were detected in 67 (68.4%) and coliform bacteria in 5 (5.1%). Six kinds of food-poisoning bacteria, including Salmonella spp., were not detected, but Bacillus cereus was detected in 1 (2.8%) out of 98 UVS chambers. According to the UV lamp replacement period, the detection rate of total aerobic bacteria was 3 (50%) out of 6 UVS within 3 months, 3 (60%) out of 5 UVS in 3 to 6 months, and 61 (70.1%) out of 87 UVS over 6 months. The detection rate of coliform bacteria according to the UV lamp replacement period was not detected within 6 months, however, they were detected in 5 (5.7%) out of 87 chambers after more than 6 months. The level of microbial contamination in the UVS chambers was higher as the lamp replacement period was longer. Considering these results, it was determined that the UVS chambers should be kept dry and clean, and the UV lamp should be replaced periodically. In addition, it is necessary to provide the staff catering for childcare centers with continuous education regarding the cleaning of UVS chambers and the replacement of UV lamps.