Effect of microwaves on some gram negative and gram positive bacteria

In this study, suspension of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Bacillus cereus NRRL 3711 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 were exposed to microwave. The degrees of inactivation by the various time, initial bacterial cells amount and different power of microwave were compared systematically. Maximum efficiency of microwave was observed at 60 sec exposure time, 1.0 x 10 8 initial bacterial cells, and full power (900 W) for E.coli cells. Experimental data shows that microwaves apparently produced lethal effects on the examined bacteria by heat generated during microwave exposure. Water activity was not changed microwave efficiency for the each examined bacteria under the determined optimum conditions.