Testing a Small Scale Aseptic System for Milk in Plastic Bottles

The objective of this study was to develop and assess the performance of an aseptic system for liquid milk contained in plastic bottles, from a small-scale production standpoint. Commercial sterility tests conducted on the bottled milk were utilized in our assessments of the system, via the identification and monitoring of the principal points of the process. Four 150 L batches of milk with pH values of approximately 6.7 were heat-processed at between 137 and $143^{\circ}C$ for 10 see in a plate heat exchanger, and then aseptically transferred to 500 mL high-density polyethylene (HOPE) bottles, in an ISO class 7 clean room. The aseptic condition of the bottles was achieved via 10 see of rinsing with a mixture containing 0.5% peracetic acid and 0.8% hydrogen peroxide at $30^{\circ}C$, followed by another rinse with sterile water. Of the 4 batches processed, 2 were determined to exhibit commercial sterility, on the basis of the physical-chemical and microbiological criteria adopted. It was concluded that some adjustment of the processing line was required in order to achieve full commercial sterility for all processes. The aseptic system developed and assessed in this study was demonstrated to have great potential for the processing and transferring of milk into plastic bottles, from a small-scale production standpoint.