Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, Institut for Pulsed Power and Microwave Technology,

*Technology Transfer and Marketing, Postfach 3640, D-76021 Karlsruhe, Germany

Lutz & Kern, Saarstrasse 4, D-68753 Waghäusel-Kirrlach

Electroporation of biological cells is meanwhile a well understood process. Two possible applications in industry are visible, namely decontamination of liquids from micrometer-scale microorganisms and electroporation of plant material to gain fruit juice and ingredients like starch. Electroporation meets the interest of industry since this procedure promises a lower energy consumption for denaturation than heat-treatment procedures. An other important point is to avoid heating of sensitive food products. A literature review shows that electric fieldstrength of the order of 100 kV/cm with microsecond or even sub-microsecond pulslength are under discussion [1]. This calls for pulse generators with several hundred kilovolts output voltage, pulse duration of typical microsecond, 1 kJ stored energy and a repetition rate of minimum 10 Hz. At the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe Marx generators of this type have been developed – mainly for underwater fragmentation purposes – which can meet industrial demands. Even higher repetition rates up to 40 Hz seem possible, since the discharge mode is aperiodically. The mobile pilot device KEA supplied with a 300 kV pulse generator and a mechanical conveyance is able to treat plant raw material.

13^th IEEE Pulsed Power Conf., Las Vegas, Nev., June 17-22, 2001