UV PENETRATION DEPTH IN LIQUID EGG WHITE AND LIQUID WHOLE EGG

Knowledge of penetration depth of ultraviolet light (UV) in liquid egg is crucial in designing nonthermal UV pasteurizers. An experimental method was developed to determine penetration depth of 254 nm UV in liquid whole egg (LWE) and liquid egg white (LEW). The UV that penetrated through the egg was measured by a radiometer. Penetration depth, where the intensity of the UV decreases to 37% of the value at the surface, was 0.0066 cm and 0.0085 cm for LWE and LEW, respectively. This study indicates that in order to process liquid egg products with UV, thin films of 0.01 cm to 0.02 cm depth may be required.