Proficiency of Double-Exponential Pulse Waveform in Food Treatment through Pulsed Electric Field

High-voltage pulses are utilized in electroporation to apply pulsed electric field (PEF) on the sample food. Pulse shape, amplitude, width, and frequency are the controllable parameters needed for a specific sample. In this technology, a wide variety of conceivable pulse waveforms are used commonly in a monopolar and bipolar mode. Most of the researchers have used rectangular and exponential decay (ED) waveforms. This article evaluates the impacts of double-exponential (DE) waveform to improve the safety and to preserve the nutritional value of foods. It is compared with ED to study their tradeoff and suggests a possible solution to enhance the energy efficiency in the PEF processing. The double exponential (DE) waveform is suitable in the PEF treatment as its effective area lies between ED and ideal rectangular waveform. The possibility of the DE is validated by MATLAB simulation and found that DE is double efficient than simple ED waveform. Moreover, it is practical to alter the ED into DE pulse with few passive electrical components for foods treatment. This paper covers the opportunity and design aspects of DE waveforms in PEF treatment.