Application of sonication in the food industry

The use of ultrasound in food extraction and processing has been well documented in the literature and there are a number of examples of industrial applications. Nevertheless, the lack of reliable equipment for multi-ton scale production has limited the exploitation of cavitation technologies in the food industry for many years. The technological advances achieved over the last decade, including powerful new units for continuous-flow sonication, have driven the successful transfer of ultrasound technology to industrial applications. The availability of equipment that satisfies the needs of the food industry will further increase the use of this unique non-thermal technology, which can preserve the taste, color and nutritional value of treated foods and beverages. This chapter summarizes the current state of the art and describes all of the main applications of ultrasound in the food industry together with its evident advantages.