Scientists use ultrasonic waves to break crystallization, helping honey meet export standards

This technology uses ultrasonic waves at low frequencies (about 27kHz) to "thoroughly destroy" the crystalline spores and can kill yeast spores in honey.

The honey-crushing machine with ultrasonic technology has just been transferred by Associate Professor, Dr. Le Anh Duc, lecturer of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry (Binh Thanh District) - specialized honey production for export. This activity is in the task of scientific research with the participation of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology with businesses and scientists.

Associate Prof. Dr. Le Anh Duc, lecturer of Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry, the main author of the invention of the secret breaker machine was transferred to enterprises.(Photo: Hà Thế An).

German Associate Professor said that honey produced for domestic consumption or export in a normal environment for some time, there will be natural crystallization due to the content of gulcose in the bile. This will make honey 'frozen' into blocks, affecting the extraction and quality of honey. If this hardened honey is not treated, the honey will not be exported because it does not meet the quality standards.

'Today, in order to destroy honey, people often use heat. This means cooking honey at a temperature of about 40 to 45 degrees Celsius. However, this method does not guarantee a complete breakdown. Because the germinal germ after a while does not destroy will regenerate and recrystallize honey. This thermal method also reveals the disadvantages of long working time, energy wastage, etc. '- German Associate said.

Because of these problems, the German Associate and the research team developed new technology, breaking honey crystallization by using ultrasonic waves. This type of wave is characterized by mechanical wave, when fired into the bile, it can create jet rays with extremely high pressure and velocity, destroying crystalline sprouts. Ultrasound waves in addition to breaking crystals also work to kill yeast spores in bile and limit the sour taste in bile during storage.

To produce ultrasound, the team ordered low-frequency transmitters (around 27 kHz) and purchased additional electronic components to create an ultrasonic broadcast system located at the bottom of the bins. According to German PGS, ultrasound waves at low frequencies will carry large amounts of energy, which can completely break down crystalline germs in the bile.

At present, Huy Hoang company has applied a sophisticated sintered ultrasonic breaker with a capacity of 800kg to 1 ton of honey / day. On average, every 100 kg of honey will perform crystallization within about 40 minutes at a temperature of 38 to 40 degrees Celsius.

Actual results show that crystalline wave breaking method has a time of 50% faster than the method of using heat (using heat takes at least 1.5 hours for 100 kg of honey and may be long than). The quality of bile when breaking crystallized by ultrasound still ensures the quality criteria. The reduction of crystallization time not only helps enterprises increase productivity but also save electricity.

According to the research team, the cost for each ultrasonic breaker in industrial scale is from 80 million to 100 million VND, perfectly suited to honey production facilities at public scale. career.

The product that broke the secret of using ultrasound waves by Associate Professor, Dr. Le Anh Duc, was excellent in winning the second prize, the field of mechanics - automation, Ho Chi Minh City Technical Innovation Contest. Thursday, 2019 organized by the Union of City Science and Technology Associations.