Description:
<jats:sec><jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title><jats:p> <jats:italic>We tested dielectrophoresis (DEP) phenomena on removal of foodborne pathogens using a DEP chip. Also studied was the potential application of DEP in eliminating</jats:italic> Escherichia coli <jats:italic>O157:H7 from liquid samples by a circulating DEP filtration (DF) system. With voltage application, four types of foodborne bacteria were captured on the surface of glass beads (500 µm in diameter) in the DEP chip. Ten milliliters of bacteria in deionized water (8.6 </jats:italic>×<jats:italic> 10<jats:sup>7</jats:sup> cfu/mL) was circulated for 5 h in the DF system. Absorbance (560 nm) of the cell solution decreased from 0.125 to 0.015 after circulating DF. In contrast, absorbance of the cell solution without voltage application to the system had no significant change. Viable bacteria cells decreased to 9.9 </jats:italic>×<jats:italic> 10<jats:sup>1</jats:sup> cfu/mL after DF. Dielectrophoretic filtration efficiency (DFE) of the system was 85.71%. Total filtration efficiency including DFE and mechanic entrapment of the cells was 99.99%.</jats:italic></jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS</jats:title><jats:p>Various types of filters are available in the food industry. Most of them are based on the principle that the pores of the filter mechanically trap contaminant particles. However, clogging causes an increase in the cost of operation and maintenance due to inevitable filter replacements. Filtration based on the principle of dielectrophoresis (DEP) can be an alternative because it does not need pores to capture contaminants and it is easy to apply in automatic or continuous systems. A DEP filtration (DF) system may have potential applications by spring water companies after scale‐up optimization.</jats:p></jats:sec>