Recovery of heat-injured Citrobacter freundii cells

The influence of various factors in the recovery process of heat-injured cells of Citrobacter freundii has been studied. In particular the temperature of the liquid recovery medium and the residence time of the cells in this medium are important. Cells heated in media with a high osmotic pressure are better recovered in low osmotic liquid recovery media. The influence of the temperature of the solid recovery medium on the decimal reduction time for Ctbt. freundii cells strongly suggests that the number of critical sites to be inactivated before the cell wall be lethally injured also depends on the recovery conditions.