[Kinetics of the temperature dependence of thermal activation and inactivation of bacterial endospores as a consequential reaction].

Reaction kinetics explains the thermal activation and destruction of bacterial endospores as a consequent reaction with the activation rate constant k 1 of the resting spores N 0 and the destruction rate constant k 2 of the heat-activated spores N ++: (formula see text). If one takes also into account the activated spores already present in a suspension, one obtains, at constant temperature, destruction curves that become straight lines when plotted semi-logarithmically or correspond to the convex and concave curves often described in the literature. The D value of destruction must be calculated from the k value of the slowest reaction. Experiments with endospores of Bac. subtilis showed that k 1 greater than k 2 at temperatures less than 100 degrees C, and k 2 greater than k 1 at temperatures greater than 135 degrees C. In case of further confirmation of this theory, far-reaching conclusions might be drawn as to the calculation of the sterilization of F value.