Patent ID: 8840835

Claim:
A method for sterilization and pasteurization, comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus comprised of a shock generation section; a sterilization section; and a membrane made of materials and dimensioned to facilitate containment of pressure in the shock generation section provided between the shock generation section and the sterilization section that seals the shock generation section and transmits shock waves and acoustic waves from the shock generation section into the sterilization section in use; placing media contaminated with microorganisms into the sterilization section through continuous or intermittent injection; introducing a mixture comprised of a detonable mixture or a reactive mixture that reacts to form a detonable mixture into the shock generation section; causing formation of at least one of a shock wave and an acoustic wave within the shock generation section by igniting the detonable mixture or causing reaction of the reactive mixture so that the at least one of a shock wave and an acoustic wave impinges on the membrane and is transmitted thereby into the sterilization section, and so that the media is sterilized or pasteurized by the at least one of a shock wave and an acoustic wave that will kill at least some of the microorganisms; venting reaction or detonation products from the shock generation section via a pressure relief valve; and repeating introducing the mixture and causing formation of at least one of a shock wave and an acoustic wave as many times as required for achieving a pre-determined degree of sterilization or pasteurization.