A Homogeneous Surface Inactivation Device Driven by a Pulse High-Voltage Source

• Published in: Plasma processes and polymers Vol. 10; no. 8; pp. 698 - 705
• Main Authors: Song, Ying, Wang, Wenchun, Lu, Qianqian, Yang, Dezheng, Niu, Jinhai, Liu, Dongping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2013; Wiley-VCH; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: atmospheric-pressure; cold plasma; Electric discharges; Exact sciences and technology; Fungi; homogeneous; inactivation application; Physics; Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges; Physics of plasmas and electric discharges; Plasma; Plasma applications; resistant fungi cell; Plasma applications; Earth atmosphere; Surface discharges; Atmospheric pressure; Homogeneous plasma; Plasma assisted processing; Experimental study; Mineral fiber; resistant fungi cell; Fungi; homogeneous; Cold plasma; inactivation application; Quartz fiber; atmospheric-pressure; Hollow fiber
• ISSN: 1612-8850; 1612-8869
• DOI: 10.1002/ppap.201300013

A surface discharge device composed of microns‐thick hollow quartz fibers is used to inactivate resistant fungi cells. The homogeneous cold plasmas are generated by using a pulse high‐voltage source with the repetition frequency of 150 Hz at atmospheric‐pressure. Increasing pulse voltage slightly from 26 to 34 kV leads to an obvious improvement in the inactivation efficiency of fungi cells. The atmospheric‐pressure air plasma generated at the pulse voltage of 34 kV is found to kill the fungi cells as much as 99% within a treatment time of 5 min. The inactivation efficiency is systematically investigated as a function of the processing depth of surface plasma. Various measurements indicate that plasma activated derivatives, such as OH, O, O3, and charged species play a key role in this plasma inactivation process. A high–efficient homogeneous air surface discharge device composed of microns‐thick hollow quartz fibers is built up for inactivation applications. The inactivation efficiencies of the processing depth (the distance between the device surface and the glass slide) are systematically investigated at various pulse voltages. Measurements indicate that the surface charges and reactive species can lead to the synergistic effect on fungi cell inactivation.