Evaluation of treatment and disinfection of water using cold atmospheric plasma (original) (raw)

Air and Water Sterilization using Non-Thermal Plasma

2007 IEEE Pulsed Power Plasma Science Conference, 2007

The sterilization effect of plasma on air and water were investigated in this study * . For air sterilization, a small scale model of HVAC was designed and Dielectric Barrier Discharge plasma source was used for treatment of air. This PDRF (Pathogen Detection and Remediation Facility) consisted of a circulatory airflow system, a plasma chamber and a sampling system. Air sterilization experiments were performed and the inactivation of Escherichia coli was studied. Conventional water sterilization methods such as chlorination, ozonation, filtration, UV irradiation etc have several drawbacks. Pulsed plasma discharge for the destruction of microorganisms in waste water and potable water is a cost effective technique developed recently. The energy efficiency of different types of plasma discharges in water contaminated with Escherichia coli has been studied. The effect of initial concentration of bacterial solution on the inactivation efficiency has also been studied 1-4244-0914-4/07/$25.00 ©2007 IEEE.

Plasma for air and water sterilization

2008

This chapter describes the research efforts of Drexel Plasma Institute (DPl) in the area of plasma-based air and water sterilization. Motivation of this research is presented as well as the methods for selection of parameters for the experimental systems. Experimentally obtained results for air sterilization demonstrate that the direct influence of plasma charged particles on airborne bacteria in combination with active chemical substances generated by plasma is the probable reason for high sterilization efficiency of the Dielectric Barrier Grating Discharge (DBGD). Energy input on the level of 13 kJ/m3 is enough to reach a 5-log reduction of viable E. coli bacteria. Experimentally reached D-value (the dosage required for a 90Yo reduction of the number of viable microorganisms) for E. coli bacteria deactivation in water using spark discharge is very low, about 125 kJlm3, and UV-radiation is the most plausible sterilization factor in this case. A new seminumerical model is proposed for initial phase of electrical breakdown in water.

Inactivation of Escherichia coli by atmospheric pressure plasma jet in water

Journal of Water and Health

The main aim of this work is inactivation of Escherichia coli in water using a laboratory-scale radio-frequency atmospheric pressure Argon plasma jet. This bacterium is widely present in the environment, especially in drinking water, and its pathogenic effects are very harmful. For this purpose, an Argon flow rate of 3.5 slm, maximum plasma power of 200 W, and discharge frequency of 13.56 MHz was conducted to generate a uniform plasma plume for water treatment. 150 ml of drinking water contaminated by E. coli was exposed to the radiation of plasma placed about 3 cm within the water, the treatment time varied from 2 to 6 minutes at 100, 150, and 200 W of plasma input power. The temperature of the plume, discharge current and voltage, and electron density were all measured to characterize the plasma. Active species such as excited molecules, ions, and radicals produced in the plasma in water were detected using the optical emission spectroscopy method. The decreasing behavior of live ...

The bactericidal efficacy of cold atmospheric plasma technology on some bacterial strains

Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, G. Microbiology, 2010

Plasma, a mix of ionized gas molecules and free electrons, is often referred to as the fourth state of matter. There are different applications of plasma in our life starts from easy lighting to disease fighting and it's nothing new. Fluorescent lights, air conditions and plasma televisions use it. One of its different types is atmospheric cold plasma, the possible applications for sterilization using cold plasmas range from the food industry to planetary space missions. The same technique could also be used on space craft leaving Earth to avoid transporting microorganisms from Earth to other planets or moons. The use of toxic chemicals to sterilize medical instruments may soon be a thing of the past because the use of cold plasma to sterilize heat-sensitive reusable medical tools in a rapid, safe, and effective way is bound to replace the present method which uses a toxic gas as ethylene oxide, in addition to its use for air purification. Lately it is tested to prepare surfaces for bonding and kill bacteria on delicate living tissues. We report the results of an interdisciplinary collaboration formed to assess the sterilizing capabilities of the cold atmospheric plasma. This newly-invented source of plasma is capable of operating at atmospheric pressure in air and other gases, and of providing antimicrobial activity at room temperature as judged by viable plate counts. Plasma exposures have reduced log numbers of three tested bacterial strains namely, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa seeded on solid surfaces of Muller-Hinton agar at room temperature. Initial experimental data showed ≥5 log 10 CFU reduction of bacteria when 5×10 6 cfu.ml-1 of samples seeded on MHA plates. Results showed >5 log 10 CFU reduction with E. coli when exposed for up to 360 sec to plasma while the same exposure time was required for 5 log 10 CFU reduction killing with S. aureus samples, the least affected by this treatment was Pseudomonas aeruginosa cell suspensions where there was a very few reduction in number of survivals (≤ 10% of the whole population) after the same exposure time application. For all microorganisms tested, a biphasic curve was generated when the number of survivors versus time was plotted in dose-response curves. In conclusion we can report that the atmospheric cold plasma generated by this method has proven sterilization (kill) capability against both gram-positive and gramnegative bacteria in different extents depending on special strain characteristics.

Effects of air transient spark discharge and helium plasma jet on water, bacteria, cells, and biomolecules

Biointerphases, 2015

Atmospheric pressure DC-driven self-pulsing transient spark (TS) discharge operated in air and pulse-driven dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet (PJ) operated in helium in contact with water solutions were used for inducing chemical effects in water solutions, and the treatment of bacteria (Escherichia coli), mammalian cells (Vero line normal cells, HeLa line cancerous cells), deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA), and protein (bovine serum albumin). Two different methods of water solution supply were used in the TS: water electrode system and water spray system. The effects of both TS systems and the PJ were compared, as well as a direct exposure of the solution to the discharge with an indirect exposure to the discharge activated gas flow. The chemical analysis of water solutions was performed by using colorimetric methods of UV-VIS absorption spectrophotometry. The bactericidal effects of the discharges on bacteria were evaluated by standard microbiological plate count method. Viability, apoptosis and cell cycle were assessed in normal and cancerous cells. Viability of cells was evaluated by trypan blue exclusion test, apoptosis by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide assay, and cell cycle progression by propidium iodide/RNase test. The effect of the discharges on deoxyribonucleic acid and protein were evaluated by fluorescence and UV absorption spectroscopy. The results of bacterial and mammalian cell viability, apoptosis, and cell cycle clearly show that cold plasma can inactivate bacteria and selectively target cancerous cells, which is very important for possible future development of new plasma therapeutic strategies in biomedicine. The authors found that all investigated bio-effects were stronger with the air TS discharge than with the He PJ, even in indirect exposure. V

Experimental Studies on Physicochemical Parameters of Water Samples before and after Treatment with a Cold Atmospheric Plasma Jet and its Optical Characterization

Research Article, 2021

Cold plasma-liquid interaction becomes a growing interdisciplinary area of research involving plasma physics, fluid science, and chemistry. Plasma-liquid interaction has gained more interest over the last many years due to its potential applications in different fields. Cold atmospheric plasma jet is an emerging technology for surface drinking water treatment to improve quality and surface modification that is chemical-free and eco-friendly. Cold plasma treatment of water samples results in changes in turbidity, pH, and conductivity and in the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). As a result, plasma-activated water has a different chemical composition than water and can serve as an alternative technique for microbial disinfection. CAPJ has been generated by a high voltage 5 kV and a high frequency 19.56 kHz power supply. e discharge has been characterized by an optical method. To characterize the cold atmospheric pressure argon plasma jet, discharge plume temperature, and electron rotational and vibrational temperature have been determined. Cold atmospheric argon plasma jet produced at atmospheric condition contains high energetic electrons, ions, UV radiation, reactive oxygen, and nitrogen species named as cold plasma which has a wide range of applications in the biomedical industry, as well as in water treatment. Nowadays, researches have been carried out on ozonation through plasma jet interaction with surface drinking water. In this paper, we compare the change in physical and chemical parameters of surface water used for drinking purposes. e significant change in the physical parameters such as pH, turbidity, and electrical conductivity was studied. In addition, the significant changes in the concentration and absorbance of nitrate, ferrous, and chromium ions with respect to treatment time were studied. Our results showed that plasma jet interaction with surface drinking water samples can be useful for the improvement of water quality and an indicator for which reactive species play an important role in plasma sterilization.

Microbial inactivation using plasma-activated water obtained by gliding electric discharges

Letters in Applied Microbiology, 2009

Aim: To evaluate the microbial disinfection efficacy of a plasmachemical solution obtained by the activation of water with gliding electric discharges. Methods and Results: Distilled water was activated for 5 min by a nonthermal quenched plasma of the glidarc type operating in humid air and at atmospheric pressure. The plasma-activated water (PAW) was then used to treat planktonic and adherent cells of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides (as models of Gram-positive bacteria), Hafnia alvei (a Gram-negative bacteria) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (as a yeast model). The treatments were less efficient on adherent cells than on planktonic cells in the case of bacteria, but not of S. cerevisiae. Inactivation was more effective for bacteria than for the yeast. Conclusions: Significant reductions in microbial populations were achieved in all cases, demonstrating the effectiveness of this new approach to treat contaminated media. Significance and Impact of the Study: PAW is a promising solution with potential application to the decontamination of equipment and surfaces.

E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and B. cereus Bacteria Sterilization Using Afterglow of Non-Thermal Plasma at Atmospheric Pressure

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2010

We developed and employed a new geometrical structure of dielectric barrier discharge in atmospheric pressure for bacterial broad spectrum sterilization. We utilized a plasma source having an AC power supply at 50 HZ and 5,400 V (rms value). We prepared suspensions of the Gram-negative bacteria species (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a Gram-positive of Bacillus cereus with Luria-Bertani broth media up to OD 600 nm =0.25 of McFarland standard. Afterglow of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma treated these suspensions. The influence of the atmospheric plasma afterglow on the species was assayed in different time durations 5, 10, and 15 min. The spectroscopic results of this investigation indicated that the survival reduction of the species can reach to 100% for P. aeruginosa in an exposure time of 10 min, E. coli and B. cereus in an exposure time of 15 min.

Cold atmospheric plasma activity on microorganisms. A study on the influence of the treatment time and surface

The second half of the 20th century can be characterized and named as the 'plasma era', as the plasma gathered scientific interest because of its special physical behaviour. Thus, it was considered as the fourth material state and the plasma physics began to form consequently. In addition to this, many important applications of plasma were discovered and put to use. Especially, in last few decades, there has been an increased interest in the use of cold atmospheric plasma in biochemical applications. Until now, thermal plasma has been commonly used in many bio-medical and other applications; however, more recent efforts have shown that plasma can also be produced at lower temperature (close to the environment temperature) by using ambient air in an open space (in atmospheric pressure). However, two aspects remain neglected: firstly, low-temperature plasma production with a large area, and secondly, acquiring the necessary knowledge and understanding the relevant interaction mechanisms of plasma species with microorganisms. These aspects are currently being investigated at the 'Demokritos' Plasma Laboratory in Athens, Greece with radio frequency (27.12 MHz and it integer harmonics)-driven sub-atmospheric pressure plasma (100 Pa). The first aspect was achieved with atmospheric plasma being produced at a low temperature (close to the environment temperature) and in a large closed space systems. Regarding the plasma effect on living microorganisms, preliminary experiments and findings have already been carried out and many more have been planned for the near future.