Inactivation of bacteria in an aqueous environment by a direct-current, cold-atmospheric-pressure air plasma microjet

Fuxiang Liu, Peng Sun, Na Bai, Ye Tian, Haixia Zhou, Shicheng Wei, Yanheng Zhou, Jue Zhang, Weidong Zhu, Kurt Becker, Jing Fang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

(Figure Presented) A direct-current, cold-atmospheric-pressure air plasma microjet (PMJ) sustained in a quasi-steady gas cavity in a liquid medium is used to inactivate Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) suspended in the liquid. The temperature and the pH value of the liquid change to steady-state values of about 400°C and 3.0-4.5, respectively, after 10 min of plasma treatment. The decrease in the pH is attributed to the reaction of NOx pro-duced in the air plasma with water at the gas-liquid interface. The concentrations of NO3- and NO2- are measured to be 37 mg.L-1 and 21 mg • L-1, respectively, after a 20 min of plasma treatment. Effective inactivation of S. aureus is found to start after the pH values decreases to about 4.5. This is attributed to the high oxidizing potential of the perhydroxyl radical (HOO) on the fatty acid in the cell membranes of the microor-ganisms in the liquid.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)231-236
Number of pages6
JournalPlasma Processes and Polymers
Volume7
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 22 2010

Keywords

  • Bacteria
  • Cell membranes
  • Cold plasma
  • Plasma microjets

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Polymers and Plastics

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