Plasma formation using a capillary discharge in water and its application to the sterilization of E. coli

Journal Article · Sat May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3418371· OSTI ID:21371148

Hong, Yong Cheol; Park, Hyun Jae; Lee, Bong Ju ^[1]; Kang, Won-Seok ^[2]; Uhm, Han Sup ^[3]

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1. Convergence Plasma Research Center, National Fusion Research Institute, 113 Gwahangno, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 305-333 (Korea, Republic of)
2. Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, San 5, Wonchon-Dong, Youngtong-Gu, Suwon 443-749 (Korea, Republic of)
3. Kwangwoon Academy of Advanced Studies, Kwangwoon University, 447-1 Wolgye-Dong, Nowon-Gu, Seoul 139-701 (Korea, Republic of)

An underwater electrical discharge in a narrow dielectric capillary provides the details of the evolution of microbubbles to plasma as formed by a tungsten electrode inserted in the capillary. An increase in the applied voltage forms microbubbles after water fills the capillary. A further increase in the voltage generates a surface discharge through the boundary of the bubble, elongating the bubble shape, and eventually forming plasma by electrical breakdown. This produces atomic oxygen, atomic hydrogen, and hydroxyl radicals from dissociation of water vapor. Also, a bactericidal test in normal saline solution showed that more than 99.6% of the bacterial cells were killed within 8 s, resulting from chlorine-containing species, in particular hypochlorous acid as a major bactericidal agent.

• OSTI ID: 21371148
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 17; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BACTERIA
BUBBLES
DISSOCIATION
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRICAL FAULTS
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
ESCHERICHIA COLI
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXYL RADICALS
LEVELS
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLASMA
RADICALS
REFRACTORY METALS
STERILIZATION
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TUNGSTEN
UNDERWATER
VAPORS
WATER
WATER VAPOR