Sterilization of bacterial endospores by an atmospheric-pressure argon plasma jet

Journal Article · Mon Jun 25 00:00:00 EDT 2007 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2747177· OSTI ID:20971981

Uhm, Han S; Lim, Jin P; Li, Shou Z ^[1]

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1. Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, San 5 Wonchon-Dong, Youngtong-Gu, Suwon 443-749 (Korea, Republic of)

Argon plasma jets penetrate deep into ambient air and create a path for oxygen radicals to sterilize microbes. A sterilization experiment with bacterial endospores indicates that an argon-oxygen plasma jet very effectively kills endospores of Bacillus atrophaeus (ATCC 9372), thereby demonstrating its capability to clean surfaces and its usefulness for reinstating contaminated equipment as free from toxic biological warfare agents. However, the spore-killing efficiency of the atmospheric-pressure argon-oxygen jet depends very sensitively on the oxygen concentration in the argon gas.

• OSTI ID: 20971981
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 90, Issue 26; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2747177; (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AIR
ARGON
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
BACILLUS
BIOLOGICAL WARFARE AGENTS
EFFICIENCY
OXYGEN
PLASMA JETS
RADICALS
SPORES
STERILIZATION
TOXICITY