TITLE:
Use of a Microwave Plasma Process at Atmospheric Pressure for Bacterial Inactivation without Thermal Effects
AUTHORS:
Laura Renoux, Christelle Dublanche-Tixier, Christophe Chazelas, Pascal Tristant, Patrice Valorge, Corinne Maftah, Patrick Leprat
KEYWORDS:
Atmospheric Pressure Plasma, Microwave Plasma Torch, Disinfection, Bacteria
JOURNAL NAME:
Materials Sciences and Applications,
Vol.14 No.5,
May
6,
2023
ABSTRACT: An atmospheric microwave plasma argon was used for the inactivation of bacteria E. coli. The employed device, called Axial Injection Torch (or TIA for Torche à Injection Axiale), consisted of a microwave power source, a waveguide and a gas supply system. Using this argon plasma source, we studied the effects of the exposure time, the exposure distance, the input power, and the gas flow rate on the reduction rate of Escherichia coli cells. The first part of the study was carried out with a static sample exposed to the plasma and then in the second part the sample was set in motion relative to the plasma jet. A log reduction number of E. coli of 4 (10-4 CFU/mL) was obtained with UV and active species, for UV only a log of 1 (10-1 CFU/mL) was obtained.