Role of the Charged Particles in Bacteria Inactivation by Plasma of a Positive and Negative Corona in Ambient Air

Abstract

Inactivation of microorganisms by plasma of a positive (PC) and negative corona (NC) discharge in air at atmospheric pressure was investigated. Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa were chosen for the discharge inactivation. PC and NC produce three types of bactericidal agents, which are ultraviolet radiation (UV), neutral reactive species (R), and electric field and charged particles (E), respectively. We elucidated the contribution of each bioactive agent to the inactivation of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. The influence of the charged particles in PC and NC on the cell inactivation is caused by different electrophysical effects, which lead nevertheless to an identical consequence: the cell membrane becomes more transparent for neutral reactive species. It gives additional possibility for neutral reactive species to increase the inactivation of cell by biochemical mechanisms. Due to that, total UV þ R þ E bactericidal effect in PC and NC is approximately the same and great -only a few tens of seconds is enough to inactivate completely S. aureus and P. aeruginosa cells.

Fluorescence detection of hydroxyl radicals in water produced by atmospheric pulsed discharges

“…However, in the case of more intensive transient spark discharges in atmospheric air, the OH emission line at 308.9 nm was clearly detected, which indicates that such non-thermal plasma discharges are capable of generating a significant concentration of OH radicals in gaseous medium [10]. As indicated in [11], the concentration of OH radicals in non-thermal plasma can be 10 13 -10 15 cm -3 . In [11], OH radicals have been identified as one of the main reactive oxygen species produced by transient corona discharges in air.…”

“…As indicated in [11], the concentration of OH radicals in non-thermal plasma can be 10 13 -10 15 cm -3 . In [11], OH radicals have been identified as one of the main reactive oxygen species produced by transient corona discharges in air. The authors describe OH radicals as extremely reactive and able to trigger oxidation reactions in the lipid layer of bio-membrane.…”

Hybrid and Fluid Modeling of Ion Activation Energy and Reactive Fluxes to Particulates Suspended in Air and Residing on Surfaces

“…This mechanism is analogous to chemical sputtering . The synergetic effect of ions and radicals has also been discussed in ref …”

Non‐thermal plasma‐induced apoptosis in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

“…The microbicidal activity of plasma is mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), sometimes summarized as RONS, arising in plasma from surrounding gases. The nature of plasma‐chemical reactions is rather complex and plenty of RONS was detected 2•−, OH • , OH − , O 2 H • , H 2 O 2 , and others, the participation of ultraviolet (UV) is also widely discussed.…”