Efficient sterilization could be realized by regulating the interaction between plasma and liquid during the plasma discharges, according to a new study by a medical research team with Institute of Plasma Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science.

In plasma research, plasma discharges at the gas-liquide contact areas always take place with a series of physicochemical reactions, which captures attentions for its potential application in related industries.

The medical research team took a closer look into those complex reactions.

They designed a gas-liquid phase air and oxygen plasma to selectively and controllably generate reactive species and efficiently inactivate bacteria in the liquid.

The team found the bactericidal effect of oxygen plasma direct treatment is better than air plasma direct treatment, while the indirect treatment has the opposite effect. The types and contents of reactive groups in liquid-phase could be controlled by both changing the physical characteristics of plasma and choosing appropriate treatment methods.

This finding may shed new light on the high efficient but low energy-cost sterilization.

Link to the paper: Preferential production of reactive species and bactericidal efficacy of gas-liquid plasma discharge

Formation of reactive species in liquid-phase by gas-liquidplasma (Image by SHEN Jie)

Contact:

ZHOU Shu

Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (http://english.hf.cas.cn/)

Email: zhous@hfcas.ac.cn