Hybrid atmospheric pressure plasma generation and DC electrospray aerosolization of plasma‐activated water for surface pathogen disinfection

• Published in: Plasma processes and polymers 2023-03, Vol.20 (3), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Chew, Nicholas S. L., Ooi, Chien W., Yeo, Leslie Y., Tan, Ming K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosols; Atmospheric pressure; atmospheric pressure plasma; Bacteria; Deactivation; Direct current; Disinfection; electrospray; Electrospraying; Pathogens; plasma‐activated aerosols; plasma‐activated water; Pressure effects; Stainless steels; surface disinfection; Synergistic effect
• ISSN: 1612-8850; 1612-8869
• DOI: 10.1002/ppap.202200128

We demonstrate the synergistic effects of combining atmospheric pressure plasma generation together with aerosolization of the resultant plasma‐activated water using direct current electrospraying for effective chemical‐free spray‐based surface disinfection. Besides facilitating the efficient aerosol generation of the atmospheric pressure plasma pretreated water, the DC electrospray itself also constitutes a secondary plasma generation source that can further enhance the plasma‐activation of water to result in a further increase in the concentration of reactive species in the aerosols. This, in turn, can be seen to translate into an enhancement in bacteria inactivation efficacy. Additionally, we show that pretreating stainless steel surfaces using this hybrid spray‐deposition technique before pathogen exposure leads to almost complete inactivation of the bacteria colonies. A hybrid system involving the production of atmospheric pressure plasma and DC electrospray aerosolization of plasma‐activated water. Atmospheric pressure plasma generated along the electrospray cone‐jet can further enhance the plasma‐activation of the water sample, that is, up to a 67% increase in hydrogen peroxide. This hybrid system leads to a significant increase in the reduction of the bacterial colony count.