Efficient inactivation of the contamination with pathogenic microorganisms by a combination of water spray and plasma-activated air

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2023-03, Vol.446, p.130686-130686, Article 130686
• Main Authors: Guo, Li, Zhao, Pengyu, Jia, Yikang, Li, Tianhui, Huang, Lingling, Wang, Zifeng, Liu, Dingxin, Hou, Zhanwu, Zhao, Yizhen, Zhang, Lei, Li, Hua, Kong, Yu, Li, Juntang, Wang, Xiaohua, Rong, Mingzhe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteria; Bactericidal effects; COVID-19 - prevention & control; Disinfection; Humans; Nitration modification; Plasma-activated air (PAA); Reactive species; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant; Water
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130686

The global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has lasted two and a half years and the infections caused by the viral contamination are still occurring. Developing efficient disinfection technology is crucial for the current epidemic or infectious diseases caused by other pathogenic microorganisms. Gas plasma can efficiently inactivate different microorganisms, therefore, in this study, a combination of water spray and plasma-activated air was established for the disinfection of pathogenic microorganisms. The combined treatment efficiently inactivated the Omicron-pseudovirus through caused the nitration modification of the spike proteins and also the pathogenic bacteria. The combined treatment was improved with a funnel-shaped nozzle to form a temporary relatively sealed environment for the treatment of the contaminated area. The improved device could efficiently inactivate the Omicron-pseudovirus and bacteria on the surface of different materials including quartz, metal, leather, plastic, and cardboard and the particle size of the water spray did not affect the inactivation effects. This study supplied a disinfection strategy based on plasma-activated air for the inactivation of contaminated pathogenic microorganisms. [Display omitted] •A combined treatment of water spray and plasma-activated air was established for microbial inactivation.•The combined treatment could efficiently inactivate Omicron pseudovirus and bacteria.•The combined treatment induced nitrosative and nitration modification on proteins.•The combined treatment could effectively inactivate microorganisms on the surface of different materials.•The combined treatment provided a new strategy for efficient disinfection of the contaminated microorganisms.