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Synergy Between N and O Atom Action and Substrate Surface Temperature in a Sterilization Process Using a Flowing N 2 ‐O 2 Microwave Post Discharge
Author(s) -
Villeger Sandrine,
Sarrette Jean Philippe,
Ricard André
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
plasma processes and polymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1612-8869
pISSN - 1612-8850
DOI - 10.1002/ppap.200500040
Subject(s) - analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , atom (system on chip) , metal , brass , microwave , torr , atomic physics , metallurgy , chemistry , thermodynamics , copper , chromatography , physics , quantum mechanics , computer science , embedded system
Summary: It is demonstrated here that the sterilization process using a flowing N 2 ‐O 2 post discharge reactor involves a specific heating of the bacteria metal holder produced by heterogeneous O and N atoms recombination. Such heating increases with N and O‐atom concentrations, which can be varied with the microwave discharge power. It also depends on the metallic material of the holder: a brass support can reach a maximum surface temperature of 120 °C while the surface temperature of the stainless steel holder increases to 60–70 °C after 40 min of exposure to a N 2 ‐5% O 2 post discharge at 0.6 kPa (5 Torr), 1 L n · min −1 and 100 W. It is demonstrated that the E. coli destruction efficiency increases with N and O atom density at a constant temperature (60 °C) of the stainless steel support and with the support temperature (up to 60 °C) at constant N and O atom densities. A cumulative effect was also found with increasing N and O atom density and of the support temperature.Bacteria survivor number versus the exposure time to a N 2 ‐5% O 2 post discharge.