Comparative evaluation of the virucidal effect of remote and direct cold air plasmas with UV‐C. Issue 4 (13th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moldgy, Ankit; Aboubakr, Hamada; Nayak, Gaurav; Goyal, Sagar; Bruggeman, Peter
• Is Part Of: Plasma processes and polymers. Volume 17:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-01-13
• Subjects: energy efficiency -- nonthermal food processing technology -- plasma decontamination -- UV‐C radiation -- virus; Plasma polymerization -- Periodicals; Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; Plasma chemistry -- Periodicals
• DOI: 10.1002/ppap.201900234
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1612-8850

Abstract

Abstract: Cold atmospheric pressure plasma is an emerging nonthermal processing technology for the decontamination of foodborne pathogens. This study presents a comparative evaluation of the energy efficiency of the decontamination by three different dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) setups operating in air against Feline calicivirus with a UV‐C lamp. Significant enhancement of the energy efficiency was achieved with a lab‐scale batch reactor prototype, which employed surface DBD, leading to similar energy per unit area requirements as that for UV‐C. A key advantage of plasma over UV‐based disinfection systems is that plasmas are not limited by shadowing effects. Nonetheless, unlike UV‐C, the virucidal efficacy of plasma is significantly reduced for dry samples and remote plasma treatment is only effective against wet samples. Abstract : Feline calicivirus inactivation by three different dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) and a germicidal mercury (UV‐C) lamp is compared and shows similar energy efficiency for UV‐C and remote plasma treatment. It is motivated that an additional increase in energy efficiency is possible by a further improved reactor design. Remote plasma decontamination is also not limited by shadowing effects as for UV‐based disinfection.