Search

In this paper, we demonstrate that, by adding a small amount of \CF4 (2\%) into a compressed-air planar dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), one can effectively inactivate a B. subtilis spore up to 50 mm in width in the postdischarge jet region after ten passes of exposure of plasma plume (equivalent plasma exposure time of 1 s) for treatment distance of up to 14 mm for the spore concentration in the range of 10^5-10^7 CFU/mL. A possible mechanism is proposed, i.e., the chemically active F atoms and \CFn\ ({n} = 1 - 3) are generated through the help of abundant excited nitrogen molecules in the postdischarge region. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]