Author/Authors :
Al-Mariri، Ayman نويسنده Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Atomic Energy Commission, Damascus, , , Saloum، Saker نويسنده Department of Physics, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, Syria; , , Mrad، Omar نويسنده Department of Chemistry, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, Syria , , Swied، Ghayath نويسنده Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, Syria; , , Alkhaled، Bashar نويسنده Department of Physics, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, Syria; ,
Abstract :
The role of low-pressure RF plasma in the inactivation of Escherichia coli O157, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Enterobacter sakazakii using N2-O2 and SF6 gases was assessed. 1×109 colony-forming units (CFUs) of each bacterial isolate were placed on three polymer foils. The effects of pressure, power, distance from the source, and exposure time to plasma gases were optimized. The best conditions to inactivate the four bacteria were a 91%N2-9%O2 mixture and a 30-minute exposure time. SF6 gas was more efficient for all the tested isolates in as much as the treatment time was reduced to only three minutes. Therefore, low-pressure plasma could be used to sterilize heat and/or moisture-sensitive medical instruments.
