Raw Food Sterilization of Flexible Dielectric Barrier Discharge Device Using Biocompatible Tubing

A flexible dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) using biocompatible tubing was fabricated for food sterilization in ambient air. Even though the selected poultry medium had a complex geometry, DBD was easily created due to the high flexibility of the tubing and metal wire. DBD was produced at the peak voltage of 7.5 kV (V_pp of 15 kV) and frequency of 32 kHz. It is expected, from the emission spectrum of the plasma, that chemical reaction of the hydroxyl and nitrogen species within the plasma can effectively sterilize the poultry sample. Consequently, this fast reaction at room temperature makes plasma sterilization a viable alternative to conventional food sterilization processes.