Sterilization by plasma active species at one atmosphere using a remote exposure reactor (RER)

Summary form only given. At the UTK Plasma Sciences Laboratory we developed a remote exposure reactor (RER) based on the one atmosphere uniform glow discharge plasma OAUGDP which generates a plasma in an array of flat panels using air or other gases at one atmosphere. The RER convects the active species responsible for sterilization and increasing the surface energy of materials to a remote chamber in which the workpiece is located. This arrangement allows workpieces of any size or shape to be exposed to active species in the remote chamber, and does not make it necessary to expose them to the detrimental effects of being in direct contact with the plasma. The RER has closed return air recirculation, which convects active species at least once around the pneumatic loop, thus building up their concentration above that characteristic of a single pass of the active-species laden airflow past the workpiece. The active species of most relevance to sterilization and increasing surface energy appear to be atomic oxygen and possibly ozone. We have demonstrated the ability of the RER to increase the surface energy of workpieces in the remote exposure chamber, and to reduce the number of microorganisms on test samples by several powers of ten.