Non-thermal plasma applications in air sterilization

Summary form only given. In our present study, we are constructing a physiochemical model of the oxidizing effects of the active chemical species generated by non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma on the influenza A virus. The results of our model provides us with an estimate of the optimal dose of active species required to destroy varying concentrations of airborne influenza viruses. We are specifically investigating the sterilizing effects of hydroxyl radicals (OH) because they are the most aggressive of the active chemical species created by non-thermal plasma and have a much shorter lifetime than ozone (O/sub 3/). Ozone is a proven sterilizing agent, but it is known to have negative health effects and its longer lifetime can potentially lead to human exposure in shorter ventilation systems. Additionally, in order to achieve complete air sterilization, that is the complete oxidation of all organic matter including DNA, we experiment with plasmas that have a relatively high temperature and large power density that can work at atmospheric pressure, but are still as efficient as cold plasma in providing active species. An example of such transitional non-thermal plasma is Gliding Arc in Tornado (GAT), which uses a reverse vortex flow to provide high velocity to a gliding arc discharge resulting in rapid convective cooling of the arc, recirculation of active species, and longer residence time of the organic matter in the plasma discharge zone.