Characteristics of surface sterilization using electron cyclotron resonance plasma

Akira Yonesu, Kazufumi Hara, Tatsuya Nishikawa, Nobuya Hayashi

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    5 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The characteristics of surface sterilization using electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma were investigated. High-energy electrons and oxygen radicals were observed in the ECR zone using electric probe and optical emission spectroscopic methods. A biological indicator (BI), Geobacillus stearothermophilus, containing 1 × 106 spores was sterilized in 120 s by exposure to oxygen discharges while maintaining a temperature of approximately 55 °C at the BI installation position. Oxygen radicals and high-energy electrons were found to be the sterilizing species in the ECR region. It was demonstrated that the ECR plasma could be produced in narrow tubes with an inner diameter of 5 mm. Moreover, sterilization tests confirmed that the spores present inside the narrow tube were successfully inactivated by ECR plasma irradiation.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number07LG08
    JournalJapanese journal of applied physics
    Volume55
    Issue number7S2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2016

    All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

    • Engineering(all)
    • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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