Sterilization effects of atmospheric cold plasma brush

This study investigated the sterilization effects of a brush-shaped plasma created at one atmospheric pressure. A population of 1.0 × 10 4 - 1.0 × 10 5 Escherichia coli or Micrococcus luteus bacteria was seeded in filter paper media and then subjected to Ar and/or Ar + O 2 plasmas. A complete kill of the Micrococcus luteus required about 3 min argon plasma exposures. With oxygen addition into the argon plasma gas streams, a complete kill of the bacteria needed only less than 1 min plasma exposure for Micrococcus luteus and about 2 min exposure for Escherichia coli . The plasma treatment effects on the different bacteria cell structures were examined using scanning electron microscopy.