Inactivation property of microorganisms in water irradiated by atmospheric-pressure plasma using dielectric barrier discharge

Microorganisms in water were inactivated by irradiating with an atmospheric‐pressure plasma generated by a dielectric barrier discharge. To understand the inactivation mechanism of microorganisms, the actions due to irradiation with plasma discharge, heating, and chemical reaction are studied. We compare the buffer gases helium and argon in generating the atmospheric‐pressure plasma. The results indicate that the inactivation with the helium as buffer gas is higher than with argon. It is found that the inactivation ratio at different reactor volumes depends on the density of microorganisms in water. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.