Airborne Microorganism Capture and Neutralization through the Combined use of DC Enhanced Filtration and One Atmosphere Plasma Sterilization

摘要

A novel system for capturing and killing airborne microorganisms (bacteria, molds and viruses) is described, and its rate of capture and its killing efficacy are quantified. The Enhanced Plasma Sterilized Air Filtration System (EPS) is based on the technology of One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma (OAUGDP?), developed in the early 1990’s at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. The system is capable of enhancing capture of biocontaminants on an actively charged polymer filter, and neutralizing 99.9999 percent of the trapped contaminants using the active chemistry created by the OAUGDP. The EPS design was based on a two year study for the Environmental Protection Agency, and is presently being field tested for commercialization for indoor air quality applications. The described system comprises a staggered array of electrodes sandwiching a polymer filter media, such that an OAUGDP can be energized throughout the filter volume. Chemical species generated within the plasma react with and kill captured microorganisms. Inoculated filter test samples with Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial cells, and bacteriophage viruses were subjected to a variety of time exposures of plasma products ranging from 10 seconds to ten minutes. The electrode grids are additionally used to apply a high strength DC field to enhance capture by the filter media, when the plasma is not energized.