Yüzey Dielektrik Bariyer Deşarj Plazmanın Bazı Mikroorganizmalara ve Gıdaların Küflenmesine Etkisininin İncelenmesi

The potential of antimicrobial plasma effects in fields such as wound healing, cancer treatment, pathogen-induced skin and dental diseases, hygiene, and food/agricultural processing is a subject of considerable interest. Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge (SDBD) plasmas are the most commonly used for antimicrobial applications due to their ability to generate plasma at a distance from biological cells, use atmospheric air as a gas, not require vacuum, and be simple, cost-effective, and easy to use. At Eskisehir Osmangazi University’s Cold Plasma Laboratory, a 6.2-liter SDBD plasma sterilization unit has been developed for bio-applications that can treat samples containing biological cells of various sizes and properties. Gram-negative E. coli and P. aeruginosa and Gram-positive S. aureus and E. faecalis were inactivated within 10 minutes of exposure to cold plasma in the SDBD reactor. Optical emission spectrometry revealed that the reactor, operated in atmospheric air, produced UV radiation, atomic oxygen, and NO molecules which exhibited potent antimicrobial properties. The filament current of the reactor’s micro-discharges, measured with a shunt resistor, reached 37.4 mA. The average power, as determined from plasma voltage and currents using an oscilloscope and high- voltage probe, was 31.4 W, with an energy density of 104.7 J/L. Literature comparison showed the SDBD reactor produces ozone levels above 250 ppm. Cold plasma was applied to foods like strawberries, cherry tomatoes, cheese, bread, and its effect on shelf life was tested. Finally, FTIR analysis was performed on Aspergillus sp. mold to examine changes in bond structures from plasma exposure.

Keywords: Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge (SDBD), Sterilisation, E. coli, P. Aeruginosa, S. Aureus, Aspergillus sp.