Inactivation of Bacteria in Oil Field Injection Water by Non-thermal Plasma Treatment

Microbial pollution commonly causes serious pipe corrosion in oil field injection water system. This paper reports on the application of non-thermal plasma to inactivate bacteria in oil filed injection water. As an efficient inactivation technology, pulsed streamer discharge plasma method injects energy into solution through a plasma channel formed by discharge between electrodes and produces various active species in solution with physical effects (electric field, UV etc.) occurring. Saprophytic bacteria, iron bacteria and sulfate reducing bacteria are used as target. The effects of various gases bubbling (oxygen, nitrogen and air) as well as aeration intensity are investigated. Experimental results show that the inactivation efficiency is greatly enhanced by gas bubbling. After 150 s discharge with oxygen bubbling (667 m³ (m³ h)^?1), the inactivation efficiencies of saprophytic bacteria, iron bacteria and sulfate reducing bacteria achieve 1.85, 4.51 and 5.70 log reduction, respectively. The possible mechanism of bacteria inactivation is also discussed.     

Effect of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma on Maize Seeds: Enhancement of Seedlings Growth and Surface Microorganisms Inactivation

Cold atmospheric pressure ambient air plasma generated by Diffuse Coplanar Surface Barrier Discharge (DCSBD) was investigated for inhibition of native microbiota and potentially dangerous pathogens (Aspergillus flavus, Alternaria alternata and Fusarium culmorum) on the maize surface. Moreover, the improvement of germination and growth parameters of maize seeds was evaluated. Maize (Zea mays L.; cv. Ronaldinio), one of the most important cultivated crops worldwide, was selected as the research material. Electrical measurements confirmed the high volume power density (80 W cm^?3) of DCSBD plasma. Non-equilibrium plasma state evaluated using optical emission spectroscopy showed values of vibrational and rotational temperature (2700?±?300) K and (370?±?75) K, respectively. Changes on the plasma treated seeds surface were studied by water contact angle measurement, scanning electron microscope analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A complete devitalisation of native microbiota on the surface of seeds was observed after a short treatment time of 60 s (bacteria) and 180 s (filamentous fungi). The plasma treatment efficiency of artificially contaminated maize seeds was estimated as a reduction of 3.79 log (CFU/g) in F. culmorum after a 60-s plasma treatment, 4.21 log (CFU/g) in A. flavus and 3.22 log (CFU/g) in A. alternata after a 300-s plasma treatment. Moreover, the obtained results show an increase in wettability, resulting in a better water uptake and in an enhancement of growth parameters. The investigated DCSBD plasma source provides significant technical advantages and application potential for seed surface finishing without the use of hazardous chemicals.     

Metabolome Analysis of Selective Inactivation of Human Melanoma and Normal Cells by Cold Atmospheric Plasma

Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing - Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a novel technology which is widely used in the biomedical field and has developed quickly over the past few years,...     

Degradation of Acetophenone in Water by Pulsed Corona Discharges

Degradation of acetophenone in dilute aqueous solution has been studied using pulsed corona discharges in water. Higher conversions of acetophenone were obtained with the addition of oxygen or ozone than with the addition of nitrogen and without the addition of any gas. Intermediates of acetophenone degradation, as determined by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopies (GC–MS), were phenethyl alcohol, toluene, and 2-acetylphenol. In addition, the degradation reaction pathways of acetophenone in water are discussed.     

Effect of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma on the Wheat Seedlings Vigor and on the Inactivation of Microorganisms on the Seeds Surface

Effects of a cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) treatment on the germination, production of biomass, vigor of seedlings, uptake of water of wheat seeds (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Eva) were investigated. The CAPP treatment influence on the inactivation of microorganisms occurring on the surface of wheat seeds was investigated also. The so-called Diffuse Coplanar Surface Barrier Discharge generating a cold plasma in ambient air with high power volume density of some 100 W/cm³ was used for the treatment of seeds at exposure times in the range of 10–600 s. The optical emission spectroscopy and the electrical measurements were used for estimation of CAPP parameters. The obtained results indicate that the germination rate, dry weight and vigor of seedlings significantly increased for plasma treatment from 20 to 50 s. The plasma treatment of seeds led to an extensive increase in wettability and faster germination comparing with the untreated seeds. The growth inhibition effect of CAPP on the surface microflora of wheat seeds increased with the increase of the treatment time. The efficiency of the treatment of wheat seeds artificially contaminated with pure cultures of filamentous fungi decreased in the following order: Fusarium nivale > F. culmorum > Trichothecium roseum > Aspergillus flavus > A. clavatus.     

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Degradation of Azo Dyes in Water: pH and Structural Effects

The degradation of aqueous solutions containing azo dyes (ortho-, meta-, and para-methyl red) was carried out by means of atmospheric pressure plasma treatment. As evidenced by optical emission spectroscopy, the metastable argon in the discharge is responsible for initiating reactions in dye solutions. The bleaching of aqueous solutions is attributed to the destruction of dye molecules as observed in the UV–visible absorption spectra. We found that the degradation pathways of methyl red critically depend on the pH values in aqueous solutions as well as isomeric structures. The reaction pathways are entirely different in basic (pH = 11), near-neutral (pH = 6), and acidic conditions (pH = 2). Kinetic analysis shows that acidic condition gives the fastest degradation rates of methyl red isomers with removal rate: ortho > meta > para among all conditions. At basic condition, the degradation rates are equally slow for all methyl red isomers.     

Degradation of Methylene Blue by RF Plasma in Water

Radio frequency (RF) plasma in water was used for the degradation of methylene blue. The fraction of decomposition of methylene blue and the intensity of the spectral line from OH radical increased with RF power. RF plasma in water also produced hydrogen peroxide. The density of hydrogen peroxide increased with RF power and exposure time. When pure water (300 mL) is exposed to plasma at 310 W for 15 min, density of hydrogen peroxide reaches to 120 mg/L. Methylene blue after exposed to plasma degraded gradually for three weeks. This degradation may be due to chemical processes via hydrogen peroxide and tungsten. The comparison between the experimental and calculated spectral lines of OH radical (A–X) shows that the temperature of the radical is around 3,500 K. Electron density is evaluated to be ?3.5 × 10²⁰ m^?3 from the stark broadening of the H_β line.     

Surface Functionalization at Atmospheric Pressure by DBD-Based Pulsed Plasma Polymerization

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD)-based plasma deposition at atmospheric pressure, using glycidyl methacrylate (GMA, methacrylic acid-[2,3-epoxy-propyl ester]) as a prototype precursor was investigated in order to evaluate the applicability of dielectric barrier discharges to obtain plasma polymers with a high degree of structural retention of the starting precursor. Using pulsed excitation of the discharge, up to about 90% of the epoxy groups of GMA can be retained in plasma polymers obtainableat deposition rates in the order of 3–5nm/s. Preliminary investigations of the mechanism of film formation under pulsed plasma conditions indicate that the reaction of intact monomer molecules withsurface radicals generated during the pulses play a prominent role.     

Cold Plasma Processing and Plasma Chemistry of Metallic Cobalt Surface

Plasma processing of metallic cobalt was experimentally investigated with three fluorine-containing gases, CF₄–O₂, SF₆–O₂, and NF₃ to determine the surface decontamination rate and to examine the reaction mechanism. Results show that the maximum etching rate reaches 17.12 μm/min with NF₃ gas at 420°C, while the rates are 2.56 μm/min and 1.14 μm/min with CF₄–O₂ and SF₆–O₂ gas, respectively, at the same temperature. AES analysis identified the constituent elements of the reaction products to be oxygen, fluorine, and cobalt, and XPS analysis reveals that the reaction product with all three plasma gases is very likely to be CoF₂.     

Kinetics and Bacterial Inactivation Induced by Peroxynitrite in Electric Discharges in Air

The mechanism of bacterial inactivation by electric discharges (non-thermal plasma) is examined on the basis of the action of the formed peroxynitrite and hydrogen peroxide on the external membrane of bacteria. A model accounts for the gas to liquid transfer of the active species which react with the bacterial wall at the liquid surface or /and in the bulk solution. Direct exposure to the glidarc discharge induces a pseudo zero order decay of the bacterial concentration, followed by a pseudo 1st order step for low concentrations. Post-discharge reactions develop after switching off the discharge according to a 1st order mechanism and show that active species drift in the solution. Additionally the bactericidal properties of pure water exposed to the discharge (i.e., ??Plasma Activated Water??) was evidenced even 24?h after performing the plasma treatment.     

Plasma Induced Degradation of Azobenzene in Water

The degradation of azobenzene (AO) by a gaseous plasma is reported. The plasma was generated in a localized zone between an electrolytic solution and a tip of an anode in contact with the surface of solution by means of contact glow discharge electrolysis. There is an optimum pH for the degradation of AO. Iron (II) had a remarkable catalytic action on it. Furthermore, the degradation followed the first‐order kinetic law. Some of the intermediate products of the degradation process were detected by HPLC.     

Degradation of Neonicotinoids and Caffeine from Surface Water by Photolysis

Along with rapid social development, the use of insecticides and caffeine-containing products increases, a trend that is also reflected in the composition of surface waters. This study is focused on the phototreatment of a surface water containing three neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and clothianidin) and caffeine. Firstly, the radiation absorption of the target pollutants and the effect of the water matrix components were evaluated. It was observed that the maximum absorption peaks appear at wavelengths ranging from 246 to 274 nm, and that the water matrix did not affect the efficiency of the removal of the target pollutants. It was found that the insecticides were efficiently removed after a very short exposure to UV irradiation, while the addition of hydrogen peroxide was needed for an efficient caffeine depletion. The electrical energy per order was estimated, being the lowest energy required (9.5 kWh m⁻³ order⁻¹) for the depletion of thiamethoxan by indirect photolysis, and a concentration of hydrogen peroxide of 5 mg dm⁻³. Finally, a preliminary evaluation on the formation of by-products reveals that these compounds play a key role in the evolution of the ecotoxicity of the samples, and that the application of direct photolysis reduces the concentration of these intermediates.     

Rapid Inactivation of E. coli by Water Droplet-Tuned Surface Micro-Discharges

Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing - In this study, rapid inactivation of Escherichia coli (E. coli) by surface micro-discharge (SMD) plasma is studied by comparing the inactivation effects in...     

Novel AC and DC Non-Thermal Plasma Sources for Cold Surface Treatment of Polymer Films and Fabrics at Atmospheric Pressure

Novel types of non-thermal plasma sources at atmospheric pressure based on multi-pin DC (direct current) diffusive glow discharge and AC (alternative current) streamer barrier corona have been elaborated and tested successfully for cold surface treatment of polymer films [polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET),] and polyester fabric. Results on physical properties ofdischarges mentioned and output energy characteristics of new plasma sources as well as data on after-treatment changes in wettability of films and fabrics are presented. The main goal of this study was to find out the experimental conditions for gas discharge and surface processing to achieve a remarkable wettability change for a short treatment time.     

Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Can Induce Adaptive Response in Pea Seeds

Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing - This study investigated the effect of cold atmospheric pressure air plasma pre-treatment on pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds. The aim of our study was to verify...     

地表水和饮用水中NDMA的降解方法*

NDMA（二甲基亚硝胺）是在地表水和消毒后的饮用水中新检测到的强致癌污染物,研究其去除方法对保护公众健康和发展安全的水工业具有重要的现实意义。本文综述了NDMA的去除方法,分析了挥发﹑汽提﹑吸附﹑反渗透﹑生物处理﹑金属催化还原﹑UV处理﹑自然光解和二氧化钛光催化方法的优缺点,并探讨了该领域的研究方向,旨在为解决地表水和饮用水中的亚硝胺污染问题开发高效、实用的方法和途径提供新的思路。     

Cold Plasma Systems and Their Application in Surface Treatments for Medicine

In this paper, a review of cold plasma setups and the physical and chemical processes leading to the generation of active species is presented. The emphasis is given to the interaction of cold plasmas with materials used in medical applications, especially medical implants as well as live cells. An overview of the different kinds of plasmas and techniques used for generation of active species, which significantly alter the surface properties of biomaterials is presented. The elemental processes responsible for the observed changes in the physio-chemical properties of surfaces when exposed to plasma are described. Examples of ongoing research in the field are given to illustrate the state-of-the-art at the more conceptual level.     

Decomposition of Methylene Blue in Water by Corona Discharges

The decomposition of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution was investigated using a pulsed corona discharge. The discharge was ignited in the gas bubbled in the solution through several needle electrodes. The influence of treatment time, volume of the treated solution and initial concentration of the dye in solution on MB degradation was studied. The effect of the nature of the gas introduced was also investigated. For the same energy input, MB conversion increased in the order air < argon < oxygen. When using oxygen, the decomposition of MB exceeded 95% after ~20 min plasma treatment. Higher efficiency was obtained for higher treated volume and higher initial concentration. At 90% conversion the yield obtained with oxygen was ~5 g/kWh for an initial concentration of 150 mg/l and a treated volume of solution of 100 ml.     

Activation of Spruce Wood Surfaces by Plasma Treatment After Long Terms of Natural Surface Inactivation

Surface inactivation is a phenomenon that causes poor adhesion. A wood surface exposed to contaminants such as dust or atmospheric grime can experience surface inactivation. Inactivation mechanisms can reduce the attractive forces on the wood surface and lead to a decrease in wettability. Plasma treatment has been applied to recover inactivated wood surfaces for better adhesion and bonding. Plasma treatment technology is very simple and the cost is rather low. In addition, this treatment produces no environmental pollution. In this study, low pressure plasma treatment was applied to reactivate the surfaces of spruce wood for glue bonding and to increase wettability after a 9-year period of natural surface inactivation. Changes in contact angles, surface energy, surface colour and bonding strength of inactivated and oxygen plasma treated wood surfaces were studied. Wettability, bonding and other mechanical strength properties of plywood panels increased with the oxygen plasma treatment.     

Cold Atmospheric Plasma Suppressed MM In Vivo Engraftment by Increasing ROS and Inhibiting the Notch Signaling Pathway

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematologic malignancy. MM stem cells (MMSCs) are thought to be the main causes of in vivo engraftment and eventual recurrence. As a notable new technology, cold atmospheric plasmas (CAPs) show a promising anti-tumor effect, due to their production of various ROS. In this study, we found that different types of plasma could inhibit MM’s ability to form cell colonies, suppress MM in vivo engraftment, and extend survival times. We demonstrated that NAC (a ROS scavenger) could block ROS increases and reverse the inhibition of MM’s cell-colony-formation ability, which was induced by the plasma treatment. By using a stem cell signaling array, we found that the Notch pathway was inhibited by the plasma treatment; this was further confirmed by conducting real-time PCRs of three MM cell lines. Together, these results constitute the first report of plasma treatment inhibiting MM in vivo engraftment and prolonging survival time by suppressing the Notch pathway via ROS regulation.