Plasma-activated chemical solutions and their bactericidal effects

Abstract

Plasma-activated water has received growing attention in recent years. In this study, a plasma device is used to treat solutions containing H+, NO 2 - ${\mathrm{NO}}_{2}<^>{-}$, and H2O2 alone or their mixture rather than water. The plasma-activated chemical solutions (PACS) are used to treat Escherichia coli for 15 min afterward. The PACS containing H+, NO 2 - ${\mathrm{NO}}_{2}<^>{-}$, and H2O2 has the strongest bactericidal effect, and the peroxynitrite is the key reason for the PACS' prolonged effect. The measurement of the species generated after the plasma treatment indicates that the plasma-activated H+, NO 2 - ${\mathrm{NO}}_{2}<^>{-}$, and H2O2 mixture has the fastest rate of peroxynitrite production. The peroxynitrite can continuously decompose into OH and NO2 which are also cytotoxic.