Pulse-modulated, high-frequency plasma sterilization at atmospheric-pressure

We studied atmospheric-pressure glow (APG) plasma excited with pulse-modulated RF at 27.12 MHz, using dielectric barrier electrodes. The antibacterial effect of APG plasma was examined using spore-forming bacteria: Bacillus atrophaeus, Geobacillus stearothermophilus, and the following selected species of bacteria, a mold, and yeast-like fungus: Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. Optimum experimental conditions were sought, to find commonality among several conditions: antibacterial effect, neutral gas temperature, and homogeneity over the electrode surface.