Plasma sterilization using glow discharge at atmospheric pressure

Recent development of atmospheric pressure glow discharge was compared with the performance of an apparatus used in the first APG experiment, in terms of sterilization of newly classified biological indicator: Bacillus atrophaeus, former Bacillus subtilis var niger and Geobacillus stearothermophilus. Stabilization was attained by controlling the experimental conditions, at low frequency: 100 kHz and Radio Frequency: 13.56 MHz, water vapor/He dilution. Large volume of meta-stable atomic helium is responsible for the result that aids generation of hydroxyl radicals. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.