Megawatt, pulsed ultraviolet photon sources for microbial inactivation

The University of Missouri-Columbia (UMC) has developed pulsed ultraviolet (UV) photon sources commensurate with enhanced ultraviolet inactivation of hazardous microbials on surfaces or in a water matrix. Pulsed xenon flashlamps have been optimized to produce a high ultraviolet photon yield in the 180-320 nm range that is lethal to microbials and has a high cross-sectional interaction with photosensitizer chemicals to synergistically enhance microbial inactivation. Electrical models have been derived to predict the time-dependent plasma discharge impedance profiles of the flashlamp UV source.