Effects of Atmospheric DBCD Plasma on Three Kinds of Typical Microorganisms

Dielectric barrier corona discharge (DBCD) is a robust plasma reactor with high efficiency and large scalable area. Nonthermal plasma is generated by DBCD in open condition under atmospheric pressure. Products of plasma are analyzed by using spectroscopy technology. The DBCD plasma is used to treat three kinds of typical microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. Then, the inactivation effects of the plasma are discussed and compared with our formerly published results of parallel-plate dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma. The results show that the DBCD plasma damages microbe cells by reactive species (RS) and lower pH values, while the parallel-plate DBD plasma works mainly through microdischarge channel and RS. In addition, different cell wall configurations result in different treatment effects.