• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.518-524
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• 2013

This study investigated the degradation of taste-and-odor compounds and toxins using dielectric barrier discharge plasma. The degradation of taste-and-odor compounds was conducted on geosmin and 2-methyl isoborneol (2-MIB), and the toxins investigated were microcystin-LR (MC-LR), microcystin-RR (MC-RR), microcystin-YR (MC-YR) and anatoxin-a. Largely depending on the type of gas fed to the plasma reactor, the degradation efficiencies of the taste-and-odor compounds decreased in order of oxygen (100%) > dry air (96%) > nitrogen (5%) for geosmin and in order of oxygen (100%) > dry air (94%) > nitrogen (2%) for 2-MIB on the basis of 150 s reaction time. This result suggests that the oxidative reactive species generated during plasma treatment, especially long-lived ozone, are mainly responsible for the degradation of these compounds. When using oxygen as the feed gas, geosmin and 2-MIB were totally degraded within 150 s, microcystins within 10 s, and anatoxin-a within 30 s. It was found that the taste-and-odor compounds and toxins were degraded more rapidly in real lake water than in distilled water.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.165-171
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• 2018

Atmospheric-pressure plasma (APP) was applied to determine quality characteristics of brown rice (BR) and white rice (WR) of Samkwang and Palbangmi. APP (250 W, 15 kHz, ambient air) was generated and dielectric barrier discharge was applied for 0, 10, and 20 min for 2 weeks at 4 and $25^{\circ}C$. The growth of total aerobic bacteria and mold increased depending on the storage. Water content of BR and WR decreased by storage temperature and periods. No viable counts were detected for molds by APP-treated 20 min at $4^{\circ}C$. Changes in protein and damaged starch contents in plasma were not observed. Amylose contents were not changed, but WR (Palbangmi) showed a tendency to increase. The results show that APP improved the microbial quality of BR and WR of Samkwang and Palbangmi, although further studies should be conducted to determine change in quality by APP.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2018.06a
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• pp.39-39
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• 2018

최근 플라즈마 의학이 발달하면서 제트, 펜, 니들, 토치 등의 다양한 형태의 플라즈마 발생기가 개발되었으며 내부의 가스라인으로 가스의 종류, 유속, 조성 등을 조절하여 생물학적 효과를 극대화 할 수 있고 안정적으로 플라즈마 방전상태를 유지할 수 있으나 처리 면적이 좁아 실제 생물학적 시스템 (세포, 조직, 그리고 박테리아) 적용에 있어 한계점이 존재한다. 이러한 한계점을 극복하기 위해서 유전체격벽방전 (Dielectric barrier discharge, DBD) 방식을 이용한 플렉서블 활성종 발생기를 제작하고 생물학적 시스템에 적용하기 위한 방전 특성 평가를 진행하였으며, 간단한 in vitro 모델인 한천 젤을 이용하여 플라즈마 처리에 따른 전달물질의 침투거리를 확인하였다. 플라즈마 방전 시 생성되는 수산화기 [OH], 과산화수소 [$H_2O_2$], 초산소음이온 [$O_2{^-}$], 오존 [$O_3$], 그리고 산화질소 [$NO_x$]와 같은 산소 및 질소 활성종 (Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, RONS)은 세포벽 또는 세포막의 주요 구성성분인 다당류와 인지질의 과산화 반응을 통해 구조를 변화시키고 생물학적 시스템의 표면의 pH를 낮춘다. 이러한 RONS의 작용은 살균, 소독 뿐만 아니라 약물의 침투를 돕는다. 일반적으로 한천 겔은 농도에 따라 생체 내 뇌 조직과 물리적 특성이 유사하고, 미생물학 기질, 방사선학 연구를 위한 조직모델로 사용되기 때문에 본 연구에서는 3%와 5% 농도의 한천 젤을 사용하여 침투거리를 확인하였다. 한천 젤은 $2.5{\times}2.5{\times}2.5cm^3$의 크기로 준비되었고 대조군으로 염료가 포함된 에멀젼을 0.01 g 도포하고, 실온에서 30분간 보존 후 단면을 잘라 현미경으로 침투거리를 확인하였으며, 실험군으로 플라즈마 전처리 후 에멀젼을 도포한 시표와 에멀젼 도포 후 플라즈마 처리한 시료에 대해 에멀젼 침투거리의 변화를 확인하였다. 본 연구의 플렉서블 활성종 발생기는 인체에 부착하여 사용되기 때문에 화상, 홍반을 유발을 방지하기위해 $40^{\circ}C$의 온도에서 실험을 진행하였고 이때에 플라즈마 방전조건은 $0.065W/cm^2$ 수준의 전력을 소모하는 1.7 kV의 전압, 16 kHz의 주파수로 10분간 처리하였다. 그 결과 3%의 한천 젤의 경우 침투거리 0.779 mm에서 0.826 mm, 0.942 mm까지 침투거리가 증가하였고 5%의 한천 젤의 경우 0.859 mm, 0.949 mm로 증가하였다. 이러한 침투거리 증가는 젤 표면의 다당류를 구성하고 있는 단량체가 플라즈마 처리시 화확적 구조가 끊어져 결론적으로 약물 침투가 증가된 것으로 판단된다.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.61-79
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge(DBD) plasma on decontamination of Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) and Escherichia coli(E. coli) as common pathogens. Methods: This experiment was carried out in a chamber($0.64m^3$)designed by the authors. The plasma was continuously generated by a non-thermal DBD plasma generator(Model TB-300, Shinyoung Air tech, Korea). Suspensions of S. aureus and E. coli of 0.5 McFarland standard($1.5{\times}10^8CFU/mL$) were prepared using a Densi-Check photometer(bio $M{\acute{e}}rieux$, France). The suspensions were diluted1:1000 in sterile PBS solutions(approximately$10^{4-5}CFU/mL$) and inoculated on tryptic soy agar(TSA) in Petri dishes. The Petri dishes(80mm internal diameter)were exposed to the non -thermal DBD plasma in the chamber. Results: The results showed that 95% of S. aureus colonies were killed after a six-hour exposure to the DBD plasma. In the case of E. coli, it took two hours to kill 100% of the colonies. The gram-negative E. coli had a greater reduction than the gram-positive S. aureus. This difference may be due to the structure of their cell membranes. The thickness of gram-positive bacteria is greater than that of gram-negative bacteria. The S. aureus is more resistant to DBD plasma exposures than is E. coli. It should be noted that average concentrations of ozone, a byproduct of the DBD plasma generator, were monitored throughout the experiment and the results were well below the criteria, 50 ppb, recommended by the Korean Ministry of the Environment. Thus, non-thermal DBD plasma is deemed safe for use in hospital and public facilities. Conclusions: There was evidence that non-thermal DBD plasma can effectively kill S. aureus and E. coli. The results indicate that DBD plasma technology can greatly contribute to the control of infections in hospitals and other public and private facilities.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.566-573
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• 2022

Purpose: This study attempted to verify the effectiveness of the application of air sterilizers in elementary schools at risk of group infection among vulnerable groups in order to address fears of new infectious diseases that have increased since the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Coronavirus infection-19 (COVID-19). Method: One air sterilizer was installed in each classroom, cafeteria, and bathroom of an elementary school in Seoul, and surface and air samples were collected at a distance of 2m from the air sterilizer, and the bacterial reduction effect was analyzed compared to the uninstalled control group. Result: The sterilization effect on the surface was less than 2log CFU/cm² in both the control group and the test group, and the test group showed 54 to 87% less general bacterial colony formation than the control group. In addition, the sterilization effect in the air differed depending on the location of the air sterilizer, and the wall installation showed a reduction effect of up to 91% compared to the control group, and the central installation showed a reduction effect of up to 93%. Conclusion: As a result of the study, it is expected that the prevention of infectious diseases can be increased by maintaining the current quarantine program in elementary schools that conduct regular disinfection while applying air sterilizers. In addition, it is considered desirable to facilitate the inflow of air into the air sterilizer.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.560-563
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• 2020

Cold plasma has been applied to improve quality of food product; however, studies on its effects on microbial and physicochemical qualities of rice noodles are rarely conducted. In this study, changes in the quality characteristics of rice noodles treated by cold plasma were determined. Cold plasma was generated in a square-shaped plastic container (250 W, 15 kHz, ambient air), and dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatments were applied to rice noodle samples for 0, 10, or 20 min. Rice noodles inoculated with either Bacillus cereus or Escherichia coli O157:H7 were subjected to plasma treatment for 20 min, and the approximate bacterial count reduction were 4.10 and 2.75 log CFU/g, respectively. The Hunter color values of the sample were increased after cold plasma treatment. Peroxide values and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) were increased with an increase in cold plasma treatment time. Futhermore, lipid oxidation was enhanced. Although further studies are warranted to evaluate changes in chemical qualities, such as lipid oxidation of rice noodles, induced by cold plasma, the results suggest that cold plasma can improve the microbial and physical qualities of rice noodles.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.375-379
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• 2016

Atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) was applied to examine microbial safety and qualities of commercial Sunsik. APP was generated in a square-shaped plastic container (250 W, 15 kHz, ambient air) and dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatment was applied for periods of 0, 5, 10, and 20 minutes. The total aerobic bacterial count in the control was 4.44 log CFU/g. Under plasma treatment for 20 minutes, Sunsik samples inoculated with Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 resulted in a reduction of bacterial counts by approximately 2.20, 2.22, and 2.52 log CFU/g, respectively. The pH of the sample was found to decrease after APP treatment. Although hunter color $L^*$ of Sunsik increased, $a^*$ and $b^*$ value decreased as a result of APP. Increasing the APP time also enhanced the peroxide value. Further, sensory evaluation revealed that APP decreased color, flavor, taste and overall acceptability. The results of this study indicated that APP treatment improved the microbial quality of Sunsik, although further studies should be conducted to reduce the deterioration of sensory quality induced by APP.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.908-914
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• 2017

Cold plasma (CP) was applied to examine microbial safety and physicochemical properties of rough rice. CP was generated in a square-shaped plastic container (250 W, 15 kHz, ambient air) and dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatment was applied for periods of 0, 10, and 20 min during 2 weeks at 4 and $25^{\circ}C$. As a result of observing changes in growth of microorganisms, 3.46-3.86 log CFU/g of total aerobic bacteria and 2.27-2.86 log CFU/g of mold were detected in the early stage of storage. The growth of total aerobic bacteria and mold was increased depending on the storage temperature and period, but there was no big difference between cultivars. Microbial analysis after storage showed that microorganisms of plasma-treated group were less grown approximately 1.50 log CFU/g. Moisture content of rough rice was decreased by storage temperature and periods. As for the amylose content, changes in the content by plasma were not observed in Samkwang, Cheongpum and Misomi, whereas Palbangmi showed a tendency to increase. The results of this study indicated that CP treatment improved the microbial quality of rough rice, but further studies should be conducted to reduce the deterioration of sensory quality induced by CP.

• Clean Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2019

A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor packed with $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst was used for the dry ($CO_2$) reforming of propane (DRP) to improve the production of syngas (a mixture of $H_2$ and CO) and the catalyst stability. The plasma-catalytic DRP was carried out with either thermally or plasma-reduced $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst at a $C_3H_8/CO_2$ ratio of 1/3 and a total feed gas flow rate of $300mL\;min^{-1}$. The catalytic activities associated with the DRP were evaluated in the range of $500{\sim}600^{\circ}C$. Following the calcination in ambient air, the ${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ impregnated with the precursor solution ($Ni(NO_3)_2$ and $Ce(NO_3)_2$) was subjected to reduction in an $H_2/Ar$ atmosphere to prepare $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst. The characteristics of the catalysts were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), temperature programmed reduction ($H_2-TPR$), temperature programmed desorption ($H_2-TPD$, $CO_2-TPD$), temperature programmed oxidation (TPO), and Raman spectroscopy. The investigation revealed that the plasma-reduced $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst exhibited superior catalytic activity for the production of syngas, compared to the thermally reduced catalyst. Besides, the plasma-reduced $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst was found to show long-term catalytic stability with respect to coke resistance that is main concern regarding the DRP process.