Non-thermal plasma technology for protection and remediation of air and water contaminants
Safe and effective decontamination solutions.
CHALLENGE:
To create an efficient, cost-effective and safe mechanism for air and water sterilization for a wide spectrum of pathogens.
SOLUTION:
Traditional methods of sterilization use chemical agents that can be delivered to (and activated at) the site of a known biological incident only after the incident has occurred. CIMERC researchers are developing electricity based sterilization systems that can be retrofitted into existing air ventilation ducts or water delivery systems, and integrated into operation at any moment in the event of a terrorist attack, biological threat, or epidemic. Preliminary results have shown that plasma-sterilization technology is effective at destroying microorganisms and now the task is to develop this technology for possible commercial use. Several non-thermal plasma devices for air and water sterilization have been developed and include: pulsed corona, dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), and magnetically-rotated gliding arc.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
A commercial non-thermal plasma sterilization system can be developed that is effective, inexpensive, and safe and can be integrated into commercial, residential, or military settings to stop the spread of disease and illness through existing indoor air and water systems.