Mixed-matter plasma disinfection

Air filters capable of preventing infections caused by airborne pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2, are costly, in short supply and a waste disposal problem. An alternative to filters is to disinfect the airstream by ionizing the air to create a cold, or non-thermal plasma that kills airborne organisms. Plasmas create an extremely hostile chemical and physical environment and have practical advantages over other airstream disinfection methods, such as germicidal UV irradiation, heat and chemical treatments. A electrically powered plasma device for air sanitation uses ordinary materials and is relatively simple to construct and operate. Our limited work with a prototype micro plasma unit suggests promise for wearable air-purifying respirators, due to their energy efficiency, compact nature and high volume output. Furthermore, plasma air purification can produce the large volumes air essential to creating safe indoor spaces and implementing critically needed basic infection control techniques such as directional airflows and air curtains.  

Slowing or stopping the airborne transmission of disease will require low-cost and environmentally friendly methods to produce sanitary airflows.  Air filters function by removing airborne infectious particles but need periodic replacement, are costly for large volumes of air and produce plastic waste. Germicidal UV light is an effective disinfectant but treating an airflow requires a bulky chamber and significant electrical power consumption. A cold plasma air sanitation technology offers near term benefits for small powered air purifying respirators and the advancement of high volume devices for necessary for ventilation systems. 

Use a non-thermal plasma reactor as a alternative to air filters to prevent airborne disease transmissions. Non-thermal plasmas are ionized gases and are relatively easy to create in ordinary air using a high voltage (~30kv or higher) with high frequency alternating current . These plasmas produce a mix of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, ozone and free electrons that break molecular bonds, denature organic compounds and kill airborne organisms. Cold plasmas are widely used for surface sterilization but have only recently been investigated for air purification and a number of design variants proposed. The most recent published report non-thermal plasma airstream disinfection treatment regards a on-farm test in Michigan. Blue-ear is a highly infectious RNA-enveloped virus in swine known for long-distance transmission. The preliminary results demonstrated a relatively small reactor treating high-volume of exhaust air from hog barns with a greater than 2.3-log inactivation of a bacteriophage virus surrogate. In contrast, our work focused on a very small reactor unit intended for a wearable respirator and used an organic odor surrogate to investigate efficacy. It is our conviction that non-thermal plasma reactor technology is poised to replace air filters within one year. 

Heath care workers and others who need comfortable, warm-weather personal protective equipment in the near term. 

People who work in institutions, office building and other places where people congregate, A significant proportion of airborne disease transmissions may occur in structures with traditional, non-sanitizing heating, cooling and ventilation systems.

Sanitary air is the safest and most cost-effective method to prevent the transmission of airborne diseases. 

The proposed solution offers near-term preventative measures to prevent spread of airborne infectious organisms, including SARS-CoV-2.

A preventative technology that is effective against a range of pathogens.

Just two of us.

Working prototype?

none

Not formulated at this point.

Confident the technology will improve the world.

Due to our small size, we will need to partner or collaborate with a larger team.