COLD PLASMA TECHNOLOGY

Prepared by :
Hendri Rantau
Integrated Chemical Programme
Engineering Faculty, Mahidol University
What is Plasma ?

1. Plasma is ionized gas that consists of free electrons, positive and

negative ions, free radicals, and gas atoms, molecules in the ground
or excited state and quanta of electromagnetic radiation (photons).
2. Fourth State of Matter
Type of Plasma

Plasmas can be distinguished into two main groups :

1. The high temperature or fusion plasmas.
High temperature plasma implies that all species (electrons, ions
and neutral species) are in a thermal equilibrium state.

2. Low temperatures or gas discharges(LTE).

Low temperature plasma is further subdivided into thermal plasma
also called quasi-equilibrium plasma, which is in a local thermal
equilibrium (LTE) state and non thermal plasma (NTP), also called
non-equilibrium plasma or cold plasma.
Type of Plasma
 Type of Plasma
Cold plasmas refer to the plasmas where most of the coupled electrical
energy is primarily channeled to the electron component of the
plasma, thereby producing energetic electrons instead of heating the
entire gas stream; while the plasma ions and neutral components
remain at or near room temperature.

Because the ions and the neutrals remain relatively cold, this
characteristic provides the possibility of using cold plasmas for low
temperature plasma chemistry and for the treatment of heat sensitive
materials including polymers and biological tissues.
Generation of Plasma
Plasmas are generated by supplying energy to a neutral gas causing the formation
of charge carriers. Electrons and ions are produced in the gas phase when
electrons or photons with sufficient energy collide with the neutral atoms and
molecules in the feed gas (electron-impact ionization or photo ionization).

There are various ways to supply the necessary energy for plasma generation to a
neutral gas :
1. Thermal Energy
Exothermic chemical reactions of the molecules are used as the prime energy
source

2. Adiabatic compression of the gas is also capable of gas heating up to the point of
plasma generation.
Generation of Plasma

3. Electrical energy
To sustain plasma, the applied voltage must exceed the breakdown voltage for
the gases. When this voltage is reached, the gases lose their dielectric
properties and turn into a conductor.

The voltage necessary to arc across the gap decreased up to a point as the
pressure was reduced. It then increased, gradually exceeding its original value
Generation of Plasma
Generation of Plasma

Technology to produce plasma :

1. Corona Discharge
2. Dielectric barrier discharge
3. Atmospheric pressure plasma jet
4. Atmospheric glow
Benefits of Cold Plasma
1. It is a non-thermal dry process, which requires low input powers
and can be built to adapt to current processes
2. Sterilization takes only few minutes

Spore reduction of 4-5 orders of magnitude in < 1 s

 Benefits of Cold Plasma
3. Surface treatment process doesnt affect nutrients and vitamins
within the food
4. Process operates at ambient temperatures (ideal for thermo labile
products)
5. Inactivate pathogens
6. Low running cost (cost of natural gases and electricity)
7. Environmentally friendly (uses natural gases including nitrogen,
argon, air, hydrogen and oxygen)
THANK YOU