Destruction of Airborne Hazardous Particles by Microwave-Induced Plasmas

This proposal addresses the destruction of airborne toxic industrial material (TIM), hazardous and anthropogenic particles and other micro-organisms. The key element in our novel and potentially highly efficient non-thermal plasma production technique,already demonstrated in our Phase I SBIR program, is initiating a plasma in an atmospheric pressure gas stream using very short pulses of microwaves. This development enables us to produce free radicals such as OH, and O that attack hazardous or TIMparticles and kill micro-organisms very efficiently. Bacterium Bacillus cereus will be used as an indicator of the plasma efficacy in destroying airborne pathogens. Efficacy of killing E-coli bacteria will be used for the sterilization simulation testsof surfaces in food processing or medical facilities. The proposed method is both highly electrically efficient and highly effective at destroying airborne TIMs and anthropogenic particles suspended in air or on surface. Since it is also cost effectiveand practically maintenance free, it is clearly superior to other non-thermal plasma methods. In Phase II, a mobile field application prototype of a microwave discharge plasma decontamination system will be fabricated to demonstrate the full air andsurface cleaning capability. Potential application include sterilization of surfaces in food processing, medical facilities, combat environment or direct skin decontamination.