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UNIVERSITY OF BUCHAREST
FACULTY OF PHYSICS Guest
2024-11-22 1:38 |
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Conference: Bucharest University Faculty of Physics 2013 Meeting
Section: Optics, Spectroscopy, Plasma and Lasers
Title:
Application of a cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet for antifungal treatments
Authors:
E.C. Stancu (1), D. Maxim (2), M.I. Moza (3), G. Dinescu (1)
Affiliation:
1. National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Magurele, Bucharest, Romania
2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology,”Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Romania
3. Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Sciences,”Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, Romania
E-mail
claudia.stancu@infim.ro
Keywords:
atmospheric pressure plasma, DBD jet, decontamination, fungal spores
Abstract:
Fungal attack is known as responsible for frescoes degradation and deterioration. The present contribution shows that radiofrequency (RF) cold atmospheric pressure plasmas are efficient for decontamination of fungal spores. The plasma experiments were carried out using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) jet, operated in argon at a flow rate of 5000 sccm and 15W of RF power.In first experiments the DBD jets were directed on fungal spores cultures inoculated on plates containing Sabouraud agar medium. Fungal mixtures consisted of genera Rhizopus, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Alternaria and Fusarium and were isolated from Romanian frescoes. Selected areas of samples with fungal spores cultured were exposed to plasma jet, for several numbers of scans (1, 5 and 10 scans). The optical imaging measurements were used to evidence the differences which appear after fungal exposure to plasma jet. After plasma treatment, no presence of fungal spores on treated area was observed. The growth of fungal spores was inhibited after 10 scans by plasma jet. This result was preserved for few weeks.
After the best plasma parameters were defined, the efficiency of plasma jet was investigated directly on contaminated frescoes. Simple frescoes, frescoes with organic dirt and fingerprints and frescoes with calcium caseinate were inoculated with the fungal suspension and were allowed for fungi growth for one week. Afterwards the inoculated frescoes were ten times scanned by DBD plasma jet. The plasma effects were investigated by optical images and plate counts analysis. For all types of frescoes was observed a decreased of colonies number on plasma treated area. Simultaneously with the decontamination treatment, a preservation of the frescoes colors was achieved.
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