Erlangen 2018 – scientific programme
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P: Fachverband Plasmaphysik
P 17: Atmospheric Pressure Plasmas - Poster
P 17.10: Poster
Wednesday, March 7, 2018, 16:15–18:15, Zelt Ost
Sterilization of Spacecraft Equipment using a Plasma Afterglow Circulation Apparatus — •Meike Müller1, Hubertus Thomas1, Julia Zimmermann3, Gregor Morfill3, and Petra Rettberg2 — 1Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Materialphysik im Weltraum, 82234 Wessling, Germany — 2Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Luft- und Raumfahrtmedizin, 51147 Köln, Germany — 3terraplasma GmbH, 85741 Garching, Germany
A new afterglow circulation apparatus using cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is presented as a useful alternative sterilization method for spacecraft equipment. The developed setup uses the plasma afterglow generated by surface micro-discharge (SMD) technology and allows the control of gasflow, humidity and treatment volume. With the new setup we evaluate appropriate CAP conditions for a maximal sporicidal effect and examine the inactivation efficiency by increasing the treatment volume. The sporicidal effect of the apparatus is tested with bacterial endospores Bacillus atrophaeus.
A Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) is used to analyse the detailed composition of the afterglow plasma. The study provides an insight into the plasma chemistry and the influence of the prevalent humidity involved in the inactivation of microorganisms.
We will give an overview on the status of the plasma decontamination project and present the first results of the plasma-gas-circulation apparatus funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economics.