Viral disinfection using nonthermal plasma: A critical review and perspectives on the plasma-catalysis system

Jile Fu; Yiyi Xu; Eric J Arts; Zhengyu Bai; Zhongwei Chen; Ying Zheng

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136655

Viral disinfection using nonthermal plasma: A critical review and perspectives on the plasma-catalysis system

Chemosphere. 2022 Dec;309(Pt 1):136655. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136655. Epub 2022 Sep 30.

Authors

Jile Fu¹, Yiyi Xu², Eric J Arts³, Zhengyu Bai⁴, Zhongwei Chen⁵, Ying Zheng⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Fine Chemicals Green Manufacturing, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China; Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
² Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
³ Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Fine Chemicals Green Manufacturing, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China. Electronic address: baizhengyu2000@163.com.
⁵ Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: zhwchen@uwaterloo.ca.
⁶ Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: ying.zheng@uwo.ca.

PMID: 36191766
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136655

Abstract

The transmission of viral infections via aerosol has become a serious threat to public health. This has produced an ever-increasing demand for effective forms of viral inactivation technology/processes. Plasma technology is rising in popularity and gaining interest for viral disinfection use. Due to its highly effectively disinfection and flexible operation, non-thermal plasma (NTP) is a promising technology in decontaminating bacteria or virus from air or surfaces. This review discusses the fundamentals of non-thermal plasma and the disinfection mechanisms of the biocidal agents produced in plasma, including ultraviolet (UV) photons, reactive oxygen species, and reactive nitrogen species. Perspectives on the role of catalysts and its potential applications in cold plasma disinfection are discussed.

Keywords: Inactivation mechanism; Non-thermal plasma; Plasma-catalysis; Viral inactivation.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Catalysis
Disinfection*
Plasma Gases*
Reactive Nitrogen Species
Reactive Oxygen Species

Substances

Plasma Gases
Reactive Oxygen Species
Reactive Nitrogen Species