Disinfection of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis using underwater plasma

Discharge under the water is very hard and demand considerable high voltage. But specially improved electrode can generate plasma discharge to salty water with relatively low voltage. A round shape ceramic electrode having many pinholes combined with metallic one can generate plasma. 400 volt, 10 kHz and 3 micro second pulse width were applied to repeatedly running synthetic seawater with 10 L/m velocity, containing cultivated E. coli and Bacillus. As a result, 18, 94, 99.97, 100, 100 % disinfection rates to E. coli and 17.1, 17.1, 82.9, 99.4, 99.9 % disinfection rates to Bacillus subtilis were achieved to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 times repetitive treatment respectively. In the plasma condition, the ions and electrons are separated and new kinds of components are re-synthesized by the intensive movement of the components. Especially chlorine ions are separated and recombined to residual free chlorine like HOCl, $OCl^-$. The residual free chlorine concentrations of discharged water were 0.25, 0.88, 1.39, 1.59, 1.66 mg $Cl_2$/L after 5 times treatment respectively. Another unconfirmed radical and oxidants for example, OH, $H_2O_2$, and $O_3$ can have an effect on microorganism of course.