High reactivity and bactericidal effects of plasma-activated mist from hydrogen peroxide solution

Hydrogen peroxide solutions are often utilized in logistics sterilization by misting, although their sterilizing capacity is diminished. To meet the high-efficient and long-term sterilization requirements of logistics, the reactivity and bactericidal efficiency are improved with plasma-activated H₂O₂ solutions mist (PAHM). PAHM promotes an approximately double increase in the concentration of reactive nitrogen species, four times increase in the O₃ concentration, and 36.2 times increase in H₂O₂ compared with water mist activation. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are selected as the model microorganisms to evaluate the bactericidal activity. Results show that PAHM can reduce the numbers of both bacteria by two orders of magnitude after 3 min of treatment, similar to inactivated H₂O₂ for 10 min of treatment.