Reactive gas, reactive gas generation system and product treatment using reactive gas
A method of treating a product or surface with a reactive gas, comprises producing the reactive gas by forming a high-voltage cold plasma (HVCP) from a working gas; transporting the reactive gas at least 5 cm away from the HVCP; followed by contacting the product or surface with the reactive gas. The HVCP does not contact the product or surface.
1 . A method of treating a product with a reactive gas, comprising:
producing the reactive gas by forming a high-voltage cold plasma (HVCP) from a working gas with a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system;
transporting the reactive gas at least 0.5 meters away from the HVCP; followed by
contacting the product with the reactive gas;
wherein the HVCP does not contact the product, and
the reactive gas comprises at least one reactive or excited species other than ozone.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the product is medically sterilized by the contacting.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the working gas comprises MA65.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the reactive gas from contact with the product, after 1 second to 12 hours.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the product is Salmonella pasteurized by the contacting.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the product is E. coli pasteurized by the contacting.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reactive gas comprises the ozone and at least one nitrogen oxide.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting causes a reduction in viable microorganisms or microorganism spores.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting takes place in a treatment chamber, and the treatment chamber has a volume of at least 8 cubic meters.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, seeds, meat, dairy products, eggs, spices, seasonings, fish, shell fish, prepared foods, frozen foods, water, beverages, baby food, liquid eggs, fruit juice, flour, oil, nutritional products, vitamins, nutraceuticals, baked foods, packaged products, animal feed, cans, bottles, plastic containers, food containers, cookware, utensils, pills, capsules, medical devices, medical equipment, laboratory glass and plastic ware.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of packaged products, cans, bottles, plastic containers, food containers, cookware, utensils, pills, capsules, medical devices, medical equipment, laboratory glass and plastic ware.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting removes or kills mold on the surface of the product.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transporting is transporting the reactive gas at least 1 meter away from the HVCP.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting takes place in a treatment chamber, and the treatment chamber has a volume of at least 28 liters.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting takes place in a treatment chamber, and the treatment chamber has a volume of at least 1 cubic meter.