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Applications of Plasma Activated Water and Media in Medicine and...
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Applications of Plasma Activated Water and Media in Medicine and Agriculture

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2020) | Viewed by 28638

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Zdenko Machala

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Environmental Physics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, Mlynska dolina, 84248 Bratislava, Slovakia
Interests: atmospheric pressure plasmas; electrical discharges; biomedical plasma applications; plasma activated water; plasma diagnostics and spectroscopy; plasma-liquid interaction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Low-temperature (cold) atmospheric pressure plasmas represent a green alternative to conventional chemicals used as antibacterial and antiseptic agents or pesticides. Cold plasma discharges, when applied in combination with water and other liquids, can produce “plasma activated water” (PAW) and “plasma activated” aqueous solutions or media (PAM). The complex physical and chemical processes occurring when plasma interacts with liquids offer a rich source of short- and long-lived chemical species, mostly reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). They are critical for many applications ranging from environmental remediation, healthcare, and agriculture to material science. Exciting novel applications of plasma–liquid interactions and PAW/PAM present many challenging multidisciplinary scientific questions.

This Special Issue is open for recent findings in novel applications of PAW and PAM in life sciences, medicine, cosmetics, and agriculture. The range of potential biomedical applications is broad: from antibacterial PAW that can be used as a disinfectant or antiseptic agent, through its use in dentistry, e.g., in root canal disinfection, in dermatology and wound healing, to the delicate selective treatment of cancer cells and tumors with PAM or plasma activated solutions. In agriculture, PAW represents a strong potential as a seed germination inducer, surrogate bactericidal/fungicidal agent, or sometimes combined with organic waste, as a green fertilizer. Between these two application areas, the use of PAW in food technology can provide clean and antimicrobial washing of fresh food products. Papers providing fundamental insights into the understanding of water activation by plasmas and detailed analysis of active species are especially welcome.

Prof. Dr. Zdenko Machala
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • plasma activated water (PAW)
  • plasma activated media (PAM)
  • cold atmospheric plasmas
  • plasma medicine
  • plasma agriculture and food technology
  • electrical discharges with liquids
  • plasma-liquid interaction
  • reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS)
  • antimicrobial agents

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 805 KiB  
Article
Possibility of Humid Municipal Wastes Hygienisation Using Gliding Arc Plasma Reactor
by Joanna Pawłat, Piotr Terebun, Michał Kwiatkowski and Katarzyna Wolny-Koładka
Water 2021, 13(2), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13020194 - 15 Jan 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2292
Abstract
Sterilization of municipal waste for a raw material for the production of refuse-derived fuel and to protect surface and ground waters against biological contamination during transfer and storage creates a lot of problems. This paper evaluates the antimicrobial potential of non-equilibrium plasma in [...] Read more.
Sterilization of municipal waste for a raw material for the production of refuse-derived fuel and to protect surface and ground waters against biological contamination during transfer and storage creates a lot of problems. This paper evaluates the antimicrobial potential of non-equilibrium plasma in relation to the selected groups of microorganisms found in humid waste. The proposed research is to determine whether mixed municipal waste used for the production of alternative fuels can be sterilized effectively using low-temperature plasma generated in a gliding arc discharge reactor in order to prevent water contamination and health risk for working staff. This work assesses whether plasma treatment of raw materials in several process variants effectively eliminates or reduces the number of selected groups of microorganisms living in mixed municipal waste. The presence of vegetative bacteria and endospores, mold fungi, actinobacteria Escherichia coli, and facultative pathogens, i.e., Staphylococcus spp., Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Enterococcus faecalis and Clostridium perfringens in the tested material was microbiologically analyzed. It was found that the plasma treatment differently contributes to the elimination of various kinds of microorganisms in the analyzed raw materials. The effectiveness of sterilization depended mainly on the time of raw materials contact with low-temperature plasma. The results are very promising and require further research to optimize the proposed hygienization process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Plasma Activated Water and Media in Medicine and Agriculture)
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26 pages, 7741 KiB  
Article
Transport of Gaseous Hydrogen Peroxide and Ozone into Bulk Water vs. Electrosprayed Aerosol
by Mostafa Elsayed Hassan, Mário Janda and Zdenko Machala
Water 2021, 13(2), 182; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13020182 - 14 Jan 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4496
Abstract
Production and transport of reactive species through plasma–liquid interactions play a significant role in multiple applications in biomedicine, environment, and agriculture. Experimental investigations of the transport mechanisms of typical air plasma species: hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ozone (O3 [...] Read more.
Production and transport of reactive species through plasma–liquid interactions play a significant role in multiple applications in biomedicine, environment, and agriculture. Experimental investigations of the transport mechanisms of typical air plasma species: hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ozone (O3) into water are presented. Solvation of gaseous H2O2 and O3 from an airflow into water bulk vs. electrosprayed microdroplets was measured, while changing the water flow rate and applied voltage, during different treatment times and gas flow rates. The solvation rate of H2O2 and O3 increased with the treatment time and the gas–liquid interface area. The total surface area of the electrosprayed microdroplets was larger than that of the bulk, but their lifetime was much shorter. We estimated that only microdroplets with diameters below ~40 µm could achieve the saturation by O3 during their lifetime, while the saturation by H2O2 was unreachable due to its depletion from air. In addition to the short-lived flying microdroplets, the longer-lived bottom microdroplets substantially contributed to H2O2 and O3 solvation in water electrospray. This study contributes to a better understanding of the gaseous H2O2 and O3 transport into water and will lead to design optimization of the water spray and plasma-liquid interaction systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Plasma Activated Water and Media in Medicine and Agriculture)
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15 pages, 2351 KiB  
Article
Effect of Plasma Activated Water Foliar Application on Selected Growth Parameters of Maize (Zea mays L.)
by Petr Škarpa, Daniel Klofáč, František Krčma, Jana Šimečková and Zdenka Kozáková
Water 2020, 12(12), 3545; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12123545 - 17 Dec 2020
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4042
Abstract
Utilization of plasma activated water (PAW) for plant growing is mainly connected with the treatment of seeds and subsequent stimulation of their germination. A potential of PAW is its relatively simple and low-cost preparation that calls for studying its wider application in plant [...] Read more.
Utilization of plasma activated water (PAW) for plant growing is mainly connected with the treatment of seeds and subsequent stimulation of their germination. A potential of PAW is its relatively simple and low-cost preparation that calls for studying its wider application in plant production. For this purpose, a pot experiment was realized in order to prove effects of the foliar PAW application on maize growth. The stepped PAW foliar application, carried out in 7-day intervals, led to provable decrease of chlorophyll contents in leaves compared to the distilled water application. The PAW application significantly increased root electrical capacitance, but it had no provable effect on weight of the aboveground biomass. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters expressing the CO2 assimilation rate and variable fluorescence of dark-adapted leaves were provably decreased by PAW, but quantum yield of photosystem II electron transport was not influenced. A provably higher amount of nitrogen was detected in dry matter of plants treated by PAW, but contents of other macro- and micro-nutrients in the aboveground biomass of maize were not affected. Results of this pilot verification of the PAW application have shown a potential for plant growth optimization and possibility for its further utilization, especially in combination with liquid fertilizers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Plasma Activated Water and Media in Medicine and Agriculture)
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18 pages, 6571 KiB  
Article
Mass Production of Plasma Activated Water: Case Studies of Its Biocidal Effect on Algae and Cyanobacteria
by Jan Čech, Pavel Sťahel, Jozef Ráheľ, Lubomír Prokeš, Pavel Rudolf, Eliška Maršálková and Blahoslav Maršálek
Water 2020, 12(11), 3167; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12113167 - 12 Nov 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4185
Abstract
Efficient treatment of contaminated water in industrially viable volumes is still a challenging task. The hydrodynamic cavitation plasma jet (HCPJ) is a promising plasma source for industrial-scale generation of biologically active environments at high flow rates of several m3/h. The combined [...] Read more.
Efficient treatment of contaminated water in industrially viable volumes is still a challenging task. The hydrodynamic cavitation plasma jet (HCPJ) is a promising plasma source for industrial-scale generation of biologically active environments at high flow rates of several m3/h. The combined effect of a hydro-mechanical phenomenon consisting of hydrodynamic cavitation and electrical discharge in cavitation voids was found to be highly efficient for large-volume generation of reactive oxygen species, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and electro-mechanical stress in a liquid environment. Here, the persistence of biocidal properties of HCPJ-activated water (i.e., plasma-activated water (PAW)) was tested by the study of algae and cyanobacteria inactivation. Algae and cyanobacteria cultivated in media containing PAW (1:1) were completely inactivated after 72 h from first exposure. The test was performed at a total power input of up to 0.5 kWh/m3 at the treated liquid flow rate of 1 m3/h. A beneficial modification of our previous HCPJ design is described and thoroughly characterized with respect to the changes of hydrodynamic flow conditions as well as discharge performance and its optical characteristics. The modification proved to provide high biocidal activity of the resulting PAW, which confirms a strong potential for further design optimization of this promising water (liquid) plasma source. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Plasma Activated Water and Media in Medicine and Agriculture)
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18 pages, 3812 KiB  
Article
Temperature Stability and Effectiveness of Plasma-Activated Liquids over an 18 Months Period
by Evanthia Tsoukou, Paula Bourke and Daniela Boehm
Water 2020, 12(11), 3021; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12113021 - 28 Oct 2020
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4336
Abstract
Non-buffered plasma-activated liquids such as water and saline have shown bactericidal effects. In the present study, we investigated the anti-bacterial efficacy and stability of plasma-activated water (PAW) and plasma-activated saline (PAS), generated using a high voltage dielectric barrier discharge system. This study compares [...] Read more.
Non-buffered plasma-activated liquids such as water and saline have shown bactericidal effects. In the present study, we investigated the anti-bacterial efficacy and stability of plasma-activated water (PAW) and plasma-activated saline (PAS), generated using a high voltage dielectric barrier discharge system. This study compares the potential of non-buffered plasma-activated liquids (PAL) for the inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) after storage of the solutions at five different temperatures for a storage time up to 18 months after their generation. The temperatures used were room temperature, 4 °C, −16 °C, −80 °C, −150 °C. Both PAW and PAS achieved 6 log reduction for both bacteria on the first day of their generation after 60 min contact time and they retained these effects after 18 months when stored at the lowest temperatures. Chemical analysis of PAL showed that plasma caused a drop in pH, generation of reactive oxygen species and nitrates, whereas no nitrites are detected in the system used. The concentrations of chemical species were affected by the storage at different temperatures and a thermocouple probe was used to investigate the freezing behaviour of the PAL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Plasma Activated Water and Media in Medicine and Agriculture)
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13 pages, 2997 KiB  
Article
Influence of Plasma-Activated Water on Physical and Physical–Chemical Soil Properties
by Jana Šimečková, František Krčma, Daniel Klofáč, Lukáš Dostál and Zdenka Kozáková
Water 2020, 12(9), 2357; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12092357 - 22 Aug 2020
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 5846
Abstract
Recently, the bactericidal and fungicidal effects of plasma-activated water (PAW) have been confirmed for its application in agriculture. Although the PAW application is beneficial in plant growth, no information is available about processes induced by PAW in soil. This paper gives the first [...] Read more.
Recently, the bactericidal and fungicidal effects of plasma-activated water (PAW) have been confirmed for its application in agriculture. Although the PAW application is beneficial in plant growth, no information is available about processes induced by PAW in soil. This paper gives the first experimental results about PAW’s influence on selected physical and physical–chemical properties of soil. PAW was prepared using the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) operating in the multistreamer mode at a frequency of 11 kHz. The total energy consumption was 60 J/ml. The obtained results show minimal changes in the natural water evaporation from the soil exposed to PAW, slower tap water absorption if a higher amount of PAW (16 doses per 10 ml to 90 g of the soil) is applied, as well as water retention in the soil of over 30%. The soil pH remains in the neutral range of values even at the highest applied PAW amount of 1.7 weight of soil, which represents the best conditions with respect to the plant growth. Thus, we can conclude that the PAW application, even at high amounts, has no negative influence on the physical and physical–chemical properties of soil and it can be safely applied in sustainable, environmentally friendly agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Plasma Activated Water and Media in Medicine and Agriculture)
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