CN115161166A

CN115161166A - Experimental device for low temperature plasma inactivation microorganism

Info

Publication number: CN115161166A
Application number: CN202210890416.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 周国伟; 笪艳梅; 李明君; 孙庆业
Original assignee: Anhui University
Current assignee: Anhui University
Priority date: 2022-07-27
Filing date: 2022-07-27
Publication date: 2022-10-11

Abstract

The invention provides an experimental device for inactivating microorganisms by using low-temperature plasma, which comprises an air supply system, a vacuum pump, a power supply module and a sterilization treatment device, wherein the sterilization treatment device comprises: the top of the device body is provided with a plurality of joints, and the air supply system and the vacuum pump are respectively connected with the corresponding joints through pipelines; the sample adding tank body is arranged in the inner cavity of the device body; the lifting adjusting component is arranged on the inner wall of the sample adding tank body; the sample cover is arranged on the lifting adjusting component; the lifting adjusting component can adjust the height of the sample cover from the bottom of the sample adding pool body; the negative electrode joint of the power supply module is connected with the bottom of the sample adding pool body; and the positive electrode joint of the power supply module is connected with the sample cover. The device is provided with the air inlet joint, so that the type of the air source of the low-temperature plasma can be flexibly changed; the height-adjustable sample cover is designed in the sterilization treatment device, and can be adjusted up and down according to the volume of an experimental sample or the distance between electrodes.

Description

Experimental device for low temperature plasma inactivation microorganism

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of sterilization equipment, in particular to an experimental device for inactivating microorganisms by low-temperature plasma.

Background

The low-temperature plasma is partially ionized gas, and the generation of the low-temperature plasma is usually under the vacuum environment of several Pa to several hundred Pa, certain neutral gas molecules are continuously ionized by using the action of a specific electromagnetic field, and a substance state that ions with negative charges and equal amount of positive charges coexist mutually is formed. This process involves a variety of physical and chemical effects including ultraviolet radiation, electromagnetic fields, thermal effects, charged particles, reactive particles, and the like. These physicochemical effects have sufficient capacity to break chemical bonds and initiate a series of chemical reactions, which in turn exert diverse biological effects upon interaction with cells, which can cause cell damage and even death.

For the physical effect of plasma, the charged ions have higher thermal kinetic energy, and can instantaneously breakdown, etch and oxidize protein and nucleic acid substances in microorganisms at high speed, so that the aim of inactivating bacteria can be fulfilled. Furthermore, the Boucher (1985) study found that the relationship between the gas species of the plasma and the sterilization effect is confidential, with CO ₂ The sterilization efficiency of the plasma is higher than that of the argon plasma; and among these many physical and chemical effects, the sterilizing effect of the active material during discharge is more pronounced than the uv and thermal effects. Therefore, the low temperature plasma may have better performance in the aspect of microorganism inactivation.

Compared with the traditional sterilization and disinfection method, the low-temperature plasma has unique advantages, which are mainly reflected in the following three aspects. Firstly, no environmental pollutants are generated and no medicine residues are left in the whole treatment process in the low-temperature plasma sterilization process; however, conventional chemical sterilization methods, such as disinfectant sterilization and chemical gas sterilization, leave a large amount of chemical agents or gases, such as sodium hypochlorite, benzalkonium bromide, phenol or coal soap solutions, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, etc., in the environment during the process of inactivating microorganisms. Therefore, the low-temperature plasma sterilization method is very environment-friendly and has little influence on the health of operators. Secondly, the whole sterilization process time of the low-temperature plasma is short. Experiments show that when the radio frequency power is 400W, the black variant spores of the bacillus subtilis can be completely killed only by 1 minute of plasma discharge time, and the bacillus stearothermophilus spores are sterilized only by 30 seconds; and the conventional low-temperature cyclohexene oxide is used for inactivating spores of black varieties of the bacillus subtilis within 26 minutes, so that the low-temperature plasma greatly saves the sterilization time and greatly improves the sterilization efficiency. In addition, the sterilization temperature of the low-temperature plasma is 35-45 ℃, and the low-temperature plasma is dry sterilization, so that compared with a high-pressure steam sterilization method, the low-temperature plasma does not damage instruments and articles, and the service life of valuable instruments can be prolonged to a great extent. In view of this, the low-temperature plasma has ideal application prospects in medical treatment and water treatment industries.

The existing low-temperature plasma sterilization device mainly comprises four parts: a sterilization processing cavity, a gas working medium supply, a plasma generator and a high-frequency high-voltage power supply. However, the low-temperature plasma sterilization device in the market is multipurpose for the sterilization of medical instruments, and has many disadvantages when being applied to laboratory research. First, the high cost consumes a lot of scientific funds. Second, because of the large volume of the low-temperature plasma disinfectors currently available in the market, they cannot be directly placed in a clean bench to begin the subsequent theoretical studies related to microorganisms. Third, since the low-temperature plasma sterilization apparatus currently available in the market mainly uses air as a supply gas, it is difficult to switch between different types of gases, and the influence of different types of gases on the activity and diversity of microorganisms is studied. Therefore, there is a need for an improvement to existing low temperature plasma sterilization devices that facilitates laboratory-related theoretical studies of microbiology.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to solve the above technical problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an experimental apparatus for inactivating microorganisms by low-temperature plasma.

In order to achieve the above object, the technical solution of the present invention is as follows.

The utility model provides an experimental apparatus for low temperature plasma inactivation microorganism, includes gas supply system, vacuum pump, power module and sterilization apparatus, sterilization apparatus includes:

the top of the device body is provided with a plurality of joints, and the gas supply system and the vacuum pump are respectively connected with the corresponding joints through pipelines;

the sample adding tank body is arranged in the inner cavity of the device body;

the lifting adjusting assembly is arranged on the inner wall of the sample adding pool body;

the sample cover is arranged on the lifting adjusting component; the lifting adjusting component can adjust the height of the sample cover from the bottom of the sample adding pool body;

the negative electrode joint of the power supply module is connected with the bottom of the sample adding pool body; and the positive electrode joint of the power supply module is connected with the sample cover.

Further, the plurality of joints comprise an air suction port, an air inlet and a ventilation port; the air pumping port is connected with the vacuum pump through a pipeline; the air inlet is connected with the air supply system through a pipeline.

Furthermore, the air suction port and the air inlet are both connected with a vacuum gauge; and the air inlet and the air exchange port are both connected with filter membrane structures.

Further, each of the joints is provided with a control valve.

Further, the device body includes a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion and the second portion combine to form a sealed chamber.

Further, an O-ring seal is disposed between the first portion and the second portion.

Furthermore, a plurality of clamping structures are arranged on the connecting part of the first part and the second part; each of the clamping structures comprises a clamping bar, a first clamping piece and a second clamping piece;

one end of the clamping rod is rotatably provided with a first clamping piece; the second clamping piece is sleeved on the clamping rod; the clamping rod is provided with an external thread; and the second clamping piece is provided with a nut piece, and the nut piece is in threaded connection with the external thread on the clamping rod.

Further, the first portion and the second portion are both vacuum glass covers.

Further, the lift adjustment assembly includes:

the connecting body is arranged on the inner wall of the sample adding pool body in a sliding way; the shape of the connecting body is matched with the shape of the inner wall of the sample adding pool body;

the two support bodies are fixedly arranged at the two ends of the connecting body;

the two screw rods are rotatably arranged on the inner wall of the sample adding tank body; each support body is sleeved on the corresponding lead screw and is in threaded connection with the lead screw;

the two micro motors are arranged at one end of the corresponding lead screw, and each micro motor can drive the corresponding lead screw to rotate.

Further, a first tin coating layer is arranged at the bottom of the sample adding pool body; a second tin-plated layer is arranged on the top of the sample cover; the first tin-plated layer is connected with a negative electrode connector of the power supply module; the second tin-plated layer is connected with the positive connector of the power module.

The invention has the beneficial effects that:

1. the sterilization treatment device has the volume of about 2L, is very exquisite, can be directly placed on a clean bench and meets the follow-up microorganism-related research in a laboratory.

2. The invention is provided with the air inlet, and the air source type of the low-temperature plasma can be flexibly changed.

3. The air inlet and the air exhaust port are simultaneously provided with the air port switch and the vacuum gauge, so that the pressure and the concentration of the gas of the sterilization treatment device can be flexibly adjusted according to experimental needs.

4. The height-adjustable sample cover is designed in the sterilization treatment device, and can be adjusted up and down according to the volume of an experimental sample or the requirement of the electrode spacing.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an experimental apparatus for inactivating microorganisms by low-temperature plasma according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a lift adjustment assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 isbase:Sub>A schematic view ofbase:Sub>A-base:Sub>A' cut structure in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a sample adding cell body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1, an air supply system; 2. a vacuum pump; 3. a power supply module; 31. a negative terminal; 32. a positive electrode tab; 4. a sterilization processing device; 41. a device body; 411. a first portion; 412. a second portion; 413. an O-shaped sealing ring; 42. sample adding pool bodies; 421. a first tin-plated layer; 43. a lift adjustment assembly; 431. a linker; 432. a support body; 433. a lead screw; 434. a micro motor; 44. a sample cover; 441. a second tin-plated layer; 45. an air extraction opening; 46. an air inlet; 47. a ventilation port; 48. a filter membrane structure; 49. a clamping structure; 491. a clamping lever; 492. a first clamping member; 493. a second clamping member.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more apparent, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 1 to 4, an experimental apparatus for inactivating microorganisms by low-temperature plasma includes a gas supply system 1, a vacuum pump 2, a power module 3, and a sterilization apparatus 4.

Referring to fig. 1, the power module 3 includes a high-frequency high-voltage power supply; the gas supply system 1 comprises a gas source, the gas source comprises high-purity nitrogen, high-purity carbon dioxide, high-purity argon and the like, and gas molecules are broken down to generate a large amount of mixture consisting of positive and negative charged particles, electrons, neutral particles and free radicals under the action of an external voltage. Of course, the gas source may be provided by a gas cylinder.

Referring to fig. 1, the sterilization apparatus 4 includes an apparatus body 41, a sample addition tank 42, a lifting/lowering adjustment assembly 43, a sample cover 44, and a clamping structure 49.

The device body 41 includes a first portion 411 and a second portion 412, and the first portion 411 and the second portion 412 combine to form a sealed chamber. An O-ring 413 is disposed between the first portion 411 and the second portion 412. In this embodiment, the volume of the sealed chamber is about 2L, the diameter is 15 cm, and the main material is quartz glass resistant to high temperature and high pressure. The first portion 411 and the second portion 412 are vacuum glass covers. Wherein, the first part is an upper vacuum glass cover, and the second part is a lower vacuum glass cover. The bottle mouths of the upper and lower vacuum glass covers are made of frosted materials, and a layer of O-shaped sealing ring is additionally arranged between the upper and lower vacuum glass covers, so that the sealing performance in the sterilization treatment device 4 is further improved.

A plurality of clamping structures 49 are arranged on the connecting part of the first part 411 and the second part 412; the number of the clamping structures 49 can be 2, 3 or 4, and the specific number can be increased according to actual needs. The clamping structure 49 can be used to clamp and seal the upper and lower vacuum glass covers. Specifically, each clamping structure 49 includes a clamping rod 491, a first clamp 492, and a second clamp 493; one end of the clamp lever 491 is rotatably provided with a first clamp 492; the second clamping member 493 is sleeved on the clamping rod 491; the clamping rod 491 is provided with an external thread; the second clamp piece 493 is provided with a nut member, and the nut member is screwed with the external thread on the clamp rod 491. For example, the clamping rod is a threaded rod and the first clamping member is a first clamping head; the second clamping piece is a second clamping head, one end of the threaded rod is provided with a limiting part with an enlarged size, and the first clamping head abuts against the limiting part. And a nut piece is additionally arranged at the lower side of the mounting hole and can be rotatably connected with the mounting hole of the second chuck, the first chuck and the second chuck are respectively clamped on the flange between the upper vacuum glass cover and the lower vacuum glass cover, the second chuck is moved upwards along with the rotation of the nut piece, the distance between the first chuck and the second chuck is shortened, and the clamping and the fixing of the upper vacuum glass cover and the lower vacuum glass cover are realized.

The top of the device body 41 is provided with a plurality of joints, and each joint is provided with a control valve; the gas supply system 1 and the vacuum pump 2 are respectively connected with corresponding joints thereof through pipelines. Wherein the plurality of joints comprise an extraction port 45, an intake port 46 and a transfer port 47; the pumping port 45 is connected with the vacuum pump 2 through a pipeline; the air inlet 46 is connected to the air supply system 1 through a pipe. The air suction port 45 and the air inlet 46 are both connected with a vacuum gauge; the air inlet 46 and the air vent 47 are connected with a filter membrane structure 48. The vacuum gauge is a digital vacuum display gauge which can instantaneously display the air pressure in the sealed cavity. A filter membrane is provided within the filter membrane structure 48 and is designed such that the gas charged into the sealed chamber is a sterile gas. The purpose of the ventilation port 47 is that the low-temperature plasma is difficult to open due to the negative pressure in the whole sealed chamber during the sterilization process, so the sealed chamber needs to be opened before the ventilation port 47 can be opened to balance the air pressure of the whole sealed chamber and the external environment.

The sample adding tank body 42 is fixedly arranged in the inner cavity of the device body 41; during the sterilization process, a liquid sample of the microorganism (up to 15 mL) is placed on the bottom of a 9cm plastic petri dish and moved to a glass loading well. The sample adding tank body 42 is a glass sample adding tank, and the wall thickness and the bottom thickness of the glass sample adding tank are both 1mm.

Referring to fig. 1 to 4, the lifting adjusting assembly 43 is disposed on the inner wall of the sample adding tank 42; specifically, the lifting adjustment assembly 43 includes a connecting body 431, a supporting body 432, a lead screw 433, and a micro motor 434.

The connecting body 431 is slidably disposed on the inner wall of the sample adding tank body 42; the shape of the connecting body 431 is matched with the shape of the inner wall of the sample adding tank body 42; for example, as shown in fig. 4, the sample adding tank body 42 has an arc-shaped tank body matching with the shape of the connector on the inner wall, and has a limit groove matching with the shape of the corresponding support body at both ends of the arc-shaped tank body. The connector is installed in the arc cell body, and can slide from top to bottom along the arc cell body. Two support bodies 432 are fixedly provided at both ends of the connecting body 431; the supporter is installed in the spacing recess that corresponds, and can slide from top to bottom along the spacing recess that corresponds.

The two screw rods 433 are rotatably arranged on the inner wall of the sample adding tank body 42; each support body 432 is sleeved on the corresponding screw rod 433, and is in threaded connection with the screw rod 433. Wherein, the lead screw is installed in the spacing recess that corresponds, and the bearing rotatable coupling is passed through with the bottom of application of sample cell body 42 to the one end of lead screw, and the other end of lead screw passes through bearing and application of sample cell body 42's top inner wall rotatable coupling.

The micro motors 434 are provided with two, are disposed at one end of the screw 433 corresponding to the micro motors, and are fixed to the inner wall of the sample adding cell body 42. Each micro motor 434 is capable of driving the lead screw 433 corresponding thereto to rotate. The other end of each lead screw is connected with the output shaft of the corresponding micro motor, and the lead screws are driven to rotate through the micro motors. During the use, micro motor can start simultaneously through control system for realize the synchronous revolution of two lead screws, thereby drive the connector along vertical direction reciprocating sliding.

The sample cover 44 is disposed on the elevation adjustment assembly 43; the elevation adjustment assembly 43 can adjust the height of the sample cover 44 from the bottom of the sample addition cell body 42. The outer diameter of the sample cover 44 is larger than the distance between the two support bodies 432, and the bottom of the sample cover is respectively abutted against the connecting body and the two support bodies, so that the sample cover can move along with the vertical movement of the connecting body. The sample cover can be adjusted up and down according to the volume of the sample. Of course, in other embodiments, a retaining clip may also be provided on the elevation adjustment assembly 43 to grip the sample cover 44.

The negative electrode connector 31 of the power module 3 is connected with the bottom of the sample adding tank body 42; the positive terminal 32 of the power module 3 is connected to the sample cover 44. Wherein, the bottom of the sample adding tank body 42 is provided with a first tin coating 421; the top of the sample cover 44 is provided with a second tin-plated layer 441; the first tin-plated layer 421 is connected to the negative electrode tab 31 of the power module 3; the second tin-plated layer 441 is connected to the positive electrode tab 32 of the power module 3.

The specific operation process is as follows:

(1) The sterilization treatment device 4 is placed in an ultra-clean bench, and after ultraviolet disinfection and sterilization, a microbial liquid sample (up to 15 mL) is placed at the bottom of a 9cm plastic culture dish and is moved to a glass sample adding pool. The position of the sample cover is adjusted according to the height of the culture dish or the required height of the electrodes.

(2) The upper and lower vacuum glass covers are combined, plugged with O-ring 413 and secured with clamp 49. And closing the valve switches of the air inlet and the scavenging port, opening the valve switch of the air suction port, and then opening the vacuum pump to start working. Wherein the air exhaust port is connected to a vacuum pump, and the pressure in the sterilization treatment apparatus 4 can be reduced to 10 to 30Pa within 1 minute after the operation.

(3) And after the readings of the vacuum meter are stable, closing the valve switch of the air suction port and the vacuum pump, and opening the valve switch of the air inlet. The gas cylinder is opened, the sterilization device 4 is filled with target gas, and the time for closing the valve switch of the gas inlet is determined according to the experimental requirements and the indication displayed by the vacuum gauge.

(4) After a valve switch of the air inlet and an air source are closed, a high-frequency high-voltage power supply is started, and corresponding voltage, frequency and processing time are set according to experiment requirements.

(5) After the process is finished, the high-frequency high-voltage power supply is turned off. And opening a valve switch of the ventilation port, loosening the clamping structure 49 after the internal and external air pressures are balanced, separating the upper vacuum glass cover from the lower vacuum glass cover, taking out the microorganism sample, and continuing the subsequent microorganism experimental study.

The present invention is not limited to the above preferred embodiments, and any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. The utility model provides an experimental apparatus for low temperature plasma inactivation microorganism, characterized in that, includes gas supply system (1), vacuum pump (2), power module (3) and sterilization processing apparatus (4), sterilization processing apparatus (4) include:

the device body (41) is provided with a plurality of joints at the top, and the gas supply system (1) and the vacuum pump (2) are respectively connected with the corresponding joints through pipelines;

the sample adding tank body (42) is arranged in the inner cavity of the device body (41);

the lifting adjusting component (43) is arranged on the inner wall of the sample adding tank body (42);

a sample cover (44) disposed on the elevation adjustment assembly (43); the lifting adjusting component (43) can adjust the height of the sample cover (44) from the bottom of the sample adding tank body (42);

the negative electrode joint (31) of the power supply module (3) is connected with the bottom of the sample adding tank body (42); the positive connector (32) of the power supply module (3) is connected with the sample cover (44).

2. The experimental apparatus for the inactivation of microorganisms by low-temperature plasma according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of joints comprise an air suction port (45), an air inlet port (46) and a ventilation port (47); the air pumping port (45) is connected with the vacuum pump (2) through a pipeline; the air inlet (46) is connected with the air supply system (1) through a pipeline.

3. The experimental device for the inactivation of microorganisms by low-temperature plasma according to claim 2, wherein a vacuum gauge is connected to each of the pumping port (45) and the air inlet (46); and the air inlet (46) and the air exchange port (47) are both connected with a filter membrane structure (48).

4. The experimental facility for the low-temperature plasma inactivation of microorganisms as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the joints is provided with a control valve.

5. An experimental device for the inactivation of microorganisms by low-temperature plasma according to claim 1, wherein the device body (41) comprises a first portion (411) and a second portion (412), and the first portion (411) and the second portion (412) are combined to form a sealed chamber.

6. An experimental device for the inactivation of microorganisms by low-temperature plasma according to claim 5, characterized in that an O-shaped sealing ring (413) is arranged between the first portion (411) and the second portion (412).

7. A laboratory device for the low-temperature plasma inactivation of microorganisms according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of clamping structures (49) are arranged on the connection portion of the first part (411) and the second part (412); each of the clamping structures (49) comprises a clamping bar (491), a first clamp (492), and a second clamp (493);

one end of the clamping rod (491) is rotatably provided with a first clamping piece (492); the second clamping piece (493) is sleeved on the clamping rod (491); the clamping rod (491) is provided with an external thread; the second clamping piece (493) is provided with a nut piece, and the nut piece is in threaded connection with the external thread on the clamping rod (491).

8. A laboratory device for the low-temperature plasma inactivation of microorganisms according to claim 5, wherein the first portion (411) and the second portion (412) are vacuum glass covers.

9. The experimental apparatus for the inactivation of microorganisms by low-temperature plasma according to claim 1, wherein the elevation adjustment assembly (43) comprises:

the connecting body (431) is arranged on the inner wall of the sample adding tank body (42) in a sliding way; the shape of the connecting body (431) is matched with the shape of the inner wall of the sample adding tank body (42);

two support bodies (432) fixedly provided at both ends of the connecting body (431);

the two screw rods (433) are rotatably arranged on the inner wall of the sample adding tank body (42); each support body (432) is sleeved on the corresponding lead screw (433) and is in threaded connection with the lead screw (433);

the two micro motors (434) are arranged at one end of the corresponding lead screw (433), and each micro motor (434) can drive the corresponding lead screw (433) to rotate.

10. The experimental facility for the low-temperature plasma inactivation of microorganisms as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom of the sample adding tank body (42) is provided with a first tin-plated layer (421); the top of the sample cover (44) is provided with a second tin-plated layer (441); the first tin-plated layer (421) is connected with a negative electrode connector (31) of the power supply module (3); the second tin-plated layer (441) is connected to a positive terminal (32) of the power module (3).