Atmospheric Plasma Sterilization and Deodorization of Dielectric Surfaces

A method is presented for rapid and uniform sterilization and deodorization of dielectric surfaces. The technology is applicable to the inside surface of PET or glass bottles, polymer caps, plastic tubes, etc. The treatment is based on a pulsed RF discharge in air at atmospheric pressure (eventually with addition of argon) creating a nonequilibrium plasma on the treated surface. The plasma effectively destroys microorganisms in vegetative or sporulent form. It also slightly etches the polymeric material, removing some atomic layers and, thereby, cleaning it from aromatic organic components (deodorization). The process is short: PET bottles 1.5 L, in particular, can be treated in about 20 msec. The results of surface analysis and microbiological, chromatography, and spectroscopy tests are discussed. A device has been developed and integrated into an industrial-filling machine for online sterilization and deodorization of the inside surface of PET bottles before filling, and for sterilization of caps and bottle necks before seaming. It allows cold asceptic filling at a rate of 36,000 bottles per hour.