Cold Plasma Herb Disinfection Chamber for Residue-Free Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for disinfecting herbs are inadequate as they often damage the herbs or result in incomplete disinfection, particularly due to high temperature and pressure processes, radiation techniques, and the use of disinfectants, which can be absorbed and difficult to remove.
Innovation Solution
A device utilizing cold plasma technology with a sealable plasma chamber and dielectric carrier to generate plasma in a controlled environment, allowing for effective disinfection of herbs while minimizing damage and maintaining their characteristics, using a gas composition monitor to maintain optimal disinfection conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high temperature and pressure processes are used for disinfection, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but herb damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameters of the disinfection medium from high temperature/pressure to cold plasma state. The plasma is generated at temperatures below 55°C (preferably below 40°C), maintaining herb integrity while achieving effective disinfection through reactive plasma species rather than thermal effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical thermal disinfection systems with a plasma-based system. Instead of using heat and pressure mechanically applied to herbs, the invention uses electromagnetic field-generated plasma with reactive species (ions, electrons, radicals) to achieve disinfection through chemical-biological interactions rather than mechanical thermal stress.
2Reliability
If radiation techniques are used for disinfection, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but herb quality degradation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces radiation-based disinfection with plasma-based disinfection. Instead of using ionizing radiation that penetrates and damages herb tissues, the invention uses cold plasma with reactive species that act on microbial surfaces through oxidation and fragmentation, achieving disinfection without the harmful penetration effects of radiation.
3Reliability
If disinfectants are used for disinfection, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but residual contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical disinfectant application with physical plasma generation. Instead of applying chemical substances that leave residues, the invention uses electromagnetic fields to generate plasma in situ within the herb mass. The plasma reactive species (O, OH, O3, H2O2) disinfect through oxidation and are naturally present in atmospheric composition, eliminating the need for external chemical disinfectant applications and their associated residue problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The plasma system generates its own reactive species in situ within the treatment chamber. The electromagnetic field ionizes the atmospheric gas composition (N2, O2, and trace H2O, CO2) to produce the necessary reactive species (O, OH, O3, H2O2) that perform disinfection, eliminating the need for external disinfectant substance application and subsequent residue management.
4Strength
If cold plasma is used for disinfection, then herb preservation is improved, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plasma generation system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it generates reactive species for disinfection, maintains controlled atmospheric composition, regulates temperature through cold plasma operation, and provides uniform distribution of plasma throughout the herb mass. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for each function, thereby mitigating the complexity issue.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cold plasma technology effectively disinfects herbs by generating active species that destroy bacteria and fungi, with exposure times typically under 30 minutes, preserving the herbs' properties and reducing the risk of contamination.
Implementation Method 1
applying a plasma-generating electromagnetic (EM) field, thereby generating plasma
Implementation Method 2
Each two opposing electrodes are associated with a power source configured to supply to the electrodes RF HV for producing a plasma-generating EM field between the electrodes
Implementation Method 3
The plasma chamber may be fluidly associated with a vacuum pump, configured to evacuate the plasma chamber to a sub-atmospheric pressure
Implementation Method 4
At least one insulator layer is located between the herbs and at least one set of the electrodes so that the plasma is excited in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) mode of operation
Data Source
AI summary
Device and method suitable for disinfecting herbs using plasma are disclosed. The device comprises a chamber and two sets of electrodes in an opposed position one relative to the other, inside the chamber. Each electrode in one set has a counterpart electrode in the other set, the two electrodes positioned facing each other and being configured to connect to a RF HV power supply, to produce a plasma-generating EM field in the space between the electrodes. The device further comprises a dielectric carrier positioned inside the chamber in the space between the two sets of electrodes, the carrier being dimensioned and configured to carry herbs in granular form such as powder or particles thereon. A portable sealable container comprising a unidirectional valve is also disclosed, configured to store herbs thereinside during plasma treatment in the device, and to store the disinfected herbs after treatment under vacuum. A device for disinfecting herbs by evaporating a disinfection agent in an evacuated chamber is also disclosed where plasma is used in any of several methods to enhance, improve and expedite the disinfection process.