Cold Plasma Seed Treatment for Hydrophilic Surface Modification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for seed germination and rehydration are inefficient, resulting in low germination rates and excessive water and time requirements, leading to waste and inferior products, particularly in industrial settings.
Innovation Solution
Treating plant seeds with inductively-coupled plasma to reduce the water apparent contact angle of the seed coat surface, making it hydrophilic, thereby enhancing germination rates and reducing rehydration time and water usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seeds are sown in growth medium with water, then germination starts, but germination rate is less than 100% requiring excess seeds to be sown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies cold plasma treatment to modify the surface properties of seeds, specifically changing the water contact angle parameter. This treatment creates hydrophilic surface modifications that enhance water absorption and improve germination reliability, allowing fewer seeds to be sown to achieve the desired germination rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical or chemical seed treatment methods with cold plasma treatment. The plasma treatment uses ionized gas to modify seed surface properties without the need for chemical coatings or mechanical alterations, achieving enhanced germination through surface energy modification.
2Ease of operation
If dry seeds are rehydrated before use, then they can be processed, but rehydration is slow and requires excess water and time
Solution Approach 1:
The cold plasma treatment modifies the seed coat surface properties by reducing water contact angle, creating a hydrophilic surface that accelerates water absorption during rehydration. This parameter change in surface energy allows seeds to rehydrate faster and with less water, significantly reducing processing time and water consumption in industrial settings.
3Reliability
If plasma treatment is applied to seeds, then germination performance is modified, but treatment with certain atmospheres causes significant delay of germination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies using air or oxygen-containing atmospheres for cold plasma treatment, which modifies seed surface properties to enhance hydrophilicity and improve germination. This contrasts with fluorocarbon or hydrocarbon atmospheres that create hydrophobic surfaces and delay germination. The parameter change in atmosphere composition leads to opposite effects on germination performance.
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 plasma treatment increases germination rates, reduces the time and water needed for rehydration, and improves the efficiency of seed utilization in both agricultural and culinary applications.
Implementation Method 1
exposing said plant seed to an inductively-coupled plasma under conditions effective to substantially reduce the water apparent contact angle of said seed coat surface
Implementation Method 2
reduce the water apparent contact angle of said seed coat surface from said natural water apparent contact angle to a treated water apparent contact angle
Implementation Method 3
exposing said plant seed to an inductively-coupled plasma
Implementation Method 4
said seed is exposed to said plasma in a chamber including an atmosphere from which said plasma is generated, wherein a pressure of said atmosphere in said chamber is not more than 10 Pa
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
Disclosed are methods for reduction on apparent contact angle of seeds coat surface by cold plasma treatment, agricultural devices for said treatment and seeds obtained by methods thereof.