Title :
Pulsed electric field studies of bio-dielectrics
Author :
Goel, Aditya ; Foshee, Wheeler ; Kirkici, Hulya
Author_Institution :
Electr. & Comput. Eng. Dept., Auburn Univ., AL, USA
Abstract :
Chemical weed control accounts for oyer ℬ in costs to the American farmer. Non-chemical alternatives offer many advantages such as protecting the environment and safety for applicators. Studies have shown that high voltage, pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment of biodielectrics is an effective method to inactivate micro-organisms and bacteria. Therefore, the PEF technology might be used as an effective alternative to chemical weed control. In this work, we have studied the breakdown characteristics of weed seeds using single and repetitive pulsed electric fields. Breakdown of seeds as a function of various parameters of the pulsed system such as its duration, rise/fall time, repetition rate, and field strength, are studied. Two types of weed seeds, namely yellow foxtail and smallflower morningglory, were used in the experiment. Preliminary results suggest that the PEF method can reduce the percent germination of the yellow foxtail. Conversely, the smallflower morningglory had increased percent germination. This trend is most likely due to the presence or absence of a hardened seed coat of which the smallflower morninglory possesses.
Keywords :
biological effects of fields; microorganisms; bacteria; bio-dielectrics; breakdown characteristics; chemical weed control; duration; field strength; high voltage pulsed electric field treatment; inactivate micro-organisms; percent germination; pulsed electric field; repetition rate; repetitive pulsed electric fields; rise/fall time; single pulsed electric fields; smallflower morningglory; weed seeds; yellow foxtail; Agriculture; Chemical technology; Corona; Diseases; Electric breakdown; Insects; Microorganisms; Production; Protection; Soil;
Conference_Titel :
Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena, 2003. Annual Report. Conference on
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-7910-1
DOI :
10.1109/CEIDP.2003.1254793