Pulsed electric discharges in water: Results and prospects

For last two decades at IEE RAS the investigations of pulsed electric discharges (PED) in water and study of physical, chemical and biological properties of oxide nanoparticles water dispersions produced at electrodischarge treatment of water were carried out. Parameters of PED were next: duration 0.2-27 mus; current 30-1200 A, and current rate 10⁶-10⁹ A/s. As temperature of the discharge channel is ~10⁴ K, it is source of UV irradiation. At absorption of UV irradiation H₂O₂, OH radicals, O, O₃ and other substances are formed. All factors above destroy a lot of microorganisms and spores of pathogen microscopic fungi. It was determined that the prolonged microbic resistance of water (PMRW) treated by PED is caused by oxide nanoparticles and toxic ions of electrodes metal. It was shown also that the essential role in this phenomenon plays the surface electric charge of nanoparticles. Relations between: bactericidal action of water and mass concentration of nanoparticles in dependence on metal of electrodes; properties of nanoparticles as a function of electric discharges parameters and other initial parameters had been established. In the future it is supposed to execute investigations of nanoparticles water dispersions interaction with various biological objects including tumoral tissues.