Biological applications of low pressure microwave plasma UV lamp

There is currently increasing interest in the development of new discharge lamps for the production of ultraviolet (UV)/ozone radiation for sterilization purposes. It is desired to have improved sterilization methods for food, to obtain longer shelf life, and also for the removal of bacteria from water. The microwave plasma UV lamp (MPUVL) is able to produce UV light at 254 nm, the germicidal region, and 185 nm, the ozone forming region, simultaneously. It has no limitations in terms of power and shape in contrast with the electrode configuration lamp in which the power is constrained lengthwise. This paper investigates the modelling parameters for the discharges in mercury and argon gas as well as the cost-effective methods of producing an industrial system that can deliver both germicidal UV radiation and ozone. Various aspects of the system apparatus and experimental results including the bacteria killing rates will be presented.