Degradation of Cyanobacterium Nostoc muscorum via Air, Oxygen, and Nitrogen low temperature plasmas

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that low-temperature plasmas, especially air plasma, can rapidly and effectively degrade cyanobacterium Nostoc muscorum, with potential applications in bioprocessing and environmental management.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the efficiency of different low-temperature plasmas for cyanobacterial degradation and analyzes the chemical species involved during treatment.

Findings

Air plasma destroys Nostoc muscorum within 15 minutes.

Oxygen and nitrogen plasmas require at least an hour for complete degradation.

Plasma treatment causes disappearance of pigment absorption and Raman peaks.

Abstract

Cyanobacteria are prokaryotic microorganisms that possess the capability to convert light energy into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis. These organisms exhibit numerous potential applications, including the production of bioethanol, the synthesis of food colorants, the development of dietary supplements, and the provision of raw materials. Cyanobacteria demonstrate a wide ecological distribution, inhabiting diverse environments such as freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, as well as extreme habitats including hot springs, hypersaline aquatic systems, polar regions, and low-oxygen environments. Plasma proves to be a highly effective method for cellular degradation. When Nostoc muscorum, a type of cyanobacterium, was exposed to air-source plasma plasma, it was completely destroyed within fifteen minutes. In contrast, the use of oxygen and nitrogen plasma required at least an hour to achieve the same result. The atmospheric plasma generated chemical species such as N2^+ , N^+ and OH^- at higher concentrations than the oxygen and nitrogen plasma. The plasma spectrum was measured during the treatment of the cyanobacteria, and the electron temperature and density of the air plasma were also estimated. The light absorption of the cyanobacteria's pigments and the characteristic Raman peaks disappeared after the plasma treatment, which served as clear evidence of the complete degradation of the cyanobacterium.