Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => COVID-19 => Topic started by: rhinegold on 09/07/2020 11:10:55

Title: Can the corona virus be eliminated by a 1500 V plasma field ?
Post by: rhinegold on 09/07/2020 11:10:55
I have read today an article this morning an article in the German Zeit newspaper which suggests:

"That a currently operating mobile Hepa Filter, with Plasma Output stage is able to destroy any Corona virus passing through it's field." 

Can you confirm the claim, that a plasma field operating at (1500 V), can have the claimed properties?

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Title: Re: Can the corona virus be eliminated by a 1500 V plasma field ?
Post by: Bored chemist on 09/07/2020 11:29:13
Plamas in air emit ultraviolet light. And that will destroy viruses- given time.
Whether or not this particular set-up works would depend on viral load, exposure time etc.
Title: Re: Can the corona virus be eliminated by a 1500 V plasma field ?
Post by: rhinegold on 09/07/2020 11:51:17
Thank You.

Let's suppose somebody came into your lab tomorrow morning and said,
please device a method to quantify that all viruses have been eliminated
by the proposed  plasma field.

What would you do ?
Title: Re: Can the corona virus be eliminated by a 1500 V plasma field ?
Post by: Bored chemist on 09/07/2020 12:26:34
Thank You.

Let's suppose somebody came into your lab tomorrow morning and said,
please device a method to quantify that all viruses have been eliminated
by the proposed  plasma field.

What would you do ?
I'd see if I could find a research report from a lab doing something similar.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284192611_Comparison_of_Multiple_Systems_for_Laboratory_Whole_Room_Fumigation
Title: Re: Can the corona virus be eliminated by a 1500 V plasma field ?
Post by: rhinegold on 09/07/2020 20:14:52
Firstly, thank you so much for your further contribution and the lab link.

Having once more carefully read the German report in the Zeit newspaper, I feel that the statement in respect of mitigating qualities of the "Plasma fields" in the treatment of corona virus, might have been guided more by wishfull thinking, rather than pure scientific analysis.


In any case thank you for your kind contribution.
Title: Re: Can the corona virus be eliminated by a 1500 V plasma field ?
Post by: alancalverd on 09/07/2020 20:24:55
If the field gradient is sufficient you may be able to disrupt the mechanical structure of a virus or at least precipitate out any particulate material that has escaped the HEPA filter even if the plasma itself does little damage by ionisation, UV disruption, or ozonificatoin. If in doubt, chuck lots of volts at it.
Title: Re: Can the corona virus be eliminated by a 1500 V plasma field ?
Post by: evan_au on 10/07/2020 00:10:21
The linked abstract from BC suggested that the vaccinia virus they tested was more susceptible than the bacteria they tested
- Perhaps because the virus has a thinner shell, which provides less shielding to the viral genetic material?
- An RNA virus like Coronavirus has no template on which to base a repair (unlike vaccinia, which is a DNA virus)
- Also, live DNA-based bacteria can maintain and repair their DNA during exposure, but a virus is inert and will accumulate damage until it reaches a susceptible cell

Quote
UV disruption, or ozonification
Ozone attacks biological materials, but it hangs around in the air, and attacks human lungs.
There are suggestions that modern UV LEDs may be able to produce a useful intensity of UV light, which could be contained within an airconditioning system (but it will probably break down any exposed plastics, over time)

Even if a system reduced the infective viral count in the air by a factor of 2, that would be a significant reduction in virus transmission.
- Systems like this are readily available - a typical surgical mask halves the amount of virus
- Or you could follow the WHO advice, and open the window, to achieve dilution into the open air (where sunlight will eventually take care of it)