Measurement of hydroxyl radical density generated from the atmospheric pressure bioplasma jet

Atmospheric pressure bioplasmas are being used in a variety of bio-medical and material processing applications, surface modifications of polymers. This plasma can generate the various kinds of radicals when it contacs with the water. Especially, hydroxyl radical species have very important role in the biological and chemical decontamination of media in this situation. It is very important to investigate the hydroxyl radical density in needle-typed plasma jet since it plays a crucial role in interaction between the living body and plasma. We have generated the needle-typed plasma jet bombarding the water surface by using an Ar gas flow and investigated the emission lines by OES (optical emission spectroscopy). It is noted that the electron temperature and plasma density are measured to be about 1.7 eV and 3.4 x 10(12) cm(-3), respectively, under Ar gas flow ranged from 80 to 300 sccm (standard cubic centimeter per minute) in this experiment. The hydroxyl radical density has also been investigated and measured to be maximum value of 2.6 x 10(15) cm(-3) for the gas flow rate of 150 sccm in the needle-typed plasma jet by the ultraviolet optical absorption spectroscopy.