A sterilization film is configured to generate atmospheric pressure plasma. The sterilization film includes a flexible dielectric barrier film, upper and lower electrode layers, which are respectively provided on top and bottom surfaces of the dielectric barrier film, and a lower protection layer, which encloses an exposed surface of the lower electrode layer and is formed of a dielectric material. The upper electrode layer includes a thin-plate shaped upper electrode and an upper pad, which is electrically connected to the upper electrode to provide an electrical connection path to an outside. The lower electrode layer includes a lower electrode, which is provided in a porous screen structure with through holes, and a lower pad providing an electrical connection path to the lower electrode. The upper and lower pads are electrically connected to an external power and are used to generate plasma near the porous screen structure.

A system and method for decontamination of product is described. An object to be treated, which may be a food product or a medical device, is placed in a substantially closed dielectric container with a working gas. The container is placed in an apparatus capable of producing a controlled electrical discharge so as to create reactive ion species within the package. The object to be treated may be exposed either the immediate products of the electrical discharge or the long lasting reactive ion species, or both, so as to treat the object to reduce or eliminate specific contaminants, which may be biological pathogens or the cause of product spoilage, or inorganic contaminants. The reactive ion species may result from an atmospheric non-equilibrium plasma (ANEP) formed by the apparatus and the treatment may be performed without significantly increasing the bulk temperature of the object being treated.

Ice nucleation and supercooling are controlled by the presence of magnetite particles. Magnetite decreases supercooling and promotes ice nucleation. Therefore, freezing of liquid solutions occurs at higher temperature compared to supercooled solutions. Applying a magnetic field allows control of supercooling and ice nucleation.

An electric spraying device includes a spray emitter made of electrically conductive material, an electrode container made of electrically conductive material, and a voltage source. The electrode container has an opening at an upper end thereof, and the voltage source has a first pole electrically coupled to the spray emitter and a second pole electrically coupled to the electrode container. The spray emitter has an exit end disposed at or within the opening of the electrode container. The exit end of the spray emitter has a surface with a set of projections extending therefrom, and the set of projections are configured to form a concentrated electric field in response to an applied voltage from the voltage source between the first pole and the second pole. The spray emitter is constructed and arranged to conduct liquid along the surface to the set of projections, so as to polarize the liquid under the concentrated electric field and to dispense the liquid into the electrode container.

The present invention describes a PEF (pulsed electric field) chamber 1 intended for treating a flow with electric field pulses, said PEF chamber comprising a PEF treatment tube 2 and opposite electrode units 3, 4, wherein said opposite electrode units 3, 4 each has one flow receiving end 5a, 5b and one flow exit end 6a, 6b, wherein the PEF treatment tube 2 comprises exit flow portions 7a, 7b arranged subsequent to the flow exit ends 6a, 6b of the electrode units 3, 4 in the intended flow direction, and thus functioning as an extension of the opposite electrode units 3, 4 in the intended flow direction, wherein the exit flow portions 7a, 7b of the PEF treatment tube 2 are arranged to provide a geometrical narrowing 20 subsequent to the flow exit ends 6a, 6b.

A system for treating food, the system including: a direct barrier discharge system including a pair of electrodes separated by a gap of at least 0.5 cm, wherein the direct barrier discharge system is configured to provide a feed gas between the electrodes, wherein the feed gas includes nitrogen and water, wherein a content of nitrogen in the feed gas is at least 75 vol % based on a total volume of the feed gas, and a relative humidity of the feed gas is at least 50% RH, wherein a content of oxygen in the feed gas is less than 1.5 vol % based on a total volume of the feed gas, and wherein the direct barrier discharge system is configured to provide an electric potential between the electrodes to generate a working gas having an ozone content of less than 20 ppm, based on a total volume of the working gas.

A system for treating food, the system including: a direct barrier discharge system including a pair of electrodes separated by a gap of at least 0.5 cm, wherein the direct barrier discharge system is configured to provide a feed gas between the electrodes, wherein the feed gas includes nitrogen and water, wherein a content of nitrogen in the feed gas is at least 75 vol % based on a total volume of the feed gas, and a relative humidity of the feed gas is at least 50% RH, wherein a content of oxygen in the feed gas is less than 1.5 vol % based on a total volume of the feed gas, and wherein the direct barrier discharge system is configured to provide an electric potential between the electrodes to generate a working gas having an ozone content of less than 20 ppm, based on a total volume of the working gas.

Provided herein are methods, apparatuses, and systems for treating food articles, including meat, poultry, fish and other seafood, vegetables, fruits and other foods and food processing articles by spraying an antimicrobial or other agent onto the food or food processing articles. One embodiment of the invention may include a method for treating a food article comprising disposing a food article in a cavity within an enclosure having an outer shell and at least one inner plate disposed in the cavity, applying a first charge to a antimicrobial agent, applying a second charge to the at least one inner plate of the same polarity as the first charge, and spraying the antimicrobial agent into the cavity in a manner whereby at least a portion of the antimicrobial agent is caused to be repelled by the at least one inner plate and to at least partially coat the food article.

A system and method for decontamination of product is described. An object to be treated, which may be a food product or a medical device, is placed in a substantially closed dielectric container with a working gas. The container is placed in an apparatus capable of producing a controlled electrical discharge so as to create reactive ion species within the package. The object to be treated may be exposed either the immediate products of the electrical discharge or the long lasting reactive ion species, or both, so as to treat the object to reduce or eliminate specific contaminants, which may be biological pathogens or the cause of product spoilage, or inorganic contaminants. The reactive ion species may result from an atmospheric non-equilibrium plasma (ANEP) formed by the apparatus and the treatment may be performed without significantly increasing the bulk temperature of the object being treated.

A method for forming crystallized forms of water is provided. Water is maintained in a container. A field is applied to the water, and the water is maintained in liquid form at a below freezing temperature via the applied field. Movement of the water in liquid form is created out of the container and ice is formed from the water upon the movement from the container.