Effect of Oxygen Gas Plasma Jet on Reactive Oxygen Nitrogen Species Dissolved in Sodium Chloride and Glucose Solutions

Abstract

This study investigates the generation and stability of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) in medical-grade sodium chloride and glucose infusion solutions following treatment with a non-thermal oxygen gas plasma jet. The plasma system operated at 10 kV and 30 W with an oxygen flow rate of 2.5 L/min and treatment durations of 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes were applied. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) confirmed the presence of oxygen and entrained nitrogen species in the plasma discharge. while the concentrations of NO₂⁻, NO₃⁻, and H₂O₂, as well as pH and temperature, Chemical analyses showed that nitrite (NO₂⁻) peaked at 1 ppm after 5 minutes of exposure but became undetectable in contrast nitrate (NO₃⁻) concentrations increased and stabilized at 100 ppm, while hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels rose progressively to 100 ppm by 20 minutes. A notable pH reduction was observed, decreasing from 4.5 in untreated samples to 1.8 after 20 minutes of plasma exposure, indicating pronounced acidification. Storage stability tests conducted over 50 hours revealed that H₂O₂ degraded over time, while NO₃⁻ remained relatively stable. These findings demonstrate the potential of oxygen plasma jets for the chemical activation of physiologically relevant solutions, highlighting their applicability in sterilization, wound care, and disinfection.