UVC radiation intensity dependence of pathogen decontamination rate: semiclassical theory and experiment

Autor: Nicolae A. Enaki, Tatiana Paslari, Sergiu Bazgan, Elena Starodub, Ion Munteanu, Marina Turcan, Vitalie Eremeev, Aurelia Profir, Ion N. Mihailescu
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: European physical journal plus. 137(9)
ISSN: 2190-5444
Popis: A semiclassical (light classical and molecule quantum) model describing the dependence of DNA/RNA dimerization rate as function of the ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation's intensity is proposed. Particularly, a nonlinear model is developed based on the Raman-like processes in quantum optics. The main result of the theory shows that the process of dimerization in the DNA/RNA depends strongly on the UVC light's intensity, thus proving a possible quantum microscopical mechanism of the interaction of UV light with the DNA. To corroborate the theoretical findings, we realize some experiments, by which want to investigate how the inactivation rate of the yeast colonies depends on the intensity of the UVC irradiation. The experimental results evidence a nonlinear decreasing of the residual yeast colonies as a function of the intensity in the irradiation process. The possibilities to optimize the intensity of UVC radiation in the considered decontamination equipment by using metamaterials are studied. The application of such equipment in disinfection of fluids (air, water, droplets, etc.), as well for the SARS-CoV-2-infected aerosols, is discussed.
Databáze: OpenAIRE