In vitro study on how cold plasma affects dentin surface characteristics.

PURPOSE: Studies evaluating different features of cold plasma action on dentin surface characteristics are lacking. Thus, this in vitro study aimed to determine the effect of cold plasma under different protocols of exposure time, distance to plasma source, and the association of argon gas with distinct concentrations of oxygen on the wettability, surface energy, total free interaction energy, surface roughness, morphology and chemical composition of dentin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-five bovine dentin samples were used and divided into twenty-five groups according to the exposure time to plasma (15, 30, or 60 s); distance between plasma source and dentin surface (3 or 6 mm); argon gas without plasma generation; and plasma generated by argon gas and association of argon gas with distinct concentrations of oxygen (2 % or 3 %) (n = 5). Contact angle (θ), surface energy (γs) and total free interaction energy (ΔG) were measured using a goniometer (Krüss), while surface roughness (Ra) was evaluated by a profilometer (Mitutoyo). Representative samples were submitted to scanning electron microscopy (JEOL) to ilustrate the morphology and chemical composition of dentin. Data comparing control group with all experimental groups were submitted to ANOVA followed by Tukey's test (α = .05). Data comparing oxygen gas action at different concentrations and argon gas on dentin characteristics were submitted to non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by Dunn test for comparison between the groups and methods (α = 0.05). RESULTS: In general, argon gas without plasma generation promoted no significant difference on dentin surface characteristics compared to control group (P > .05), differently for the cold plasma that significantly reduced contact angle values and increased total free interaction energy of dentin surface (P < .05). Overall, feeding of oxygen at distinct concentrations promoted significant difference on dentin surface characteristics compared to control group (P < .05). Exposure time and distance protocols interfered with contact angle, surface energy and total free interaction energy analyses for each gas. There was no significant difference on surface roughness (P > .05), morphology and chemical composition of dentin submitted to argon gas, cold plasma, and distinct concentrations of oxygen. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, plasma generated by argon gas and its feeding with 2 % and 3 % oxygen gas improved the dentin surface characteristics about wettability, surface energy and total free interaction energy. Such treatments preserved the surface roughness, morphology and chemical composition of dentin. The protocols of groups Ar-6mm-15sec, ArO2-3mm-30sec and ArO3-3mm-15sec are recommended for improvement of dentin surface characteristics.

Treatment of methyl orange by nitrogen non-thermal plasma in a corona reactor: The role of reactive nitrogen species.

Methyl orange (MO) azo dye served as model organic pollutant to investigate the role of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in non-thermal plasma (NTP) induced water treatments. The results of experiments in which MO aqueous solutions were directly exposed to N2-NTP are compared with those of control experiments in which MO was allowed to react with nitrite, nitrate and hydrogen peroxide, which are species formed in water exposed to N2-NTP. Treatment of MO was also performed in PAW, Plasma Activated Water, that is water previously exposed to N2-NTP. Both direct N2-NTP and N2-PAW treatments induced the rapid decay of MO. No appreciable reaction was instead observed when MO was treated with NO3(-) and H2O2 either under acidic or neutral pH. In contrast, in acidic solutions MO decayed rapidly when treated with NO2(-) and with a combination of NO2(-) and H2O2. Thorough product analysis was carried out by HPLC coupled with UV-vis and ESI-MS/MS detectors. In all experiments in which MO reaction was observed, the major primary product was a derivative nitro-substituted at the ortho position with respect to the N,N-dimethylamino group of MO. The reactions of RNS are discussed and a mechanism for the observed nitration products is proposed.

Pyrite-enhanced methylene blue degradation in non-thermal plasma water treatment reactor.

In this study, methylene blue (MB) removal from an aqueous phase by electrical discharge non-thermal plasma (NTP) over water was investigated using three different feed gases: N(2), Ar, and O(2). The results showed that the dye removal rate was not strongly dependent on the feed gas when the electrical current was kept the same for all gases. The hydrogen peroxide generation in the water varied according to the feed gas (N(2)