Patent ID: 8372491
Filing Date: 2013-02-12
Classification: A61L,B65B,C23C

Abstract:
1. A method for treating a polymer bottle in the absence of contact with liquid effluents, wherein the polymer bottle has an inner surface and an outer surface, the method comprising cold plasma sterilization of the polymer bottle with a nongermicidal gas, wherein: the cold plasma is generated, either by distributed propagation of non-pulsed microwaves to the inner surface of the bottle or by a hollow cathode system, wherein the microwaves have a maximum intensity in the immediate vicinity of said inner surface, and wherein the hollow cathode system is adapted to the bottle and supplied with pulsed DC voltage or radiofrequency voltage; the nonthennal energy flux on the inner surface of the bottle, in the form of ion bombardment or of deexcitation of internal electronic or vibrational levels of species of the plasma, is adjusted according to a flow of sterilizing species during the sterilization step, the non-thermal energy being adjusted either by varying the incident microwave power, or by adjusting the self-bias DC voltage of the dielectric substrate consisting of the bottle with regard to the plasma; the cold plasma sterilization is conducted without oxidizing a germicidal component.