Vol.:(0123456789) Brazilian Journal of Physics (2024) 54:191 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13538-024-01550-7 Generation of Chemically Active Species in Hydrogen Peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) Discharge Plasma and Their Role in the Eradication of Microorganisms Ali Akbar Khan 1,2  · N. A. D. Khattak 2  · Muhammad Khalid 3  · Haifa A. Alyousef 4  · Ali O. Al‑Ghamdi 5  · S. A. El‑Tantawy 6,7 Received: 17 April 2024 / Accepted: 8 July 2024 © The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Física 2024 Abstract Electrical impulse voltage discharges using hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) are of increasing interest for eradicating biological species. Pulsed power is beneficial in addressing the problem of overheating the cathode surface due to successive colli- sions of energetic plasma species. The present study demonstrates the generation of active species of oxygen (O, O-, and O 2 ), hydrogen (H -α , H -β ), and hydroxyl radicals (OH − ) in pulsed hydrogen peroxide discharge. The level of active species is directly or indirectly related to the emission intensity by varying the applied current and filling pressure. The discharge is generated between two annular electrodes powered by a 50-Hz pulsed direct current source. The aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution is sucked into the stainless steel reactor by creating a pressure gradient. The experiment is carried out for different discharge currents (0.2–0.5 A) and filling pressures (0.1–0.5 mbar). Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) is performed using McPherson (0.01 nm) and Ocean (0.75 nm) spectrometers to record spectra. Following the optimal discharge conditions, Pseudomonas aeruginosa samples (N × 10 4  CFU/0.1 ml per sheet) are treated at a filling pressure of 0.5 mbar and a current density of 2.2 mA/cm 2 for different treatment times. Inactivation is achieved by counting the viable number of colonies before and after plasma treatment using the serial dilution method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was accomplished for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which confirms the inactivation of the pathogens. Keywords Hydrogen peroxide discharge · Optimal discharge conditions · Optical emission spectroscopy · Active species · Pathogens · Plasma sterilization 1 Introduction Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a typical crafty pathogen found in hospitals. The World Health Organization (WHO) agreed this pathogen is the preliminary cause of nosocomial infec- tions [1]. According to the reported work, Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes 30% of nosocomial infections, ranking second in infection rate compared to other Gram-negative pathogens [2]. Recently, the resistance of Pseudomonas aer- uginosa against various drug mechanisms has increased [3]. Therefore, we urgently need a new sterilization method with advantages like safety, ease of handling, and no outstand- ing toxicity. Plasma sterilization is a new method, an alter- native to traditional protection and material conservation methods. Compared with the chemical method of ethylene oxide, plasma has more advantages, such as low tempera- ture, absence of toxicity, and preservation of materials like polymers [4]. Plasma is more effective for inactivating bac- teria and fungi but removes dead microbes and anatomies from contaminated surfaces [5]. Recently, there has been * S. A. El-Tantawy tantawy@sci.psu.edu.eg; samireltantawy@yahoo.com 1 Plasma Technology Research Centre, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2 Department of Physics, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan 29050, Pakistan 3 Department of Physics, Government Post Graduate College Nowshera, Nowshera 24100, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan 4 Department of Physics, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia 5 Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Baha University, P.O. Box 1988, Al Baha, Saudi Arabia 6 Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Port Said University, Port Said 42521, Egypt 7 Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Al-Baha University, P.O. Box 1988, Al Baha, Saudi Arabia