Abstract Detail

Economic Botany

Ghosh, Nabarun [1], Bennert, Jeff [2], Veloz, Mitsy [1], Bennert, Jon [2], Revanna, Chandini [1], Saadeh, Constantine [3].

Microflora in ice-machine, Plasma nanotechnology to obtain clean ice using a Bi-Polar unit.

Bacteria that adhere to any equipment can encase themselves in a hydrated matrix of polysaccharide and protein thus forms a slimy layer known as a biofilm. Biofilms are the collections of microorganisms, mainly bacteria, growing together in a matrix of polymers secreted by the microorganisms. With the advent of moisture and organic media biofilms are formed on the walls of the ice makers and refrigerators. Scientific tests done in UK revealed that ice from many restaurants had higher levels of bacteria than samples of water taken from their lavatory bowls¹. Dirty ice machine causing contamination via ice cubes is also a major health problem in other countries including the United States. Once microbes grow into well-developed biofilms, cleaning and sanitation become difficult. To prevent any potential contamination, the interior surface biofilm microflora in the ice machine must be sanitized regularly. A collaboration between the West Texas A & M University² and Air Oasis³ developed Plasma nanotechnology that has been successfully implemented in the Bi-Polar unit. We evaluated the Bi-Polar unit by Air Oasis in sanitizing the ice machine surface. The Bi-Polar creates cold plasma discharge which consists of positive and negative ions from water vapor in the air. Positive and negative ions attach to particles which cluster together to create inactivated larger particles. Two sets of petri-plates were inoculated with sterile cotton swab with the inoculum collected from the ice-maker surface at the time intervals of 24, 48, 72, 120 and 168 hours. Developed colonies were observed after 24 hours of incubation at 37^o Celsius. Bacterial and fungal colonies were micrographed and distinguished using a SZ-40 stereo-scope attached to a DVC digital camera attached to computer. Prepared slides from bacterial colonies stained with Gram staining and fungi with Lacto-Phenol Cotton Blue stain were observed and micrographed at 100X with a Leica DM-750 microscope. After running the Bi-Polar 168 hours, there was a significant reduction in microbial entities.

Related Links:
Dirty ice in UK rstaurants:
Dr. N. Ghosh
Air Oasis

1 - West Texas A&M University, Department of Life Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2403 Russell Long Blvd, Canyon, Texas, 79015, USA
2 - Air Oasis, R&D, Amarillo, Texas, 79118, USA
3 - Allergy ARTS, R&D, Amarillo, Texas, 79124, USA

Keywords:
Biofilm
microflora
Ice Machine
Bi-polar unit.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Economic Botany: Contributed Posters
Location: Exhibit Hall/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 6:15 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PEN002
Abstract ID:132
Candidate for Awards:None