Using Air Plasma-generated High-Valence NO_x for Olive Oil Activation to Produce High-Performance Antimicrobial Agents

This study develops a time- and performance-efficient process for oil activation with enhanced bioreactivity. Instead of ozone foaming, plasma-activated gas (PAG) bubbling has been, for the first time, employed for potent olive oil activation. A parallel system integrating dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and gliding arc discharge (GAD) devices generates air-PAG rich in high-valence nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and O₃. By adjusting DBD and GAD power ratios, PAG composition is controlled. At a power ratio of 1:1, NO_x content and the sterilization performance of thus-obtained plasma-activated oil (PAO) reach their peaks. Compared to traditional ozonated oil and plasma-activated water (PAW), PAO demonstrates superior bacterial-killing ability and extended storage stability, showing outstanding capacity in medical and food applications as a green agent.