US 12,004,526 B2
Device and method for herbs disinfection by plasma
Amnon Lam, Kibbutz Givat Oz (IL); Aviad Harhol, Ramat Hasharon (IL); Doron Shuster, Tel Adashim (IL); and Betsalel Rechav, Ness Ziona (IL)
Assigned to NOVAGREEN TECHNOLOGIES LTD., Kibbutz Megiddo (IL)
Appl. No. 17/423,300
Filed by NOVAGREEN TECHNOLOGIES LTD., Kibbutz Megiddo (IL)
PCT Filed Jan. 23, 2020, PCT No. PCT/IL2020/050092
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 15, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/152685, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 30, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 264463 (IL), filed on Jan. 24, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0095637 A1, Mar. 31, 2022
Int. Cl. A61L 2/00 (2006.01); A23B 7/144 (2006.01); A23L 3/00 (2006.01); A23L 3/015 (2006.01); A23L 3/3409 (2006.01); A61L 2/14 (2006.01); B01J 19/08 (2006.01); H01J 37/32 (2006.01)
CPC A23B 7/144 (2013.01) [A23L 3/001 (2013.01); A23L 3/003 (2013.01); A23L 3/015 (2013.01); A23L 3/34095 (2013.01); A61L 2/0094 (2013.01); A61L 2/14 (2013.01); H01J 37/32 (2013.01); A23V 2002/00 (2013.01); A61L 2202/122 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for disinfecting herbs, the method comprising:
loading the herbs into a perforated carrier in a sealable chamber fluidly associated with a vacuum pump, the perforated carrier being configured to carry the herbs and allow penetration of gas through the perforations in the carrier's walls and floor;
sealingly closing the chamber and evacuating the chamber to a pressure of about 1-100 mbar;
releasing a disinfecting gas into the chamber via at least one channel so as to increase the pressure in the chamber to about 10-500 mbar;
prior to releasing a disinfecting gas, generating plasma in the channel by applying a plasma-generating electromagnetic (EM) field, thereby rendering the inner surfaces of the channel walls hydrophilic and preventing or limiting vapor condensation on the channel's walls;
ventilating the chamber by air to reach an atmospheric pressure therein; and
opening the chamber and dislodging the herbs from the carrier.