# US 12,004,526 B2 · Device and method for herbs disinfection by plasma > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,526 B2 - Document ID: US12004526B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/423,300 - Filed: 2020-01-23 - Published: 2022-03-31 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-24 - Assignees: Novagreen Technologies Ltd. - Applicants: Novagreen Technologies Ltd. - Inventors: Amnon Lam; Aviad Harhol; Doron Shuster; Betsalel Rechav - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004526B2 ## CPC - A23B 7/144: in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor - A23B 2/001: {Details of apparatus, e.g. pressure feed valves or for transport, or loading or unloading manipulation} - A23B 2/003: {Control or safety devices for sterilisation or pasteurisation systems} - A23B 2/10: by treatment with pressure variation, shock, acceleration or shear stress - A23B 2/50: by irradiation without heating - A23B 2/7045: {Details of apparatus for generating or regenerating gases} - A23B 7/154: Organic compounds; Microorganisms; Enzymes - A23B 7/157: Inorganic compounds - A61L 2/035: Electrolysis - A61L 2/14: Plasma, i.e. ionised gases - A61L 2/20: Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours - H01J 37/32: Gas-filled discharge tubes (heating by discharge H05B) - A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs - A61L 2103/05: Living organisms or biological materials - A61L 2202/122: Chambers for sterilisation - H05H 2245/36: Sterilisation of objects, liquids, volumes or surfaces - A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) - A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION - H05H: PLASMA TECHNIQUE (apparatus or processes specially adapted for producing X-rays H05G2/00); PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS ## Abstract Device and method suitable for disinfecting herbs using plasma are disclosed. The device comprises a chamber and two sets of electrodes in an opposed position one relative to the other, inside the chamber. Each electrode in one set has a counterpart electrode in the other set, the two electrodes positioned facing each other and being configured to connect to a RF HV power supply, to produce a plasma-generating EM field in the space between the electrodes. The device further comprises a dielectric carrier positioned inside the chamber in the space between the two sets of electrodes, the carrier being dimensioned and configured to carry herbs in granular form such as powder or particles thereon. A portable sealable container comprising a unidirectional valve is also disclosed, configured to store herbs thereinside during plasma treatment in the device, and to store the disinfected herbs after treatment under vacuum. A device for disinfecting herbs by evaporating a disinfection agent in an evacuated chamber is also disclosed where plasma is used in any of several methods to enhance, improve and expedite the disinfection process. ## Claims ### Claim 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the releasing a disinfecting gas into the chamber is carried out by releasing a disinfection agent in a liquid form to an at least one evaporation chamber fluidly associated with the main chamber via the at least one channel, and evaporating the disinfection agent inside the evaporation chamber by heat. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the ventilating the chamber is carried out by releasing air into the at least one evaporation chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising using a screen positioned between the opening of the at least one channel in the chamber and the perforated carrier to divert the gas flowing into the chamber, thereby enhancing a more uniform distribution of the disinfecting gas in the chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a sequence including of evacuating the chamber to a pressure of about 1-100 mbar and releasing a disinfecting gas to the chamber to reach a pressure of about 10-500 mbar is repeated sequentially at least once. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein the sequence includes, prior to releasing a disinfecting gas to the chamber, generating plasma in the channel by applying a plasma-generating EM field. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the chamber walls at a temperature between room temperature and 70° C., 60° C., 50° C., or 40° C., to reduce vapor condensation on the walls. ### Claim 8 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, while maintaining the chamber walls at a temperature above 40° C., to reduce vapor condensation on the walls; generating plasma in the channel by applying a plasma-generating electromagnetic (EM) field; ventilating the chamber by air to reach an atmospheric pressure therein; and opening the chamber and dislodging the herbs from the carrier. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the plasma generation is performed before the releasing a disinfecting gas into the chamber via a channel, thereby rendering the inner surfaces of the channel walls hydrophilic and preventing or limiting vapor condensation on the channel's walls. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the plasma generation is performed during the releasing a disinfecting gas into the chamber via a channel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the plasma generation is performed after the releasing a disinfecting gas into the chamber via a channel and before the ventilating the chamber by air to reach an atmospheric pressure therein. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the releasing a disinfecting gas into the chamber is carried out by releasing a disinfection agent in a liquid form to an at least one evaporation chamber fluidly associated with the main chamber via the at least one channel, and evaporating the disinfection agent inside the evaporation chamber by heat. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the ventilating the chamber is carried out by releasing air into the at least one evaporation chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising using a screen positioned between the opening of the at least one channel in the chamber and the perforated carrier to divert the gas flowing into the chamber, thereby enhancing a more uniform distribution of the disinfecting gas in the chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein a sequence including of evacuating the chamber to a pressure of about 1-100 mbar and releasing a disinfecting gas to the chamber to reach a pressure of about 10-500 mbar is repeated sequentially at least once. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the sequence includes, prior to releasing a disinfecting gas to the chamber, generating plasma in the channel by applying a plasma-generating EM field.