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  1. (Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Dankook University, Korea)
  2. (Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Dankook University, Korea)



UV LED, UV lamp, Irradiation, Bactericidal test, Sterilization effect

1. Introduction

Generally a bacterium, microscopic single celled organism propagates itself well and is known to inhabit in humid places[1]. Therefore, we live with commodities covered with invisible germs. There are various sterilization and disinfection products on market to get rid of these germs. Commercially, the majority of sterilizations are available by using UV lamps. The sterilization by UV rays cause chemical changes to the nucleic acid component within the microorganism and brings about metabolic disorder. For this reason, Sterilization is caused by proliferative capacity loses[2]. UV rays mean electromagnetic waves in the range of 100-400 nm wavelength and divides into UV-A, UV-B and UV-C[3]. UV-A is between 320-380 nm and the longest wave length in ultraviolet rays. UV-B is the middle of ultra violet rays in between 280-320 nm. UV-C is the shortest wavelength in between 180-220 nm[4].

UV LED is staying at the beginning stage of the market but seems possible to apply with the sterilization (water, air), water purifier, deodorant, medical applications, skin problem treatment identify counterfeit bills, light, textile and chemical industry, environmental sensors, etc.[5]. In particular, small and environmental friendly products are on the trend[6]. The UV LED market seems to grow 30 million dollars every year, from 32.5 million dollars in 2011 up to 150 million dollars in 2016. The use of UV LED is growing because it is becoming high-powered and high efficient[7]. The UV LED market is expected to grow up to average 43% per year, with the existing market to grow 10% over 5 years. The market share of UV LEDs are only up to 12.7% and this point is expected to increase to 37.7% in 2017[7]. Most of UV LEDs are UV-A and UV-B wave length-products on market and UV-C is for studies or science equipments. Many of sterilization products are known to use UV-C. Sterilization by UV rays are different by depending on the type of microorganisms. Near 260 nm wavelength, in other words, the wavelength for bactericidal effect is best to absorb the nucleic acid[2]. But from the report[8], we can also know ultrasonic sterilizers, toothbrush sterilizers and water purifiers use 380 - 410 nm wavelength with UV-A. And from the results of the E-coli death experiment with 368.6 nm UV lamps, there was no significant change in the E-coli death rate for 30 minutes but eventually the death rate increased to 83.3% after 1 hour[9]. Many researchers have applied UV-C LEDs as a light source but the costs of the components make it very difficult to apply UV-C LEDs to household goods[10-12]. This study is for development of sterilizers for small household goods and we study and compare sterilization effects of UV LEDs(UV-A) and small UV lamps.

2. Materials and Method

2.1 Experiment method

UV LEDs are more expensive than UV lamps but if UV LEDs are adopted there are high needs of sterilization and this has the advantage[8,9] of saving electricity consumption and extension of use. We choose UV LED of 380 nm because 380 - 410 nm wave length including UV-A is used for sterilization besides well known sterilization UV-C zone. We compared and measured reducing amount of bacteria existing in purified water using UV LED with 380 nm and UV lamp as shown in Figure. 1 with 253.7 nm wavelength.

Fig. 1. UV LED and UV Lamp used in experime

../../Resources/kiee/KIEE.2019.68.5.685/fig1.png

At this time, undiluted purified water was left for 30 minutes to 1 hour. An experimental container was specially made of 8 × 8 × 6 (Cm) stainless steel as Figure. 2 and a UV LED and UV lamp were placed at the upper part. To make the process simple, we used 3M petrifilms for bacteria which were ready to incubate samples and culture. The incubator made by Sam-woo scientific Co is used to culture bacteria for 48 hours on 35 – 36℃.

Fig. 2. The experimental container used in the experiment

../../Resources/kiee/KIEE.2019.68.5.685/fig2.png

2.2 Bactericidal test

The experiment was divided into 3 cases. The purpose of this experiment is comparison of sterilization using 380 nm UV LED and 253.7 nm UV lamp. In addition, based on the result, we chose the valid way for sterilization, measured sterilization results by irradiation time to set the effective sterilization time.

2.3 Bactericidal test using 380 nm UV LED

As a sample, we use purified water for 30 minutes – 1 hour without any other treatment and checked sterilization with 380 nm UV LED in the sample. With the experimental time of 20 minutes, 1 ml of the sample was taken by a micropipette every 5 minutes and vaccinated on petrifilm. At this time, the control group was standard and the experimental group used the sample which hourly applied 380 nm UV LED. The UV ray sterilization has relation with not only the wavelength but also its intensity and irradiation time. In the range of 300-400 nm, rather than to sterilize the bacteria, rehabilitation phenomenon occurs and the bacteria thrives. Based on these information, the irradiation time of the sample has been setup to 30 minutes[4]. Inoculated petrifilm was cultured for 48 hours in a incubator and then figured out the number of cells by counting bacteria. The experiments were conducted 5 times on a clean bench to prevent contaminated air as much as possible.

2.4 Comparison experiment of bactericidal test using 380 nm UV LED and 253.7 nm UV lamp for equivalent hours

As a sample, purified water without any other treatment was used and irradiated with a 253.7 nm UV lamp. The experimental time was 20 minutes, 1 ml of the sample was taken by a micropipette every 5 minutes and vaccinated on petrifilm. At this time, the control group was standard and the experimental group was the sample irradiated with the 253.7 nm UV lamp by the time. Inoculated petrifilm was cultured for 48 hours in a incubator and the figured out the number of cells by counting bacteria. The experiments were conducted 4 times on a clean bench to block contaminated air from inflowing as much as possible. We got the cell number of bacteria by 253.7 nm UV lamp irradiation experiment and the result from the above experiments. The death rates of bacteria were compared by UV LED and UV lamp by equivalent time.

2.5 The experiment for sterilization time of bacteria using 253.7 nm UV lamp

As a sample, purified water without any other treatment was used and irradiated it with a 253.7 nm UV lamp. The experimental time was 10 minutes, 1 ml of the sample was taken by a micropipette every minute and vaccinated on petrifilm. At this time, the control group was standard and the experimental group was the sample irradiated with the 253.7 nm UV lamp. Inoculated petrifilm was cultured for 48 hours in a incubator and then figured out the number of cells by counting bacteria. The experiments were conducted 18 times on a clean bench to prevent contaminated air from inflowing. The observation time was set based on the result of the experiment that used the 380 nm UV LED and 253.7 nm UV lamp comparisons.

3. Results and discussion

3.1 Comparison of bacteria death rate by experiments

The bacteria death rate was able to be checked by counting bacteria on petrifilm in the bacteria killing experiment. We can notice the bacteria death section by calculating the reduction ratio of the standard group and experimental group. Each experimental result is as the following.

3.2 Bacteria death rate using 380 nm UV LED

Table 1 shows the result of the bacteria death ratio using 380 nm UV LED. The experimental group by UV LEDs showed repetitive increase and reduction. The average of 4 experimental values did not show big changes on the initial cell number 147 CFU/ml as Table 1. The 380 nm UV LED is little effective on killing bacteria with the result of the experiment as shown in Figure. 3. It also shows the same result of product cultured for 48 hours, the same process as Experiment 1.

Table 1. The bacteria number change and reduction ratio according to using 380 nm UV LED

Exp. 1

Exp. 2

Exp. 3

Exp. 4

Average

Average reduction(%)

Std.

77

130

120

262

147

-

5 min.

100

137

159

216

153

- 4.0

10 min.

85

1080

163

245

150

- 2.0

15 min.

65

133

138

173

127

13.6

20 min.

80

125

110

147

116

21.0

Fig. 3. The changes in the number of bacteria by using 380 nm UV LED

../../Resources/kiee/KIEE.2019.68.5.685/fig3.png

3.3 The comparison of the bacteria death ratio using UV LED in equivalent observation time

Table 2 is about the experimental result of the bacteria killing experiment using 380 nm UV LED and 253.7 nm UV lamp. UV lamp means 4 times the experimental value with 253.7 nm UV lamp.

Table 2. The changes in the number of bacteria by using 380 nm UV LED and 253.7 nm UV lamp in equivalent observation time

UV LED

UV lamp

Experiment 1

Experiment 2

Experiment 3

Experiment 4

Standard

77

110

159

227

276

5 minute

100

15

3

3

5

10 minute

85

0

1

1

3

15 minute

65

0

0

1

0

20 minute

80

0

0

0

0

Figure. 4 is the graph for the number change of cells in the same observation time. The number of cells did not change much with 380 nm UV LED but in the case of 253.7 nm UV lamp decreased notably. All bacteria died 20 minutes later. In this experiment, 380 nm UV LED and 253.7 nm UV lamp, the well known effective sterilization wavelength, were compared. UV LED is little effective but the UV lamp is much more effective on sterilization.

Fig. 4. The changes in the number of bacteria by using 380 nm UV LED and 253.7 nm UV lamp in equivalent observation time

../../Resources/kiee/KIEE.2019.68.5.685/fig4.png

On sides, we made sure that the UV lamp worked after 5 minutes. Also we can get the same results from the bacteria cells cultured for 48 hours in the above Experiment 1.

3.4 Sterilization time and sterilization ratio with 235.7 nm UV lamp

We can make sure that the number of cells sharply decreases at 5 minutes and rarely survived after 10 minutes. The average results of 18 tests shows the initial cell number is 227 CFU/ml but over time it is tend to diminish as shown in Table 3 and Figure. 5.

Table 3. The bacteria number change and reduction ratio according to using 253.7 nm UV lamp

Experiment 1

Experiment 2

Experiment 3

Experiment 4

Experiment 5

Experiment 6

Experiment 7

Experiment 8

Experiment 9

Experiment 10

Standard

201

163

370

113

544

604

64

71

324

73

1 Minute

137

71

254

100

457

429

42

41

236

55

2 Minute

85

43

214

55

340

386

16

6

246

23

3 Minute

37

16

97

37

235

255

3

1

112

14

4 Minute

27

15

47

30

177

87

2

1

36

4

5 Minute

15

7

15

28

105

18

1

1

20

2

6 Minute

7

3

9

19

54

15

1

1

14

2

7 Minute

4

3

5

8

45

9

1

0

7

1

8 Minute

0

2

2

6

25

2

1

0

3

1

9 Minute

0

1

1

5

18

1

0

0

1

1

10 Minute

0

1

1

5

7

1

0

0

1

0

Experiment 11

Experiment 12

Experiment 13

Experiment 14

Experiment 15

Experiment 16

Experiment 17

Experiment 18

Average

Average reduction (%)

Standard

154

202

185

54

184

299

303

172

227

-

1 Minute

129

108

97

40

126

212

193

144

160

29.5

2 Minute

45

96

18

22

122

147

128

95

116

48.8

3 Minute

16

12

9

15

69

139

82

50

67

70.4

4 Minute

7

5

3

9

55

66

46

12

35

84.5

5 Minute

7

5

1

2

27

33

32

11

18

92.0

6 Minute

5

4

1

1

6

11

12

9

10

95.5

7 Minute

3

3

0

1

5

9

5

6

6

97.3

8 Minute

1

2

0

1

4

8

4

3

4

98.2

9 Minute

1

1

0

0

3

6

3

1

2

99.1

10 Minute

1

1

0

0

1

3

2

1

1

99.5

Fig. 5. The changes in the number of bacteria by using 253.7 nm UV lamp

../../Resources/kiee/KIEE.2019.68.5.685/fig5.png

Specifically it is decreased more than 90% after 5 minutes and 99.5%, bactericidal effect, after 10 minutes.

4. Conclusion

In this research, we studied the effect of sterilization by UV LED and UV lamp. We had applied 380 nm UV LED because 380–410 nm wavelength of UV LED was used for sterilization in general and also had applied 253.7 nm UV lamp based on the report that used 368.6 nm wavelength UV lamps on E-coli tests.

The result shows 380 nm UV LED did not give a great impact on killing bacteria when we observed it in samples for 20 minutes. Also 380 nm UV LED and 253.7 nm UV lamp comparison experiment showed that UV LED is not significant on sterilization but UV lamp was effective on killing almost every cell after 10 minutes. For 4 minutes of observation, 253.7 nm UV lamp made the number of cells decrease quickly and showed 90% of reduction after 5 minutes and 99.5% sterilization effect after 10 minutes. From the further study, we will apply this result to personal sterilizers for health.

Acknowledgements

이 논문은 의하여 연구되었음.

References

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저자소개

김 경 호 (Kim Kyung Ho)
../../Resources/kiee/KIEE.2019.68.5.685/au1.png

1996: 일본 게이오대학 공학석사

1999: 일본 게이오대학 공학박사

2006~현재: 단국대학교 전자전기공학부 교수

남 현 도 (Nam Hyun Do)
../../Resources/kiee/KIEE.2019.68.5.685/au2.png

1981: 서울대학교 공학석사

1986: 서울대학교 공학박사

1982~현재: 단국대학교 전자전기공학부 교수