Plasma Innovations is supporting the research and development of cold plasma technology for the artificial hatching of bivoltine silkworm eggs, which hatch twice a year. The aim is an artificial-hatching option that reduces acid use and the washing workload, so that eggs are ready to hatch in time for farmers’ rearing cycles.
The project “Artificial Hatching of Silkworm Eggs Using Cold Plasma Technology” is a collaboration between the Queen Sirikit Department of Sericulture, the Faculty of Engineering at Kasetsart University and Plasma Innovations Co., Ltd., led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siwapon Srisonphan. The proposal specifies a project period of October 2024 – September 2025, with field experiments at the Queen Sirikit Sericulture Centers in Nakhon Ratchasima and Khon Kaen, alongside laboratory work in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University.
The project documents identify support from Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) through the Department of Sericulture, the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), Kasetsart University and Plasma Innovations Co., Ltd.
Developing an Alternative for Artificial Silkworm Egg Hatching
Soaking eggs in hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a long-established artificial-hatching method. Its limitations include chemical handling, exposure to acid fumes, and the water required to wash the eggs afterward.
The research team therefore studied cold plasma as an alternative, developing a Gliding Arc plasma system with computer-controlled (CNC) motion that moves the plasma head across the egg sheet along a set path, for trials with eggs of the J108 × Nang Lai Saraburi silkworm breed, in both immediate hatching (Sokushin) and hatching after cold storage (Reishin).
The study covered system design, electrical power, exposure time, distance and plasma distribution pattern to identify the best conditions for the eggs, taking into account hatching efficiency, uniformity and suitability for real-world operation.
Early Results and Next Steps
For eggs coded J×NL, counts in two 1 cm² assessment areas gave hatching rates of 97.1% (66 of 68 eggs) and 96.9% (63 of 65 eggs). These are local results, not results for the entire sheet.
Before scaling up, the team needs to count hatching across whole sheets, repeat the tests with several egg batches, and compare against acid treatment and untreated controls using eggs of similar age and storage history, while following post-hatching outcomes.
Pilot work with operators would then measure time per sheet, water, chemicals, energy and total cost, to decide how the system should be scaled.
Intended Benefits for Operators and Farmers
The goal is to give operators an artificial-hatching option that reduces acid exposure and the water workload and makes the egg production centers’ work easier, while farmers receive eggs that are ready to hatch on schedule. Water use, cost and safety across the whole process still have to be measured; current data are not enough to say how much cost or resources plasma can save.
Read the full details, the hatching counts, SEM images, a video of the machine at work and the references in the case study on plasma-assisted artificial hatching.
The project reflects Plasma Innovations’ commitment to applying plasma engineering expertise to solutions for real-world problems, linking research, technology and user needs to create innovations that can be developed further and deliver tangible benefits to Thailand’s agricultural sector.
Related coverage: Siam Rath — Department of Sericulture uses cold plasma for artificial hatching of silkworm eggs (Aug 11, 2025, in Thai)
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