Work

Characterization of reactive species in water induced by cold atmospheric air plasma: Experimental applications for industrial micropollutant removal from wastewater and seed germination

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Cold atmospheric air plasma (CAAP) interaction with liquids produces a variety of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) that play crucial role in the oxidation of organic micropollutants (OMPs) in wastewater. In our study, a needle-type plasma source powered by an AC power supply was used to generate CAAP for the production of RONS in plasma-activated water (PAW) and for the treatment of succinic acid (SA). The PAW was characterized using various analytical techniques to determine its physicochemical properties (pH, oxidation-reduction potential, electrical conductivity, and optical absorbance) and to identify RONS (HO, H2O2, H3O+, NO3-, NO2-). Quantitative analysis of HO production was based on the presence of H2O2 in PAW, and associated chemistry for HO generation was explored. SA used as a probe compound, was treated directly with CAAP, and its mineralization was evaluated. SA oxidation in water was used to detect the presence of HO· in the liquid phase. The results indicated that CAAP effectively degraded SA in water, achieving 46 % mineralization. It was observed that the concentration of RONS increased significantly with longer treatment times and higher input plasma power. Energy consumption for RONS production in PAW was calculated, and the stability of RONS in PAW over a three-day period was discussed. Additionally, the study investigated seed germination and plant growth using PAW, exploring its potential application as fertilizer in agriculture. The potential future steps for synergistic combination of CAAP with a pilot-scale continuous hydrodynamic cavitation process for treatment of wastewater containing OMPs are also discussed.

Source: Journal of environmental chemical engineering

DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2025.117263

Authors: Amit Kumar, Vijay Kumar Saini, Ysabel Huaccallo-Aguilar, Sebastian Felix Reinecke, Uwe Hampel

Institutions: Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Technische Universität Dresden

Language: English

Topic: Plasma Applications and Diagnostics

Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,350