Concurrent removal of benzene, toluene, and P-nitrophenol from water using dielectric barrier discharge plasma

Water bodies are contaminated with organic and inorganic waste, making them unsuitable for consumption. This study, for the first time, carries out the degradation of a single pollutant, p-nitrophenol (PNP), as well as a mixture of pollutants (benzene, toluene, and PNP) in a single go using a dielec...

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Main Authors: Vaishnavi Gaude Agadyekar, Eshita Kakodkar, Delicia A. Barretto, Ruggero Barni, Claudia Riccardi, Nitesh Joshi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Cleaner Engineering and Technology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266679082500165X
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author Vaishnavi Gaude Agadyekar
Eshita Kakodkar
Delicia A. Barretto
Ruggero Barni
Claudia Riccardi
Nitesh Joshi
author_facet Vaishnavi Gaude Agadyekar
Eshita Kakodkar
Delicia A. Barretto
Ruggero Barni
Claudia Riccardi
Nitesh Joshi
author_sort Vaishnavi Gaude Agadyekar
collection DOAJ
description Water bodies are contaminated with organic and inorganic waste, making them unsuitable for consumption. This study, for the first time, carries out the degradation of a single pollutant, p-nitrophenol (PNP), as well as a mixture of pollutants (benzene, toluene, and PNP) in a single go using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor. The effects of plasma power and treatment time on pollutant degradation were systematically analysed. For PNP, only 70 ± 5 % degradation was achieved at optimal conditions (18 W power, 2 min) with an energy efficiency of 1.57 mg/kWh at 10 ppm of initial concentration. The increased power levels diminish performance due to quenching effects caused by microfilament interactions with the reactor walls. Hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, nitrate, and nitrite species were quantified to understand degradation mechanisms. The degradation of a mixture of pollutants is also demonstrated in a single go with 55 % and 0.73 gCOD/kWh COD degradation and energy yield. The practicality of plasma-treated water was tested by biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), seed germination, and microbial decontamination study (using Escherichia coli). It is demonstrated that compared to polluted water, plasma-treated water exhibited reduced BOD levels, which reduces its harmful effects on daily usage. The reduced toxicity of water also enhanced germination compared to polluted water. The plasma treatment also impedes the growth of Escherichia coli, even causing its complete inhibition. These results highlight the potential of DBD plasma technology as a promising tool for sewage/contaminated water samples.
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spelling doaj-art-d3655f83da0f4c83afe586cfe2a524a02025-08-20T02:44:49ZengElsevierCleaner Engineering and Technology2666-79082025-07-012710104210.1016/j.clet.2025.101042Concurrent removal of benzene, toluene, and P-nitrophenol from water using dielectric barrier discharge plasmaVaishnavi Gaude Agadyekar0Eshita Kakodkar1Delicia A. Barretto2Ruggero Barni3Claudia Riccardi4Nitesh Joshi5School of Chemical Sciences, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, 403206, Goa, IndiaSchool of Chemical Sciences, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, 403206, Goa, IndiaSchool of Chemical Sciences, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, 403206, Goa, IndiaDipartimento di Fisica G. Occhialini, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 3, I-20126, Milano, ItalyDipartimento di Fisica G. Occhialini, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 3, I-20126, Milano, ItalySchool of Chemical Sciences, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, 403206, Goa, India; Dipartimento di Fisica G. Occhialini, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 3, I-20126, Milano, Italy; Corresponding author. School of Chemical Sciences, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau 403206, Goa, India.Water bodies are contaminated with organic and inorganic waste, making them unsuitable for consumption. This study, for the first time, carries out the degradation of a single pollutant, p-nitrophenol (PNP), as well as a mixture of pollutants (benzene, toluene, and PNP) in a single go using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor. The effects of plasma power and treatment time on pollutant degradation were systematically analysed. For PNP, only 70 ± 5 % degradation was achieved at optimal conditions (18 W power, 2 min) with an energy efficiency of 1.57 mg/kWh at 10 ppm of initial concentration. The increased power levels diminish performance due to quenching effects caused by microfilament interactions with the reactor walls. Hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, nitrate, and nitrite species were quantified to understand degradation mechanisms. The degradation of a mixture of pollutants is also demonstrated in a single go with 55 % and 0.73 gCOD/kWh COD degradation and energy yield. The practicality of plasma-treated water was tested by biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), seed germination, and microbial decontamination study (using Escherichia coli). It is demonstrated that compared to polluted water, plasma-treated water exhibited reduced BOD levels, which reduces its harmful effects on daily usage. The reduced toxicity of water also enhanced germination compared to polluted water. The plasma treatment also impedes the growth of Escherichia coli, even causing its complete inhibition. These results highlight the potential of DBD plasma technology as a promising tool for sewage/contaminated water samples.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266679082500165XP-NitrophenolDielectric barrier dischargeDegradationBenzeneTolueneEscherichia coli
spellingShingle Vaishnavi Gaude Agadyekar
Eshita Kakodkar
Delicia A. Barretto
Ruggero Barni
Claudia Riccardi
Nitesh Joshi
Concurrent removal of benzene, toluene, and P-nitrophenol from water using dielectric barrier discharge plasma
Cleaner Engineering and Technology
P-Nitrophenol
Dielectric barrier discharge
Degradation
Benzene
Toluene
Escherichia coli
title Concurrent removal of benzene, toluene, and P-nitrophenol from water using dielectric barrier discharge plasma
title_full Concurrent removal of benzene, toluene, and P-nitrophenol from water using dielectric barrier discharge plasma
title_fullStr Concurrent removal of benzene, toluene, and P-nitrophenol from water using dielectric barrier discharge plasma
title_full_unstemmed Concurrent removal of benzene, toluene, and P-nitrophenol from water using dielectric barrier discharge plasma
title_short Concurrent removal of benzene, toluene, and P-nitrophenol from water using dielectric barrier discharge plasma
title_sort concurrent removal of benzene toluene and p nitrophenol from water using dielectric barrier discharge plasma
topic P-Nitrophenol
Dielectric barrier discharge
Degradation
Benzene
Toluene
Escherichia coli
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266679082500165X
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