Wastewater management using cold plasma - Degradation of organic dyes in liquid phase

The use of a plasma reaction system for the treatment of wastewater was evaluated by analyzing the degradation of organic dyes in liquid phase. The reaction system allows the treatment of liquids with plasma generated reactive species in tiny bubbles that increase the contact area between the plasma and the liquid, thus reducing treatment time. The system capability to degrade organic matter was studied using organic dyes in aqueous solution. The discoloration reaction of organic dyes such as methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), and methyl red (MR), as well as the reduction of total organic carbon (TOC), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were analyzed to determine the efficacy of the system and determine its potential use to degrade organic pollutants in aqueous phase. It was found that after 5 minutes of treatment the solutions practically lost the color, and a significant part of the organic matter.

Keywords: wastewater management, degradation, discoloration, dyes, atmospheric plasma.