Thermal and Non-Thermal Plasma for Destruction of Pollutants

Abstract

Wastewater remediation has become a global concern; thus, the development of innovative advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for wastewater treatment is still a major challenge. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are innovative tools that involve an introduction of energy (e.g., chemical, electrical and radiative) into the reaction zone to generate highly reactive species, especially hydroxyl radicals (HO•). In this sense, plasma technology is included among AOPs and considered as a promising remediation technology for water remediation. Developed since 1987 [1], the technique is environmentally friendly, simple and effective for decomposing toxic organic compounds in raw water or wastewater [2 - 4]. In view of these facts, applications of atmospheric pressure electrical plasma technologies for water treatment attract the increasing interest and emerge as technological opportunities for the plasma community [5].